Overview
ROICE 2020 adapted the programme around previous results and new environmental questions.
The campaign took place at King Sejong Antarctic Station of KOPRI on King George Island. It expanded ROICE toward Antarctic Ocean water quality, pollutants and climate-linked microbial community change.
Scientific Objectives
Water quality
Identify potential polluting compounds, including plastic degradation compounds and oil residues.
Microbial structure
Correlate physico-chemical data from snow, ice, water paths and soil with microbial communities.
Airborne transfer
Investigate microbial diversity as a potential indicator of airborne microorganism transfer.
Glacier retreat
Assess climate change and ice-sheet withdrawal effects on microbial communities embedded in ice.
Field and Laboratory Activities
Samples were pre-processed at King Sejong Station before laboratory research in Romania.
The team sampled and observed Antarctic habitats on King George Island, then transported material for further research at INCDSB and the Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology.
Environmental observations
Sampling in Antarctic habitats on King George Island.
Sample pre-processing
Collected samples prepared in King Sejong Research Station laboratories.
Laboratory handoff
Microbiological, physico-chemical and environmental data integrated for interpretation.
Team
Expedition members.
Dr. Iris Maria Tușa
Department of Arctic and Antarctic Research.
Dr. Corina Itcus
Extremophile microorganisms and microbial adaptation in aquatic, polar and alpine ecosystems.
Dr. Alexandra Maria Hillebrand-Voiculescu
Environmental science, speleology, karst and polar ecosystems.
Expedition timeline
Five Antarctic campaigns since 2015.
Gallery
Visual record of the expedition.
Sponsors and Supporters
