Celebrating Antarctica Day: ASF Announces 2025 Small Grants in Antarctic Science for Early Career Researchers

 
 

Today, we celebrate Antarctica Day.

The 1st of December officially marks 66 years since the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959, a landmark agreement that designated Antarctica as a continent devoted to peace, scientific discovery, and environmental protection. Antarctica Day stands as a powerful reminder of the international cooperation that makes ongoing research possible.

Thanks to the treaty, 58 nations collaborate in Antarctica today, ensuring that the continent remains a global symbol of shared purpose, scientific progress, and environmental stewardship. Here’s to another year of Antarctic discovery and protection.

In recognition of Antarctica Day, the Antarctic Science Foundation (ASF) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Small Grants in Antarctic Science for Early Career Research, supporting early-career researchers whose work contributes to our understanding of the Antarctic region.

Congratulations to the 2025 Grant Recipients

  • Ry Holland (Monash University)

  • Luca Zurli (University of Siena, Italy)

  • Melanie Borup (UTAS)

  • Zhaohui Wang (UNSW)

  • Matthew Corkill (UTAS)

  • Marta Stentella (University of Grenoble, France)

  • Jane Younger (UTAS)

  • Edel Sheerin (JCU)

ASF supporters have generously contributed, enabling eight PhD students across Australia and Europe to advance their scientific careers. A significant portion of this support came from the Tasmanian Polar Network, representing more than 80 organisations within Tasmania’s Antarctic community.

Research Areas Supported in 2025

This year’s funded projects explore critical questions about the Antarctic environment and global climate processes, including:

  • How climate change will influence primary production and microbial communities

  • Analysis of fluvial and glaciogenic sediments using petrographic, mineralogical, geochemical, and geochronological methods

  • The ecology and discovery of new species of Antarctic bdelloid rotifers

  • Innovative techniques for collecting sea-ice samples in the field

  • How katabatic winds are shaped by large-scale atmospheric patterns

  • The impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza on penguin colonies in the South Sandwich Islands and South Georgia

You can support research in Antarctica when you donate today at www.asf.aq.

 

Doreen Henning-Fagan