The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has declared June as Antarctica Month to make South Africans more aware of the unique and exciting research done by our scientists on this frozen continent and the sub-Antarctic islands.

N E W S Antarctica Public Talks The South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) takes pleasure in inviting you to public lectures by Prof Ian Meickeljohn from the University of Pretoria and Prof Derck Smit from the University of South Africa. Prof Ian Meikeljohn - Antarctica and effect of climate change Prof Derck Smit - His involvement in Antarctica including the SANAE 2 base. Date: 21 June 2008 Venue: 18A Gill Street, Urania Village, Observatory Time: 17h00 Programme: 17h00-18h00: Interaction with exhibits 18h00-19h30: Public talks 19h30-20h00: Science shows (TBC) 19h30-22h00: Sky viewing Entrance is free. Please confirm your attendance with Mavis, Thembi or Daphne. Tel: 011 487 1512 or 011 551 5940 Email: daphne@saasta.ac.za or thembi@saasta.ac.za Map and directions are available on request. Call for Proposals 2008 Antarctica Month will be held in June 2008. The closing date for submissions has been extended to 21 January 2008. All applicants are urged to read the Information for Applicants document providing guidelines about the type of proposals required. International Polar Year Due to our involvement in Antarctica, South Africans are active participants in IPY. More info on the IPY and IHY websites. Southern Ocean Saturated With Carbon Dioxide The Southern Ocean around Antarctica is so loaded with carbon dioxide that it can barely absorb any more, so more of the gas will stay in the atmosphere to warm up the planet, scientists reported on 18 May 2007. Human activity is the main culprit, said researcher Corinne Le Quere, who called the finding very alarming.		.		A N I M A T I O N As part of the 2007 celebrations, SAASTA flighted a campaign to promote Antarctica Month on national television. The promo is in the form of an animation, which you can download and view on this website.
				C A L E N D A R O F A C T I V I T I E S Calendar - Antarctica Month 2008 (93kb)   Right-click and select "Save target as..."
				F A C T  S H E E T S Find out more about the following exciting topics: Did you knows Antarctic science Antarctic Treaty Antarctic history: facts and fiction Solstice - 'Blame it on geometry'
				I P Y   2 0 0 7  -  2 0 0 8 International Polar Year is a large scientific programme focused on the Arctic and the Antarctic from March 2007 to March 2009. More ...