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Animated Antarctica Month clip flighted on national television
As part of the 2007 celebrations, SAASTA is flighting 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. You can also view the schedule of when the clip will be shown on television.

Calendar of Events 2007
The schedule of events held during Antarctica Month. These included campus radio interviews, media articles, lectures by Antarctica expedition members including young upcoming researchers, exhibitions and open days.

World Environment Day on 5 June joins forces with IPY
The World Environment Day theme for 2007 is “Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?” In support of International Polar Year, World Environment Day 2007 focuses on the challenges facing the people and ecosystems of the Arctic and Antarctic as a consequence of our rapidly changing climate. This theme is particularly appropriate given the release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, which indicate that we have less than 10 years to turn around our current emission trend. Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, says “These findings (IPCC reports) put a full stop behind the scientific debate as to whether humankind is influencing the climate and now beg the question of what we are going to do about it”. Additionally, in focusing on something as tangible as melting ice in the Polar Regions, we are forced to reflect on the wider world where glaciers are shrinking and an increasing number of extreme weather events are triggering more frequent droughts and floods.

Calendar of Events 2007
The schedule of events planned for Antarctica Month has been released. This year events include campus radio interviews, media articles, lectures by Antarctica expedition members including young upcoming researchers, exhibitions and open days.

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 Thursday. Human activity is the main culprit, said researcher Corinne Le Quere, who called the finding very alarming.
Source: Reuters, 18 May 2007

Antarctic 'treasure trove' found
An extraordinarily diverse array of marine life has been discovered in the deep, dark waters around Antarctica. Scientists have found more than 700 new species of marine creatures in seas once thought too hostile to sustain such rich biodiversity. Groups of carnivorous sponges, free-swimming worms, crustaceans and molluscs were collected.
Source: BBC News, 16 May 2007

Social sciences and humanities to start research in Antarctica
There is a growing need for Antarctic-related research in the social sciences and humanities to obtain a deeper understanding of political, economic, and socio-cultural processes and pressures. A platform for Antarctic researchers from the social sciences and humanities will be formally established through the internet portal www.share-antarctica.org (which will be fully operational in May 2007).

Call now closed
Please note that as of 31 January 2007, the call has closed. Panels are currently evaluating proposals and the outcome will be communicated to all successful and unsuccessful applicants.

Call for proposals 2007
DST and SAASTA are inviting the science centre network, science councils, universities, museums and the NRF facilities, as well as other relevant interest groups and individuals, to submit innovative and creative proposals for organising and implementing projects during 2007, which will contribute towards raising public awareness around Antarctica Month. Deadline: 31 January 2007.

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Celebrating research on the coldest, driest, and loneliest continent
Media release issued on 31 May 2006
Announcement release at the start of Antarctica Month 2006.

Events 2006
Issued on 26 May 2006
View the Calendar of Events to see what's happening in your area.

Cartoons explaining and celebrating Antarctic Science
Issued on 12 May 2006
Downloadable (hi-res) cartoons reveal some of the exciting activities being undertaken on the planet's highest, coldest, windiest continent.

Call for proposals: Science Platform Months 2006
DST has declared a series of four thematic months for 2006, namely Antarctica (June), Marine Biosciences (August), African Origins (September) and Astronomy (October). SAASTA has been mandated to implement the initiative.

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Solstice celebrated in style in Antarctica and on islands - and aboard SA Agulhas in Cape Town harbour!
Media release issued on 20 June 2005
'It is evident that South Africa increasingly recognises the significance of Antarctica in understanding global scientific phenomena.' This was the message delivered by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena, at an Antarctica Month celebration event held aboard the SA Agulhas in Cape Town harbour today.

Antarctica: natural reserve devoted to peace and science
Media release issued on 11 June 2005
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has declared June 2005 to be 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.