Media Release
14 May 2009
Antarctic Research Exchange with Chile
Two University of Tasmania students have been selected for an exciting Antarctic research and study project in South America which is supported by the Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR) through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Alex Piekutowski and Robert Johnson of Hobart, Tasmania, will travel to Punta Arenas in the south of Chile this Saturday, 16 May, as part of a joint education program in Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies under the umbrella of the International Antarctic Institute (IAI).
Under the IAI program, which is supported by the University of Tasmania and Universidad de Magallanes in Chile, two Chilean students will also come to the University of Tasmania later in the year.
Alex Piekutowski will assess the potential likelihood of non-indigenous marine species being taken to Antarctica via ship fouling by conducting a research study in Punta Arenas harbour. At 53 degrees South, Punta Arenas, like Hobart, is a gateway for polar travel as many tourist and research ships depart for southern waters from the ports.
Robert Johnson will be undertaking spatial and geographical study, which will provide a visual representation of Alex's results using GPS. Mapping the position of marine species and their relationship to each other is of great importance in understanding impacts of global climate change on these sub-Antarctic marine ecosystems.
COALAR contributed $33,000 towards the joint education program, which includes a field program to enable students to undertake research and study on the Antarctic continent, sub-Antarctic islands and as part of Southern Ocean oceanographic research expeditions.
The Chairman of COALAR, Bernard Wheelahan, said that the University of Tasmania’s renowned education and training program in Antarctic sciences had placed Australia in the position as a world leader in Antarctic and Southern Ocean research
“The students’ work will contribute towards Australia’s role in international climate research becoming better known,” he said. “The relationship between Antarctica and the global climate system is directly relevant to the work being undertaken by the students.”
“Both Punta Arenas and Hobart are Antarctic gateway cities with significant national Antarctic programs.
“COALAR’s objective is to strengthen people-to-people links between Australia and Latin America through cooperative efforts such as this exchange program between the two universities,” Mr Wheelahan said.
The geographic location of both universities and their well developed research capabilities provide great opportunities for collaborative study of climate, the environment and oceanography.
Further details on the Council on Australia Latin America Relations’ program of activities and the upcoming 2009-10 grants application round, can be found at http://www.dfat.gov.au/coalar.
