Overview

ROICE 2015 opened a modern Romanian research direction in Antarctica.

The campaign took place at King Sejong Antarctic Station on Barton Peninsula, King George Island, West Antarctica. It continued the legacy of Emil Racovita through modern polar science and established the practical INCDSB-KOPRI cooperation framework.

Scientific Objectives

01

Cooperation

Implement the bilateral scientific collaboration agreement between INCDSB and KOPRI.

02

Microbial diversity

Investigate Antarctic habitats and adaptation mechanisms in extreme conditions.

03

Biological material

Collect data and biological samples for future national and international projects.

04

Human adaptation

Study effects of Antarctic extreme conditions on the human body.

Field and Laboratory Activities

Sampling methods were optimized for biological material in extreme environments.

The team sampled Antarctic soil, snow, ice, water and other polar habitats, recorded physico-chemical parameters and prepared material for laboratory analysis in Romania.

Field

Habitat sampling

Soil, snow, ice, water and relevant polar environments.

Processing

Preliminary preparation

Field processing and transport of collected material to Romanian laboratories.

Analysis

Diversity studies

Phenotypic and metagenomic investigation of taxonomic and metabolic diversity.

Team

Expedition members.

INCDSB Expedition Leader

Dr. Cristina Purcărea

Extremophile microorganisms, microbial diversity, ecology, evolution and molecular adaptation.

INCDSB Logistics

Dr. Cristian Coman

Algology, environmental molecular microbiology, geomicrobiology and metagenomics.

INCDSB Researcher

Drd. Corina Ițcuș

Glacial environments, microbial diversity and extremophile microorganisms.

Expedition timeline

Five Antarctic campaigns since 2015.

ROICE 2026 Fifth Romanian Antarctic expedition: biodiversity and climate, permafrost, human adaptation to thermal stress. ROICE 2020 Water quality, pollutants, microbial diversity, glacier retreat and human adaptation. ROICE 2019 Third field campaign, continuing microbial diversity, climate change and human adaptation research. ROICE 2016 Expanded sampling, microbial diversity, human adaptation and stable isotope analyses. ROICE 2015 First Romanian Governmental Scientific Expedition in Antarctica with INCDSB and KOPRI.

Gallery

Visual record of the expedition.

Sponsors and Supporters

ROICE 2015 support.

Korea Polar Research Institute – KOPRI Partner supporting ROICE expedition deployment and hosting Romanian researchers at King Sejong Station. Himalaya ROICE 2015 sponsor connected to high-quality expedition and outdoor equipment. AAECR ROICE 2015 sponsor; association active in building energy efficiency and environmental impact reduction.