Four Romanian researchers from the University of Bucharest and the National Institute for Research and Development in Biological Sciences are currently in Antarctica, taking part in an expedition focused on studying the effects of climate change, water quality and microbial biodiversity in extreme conditions.
"Researchers Georgiana Grigore, Ovidiu Vrancianu, Iris Tusa and Roxana Cristian arrived a few days ago on King George Island, where they are hosted at the King Sejong Station operated by the Korea Polar Research Institute, alongside research teams from South Korea, Turkey and Portugal. There, they are carrying out intensive work, both through demanding and challenging field forays and through primary laboratory processing of samples, often conducted late into the night," the institution announced on its website.
So far, the team has conducted daily fieldwork in areas such as Sejong Hill, Araon Valley, Marian Cove, ASPA 171 and Haeundae Beach, where they collected soil and water samples, documented micro-ecosystems and traversed difficult routes in harsh temperatures and strong winds.
According to the same source, the data and observations gathered in Antarctica will contribute to developing strategic directions in climatology, biosecurity, public health and the exploration of biomedical solutions inspired by the adaptive mechanisms of life in extreme environments.
The Romanian researchers participating in the Romanian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (ROICE) mission aim to make essential contributions to understanding some of today's most pressing societal challenges: the impact of climate change on biodiversity - how fragile ecosystems respond to rapid shifts in temperature and habitat, serving as early indicators of climate change; the role of permafrost as a biological reservoir - both the emerging biological risks and the opportunities for identifying biomolecules with pharmacological potential; human adaptation to thermal stress - physiological responses in extreme conditions, with applications in environmental medicine, prevention and occupational health.
The Romanian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica is coordinated by the National Institute for Research and Development in Biological Sciences (INCDSB) and aims to investigate polar ecosystems and their response to climate change.
The expedition officially began on January 24, and is the fifth mission of its kind and is taking place at the South Korean King Sejong Station in West Antarctica.
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