We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 SCAR Ant-ICON | SC-ATS science-policy fellowship programme for early-mid career researchers (EMCRs). The aim of the fellowship programme is to provide the opportunity for EMCRs to gain experience in the science-policy interface from participating in Antarctic policy forums through the preparation and potential submission of a science/policy paper based on their research, in collaboration with SC-ATS.
For 2025, the fellowship programme will fund three fellows: two to participate in the CEP/ATCM meetings in Milan, Italy from 23 June – 3 July 2025, and one to participate in the SC-CAMLR/CCAMLR meetings in Hobart, Australia from 20-24 October 2025 or the SC-CAMLR Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (WG- EMM) in Geilo, Norway from 7-18 July 2025.
The 2025 Fellows are:
Gabriel Stefanelli Silva from the Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, and Instituto de Pesca, Brazil, who has received the CEP/ATCM Fellowship.
His project is looking at Microplastics and persistent organic pollutants in deep-sea organisms.
Gabriel’s recent study, based on archived biological specimens, revealed the earliest recorded presence of microplastics in Antarctica, dating back to 1986. Through the fellowship, he aims to highlight the value of biological collections in monitoring microplastic pollution and its impact on the vulnerable Antarctic benthos.
Charlotte Walshaw from the School of GeoSciences, Global Change Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK, who has received the CEP/ATCM Fellowship.
Her project is titled “Plantarctica: Mapping vegetation across Antarctica using satellite and UAS imagery”.
Charlotte will use a continent-scale vegetation map to assess protection levels across Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Regions and apply Systematic Conservation Planning to identify priority sites for protection. Her work aims to support CEP/ATCM policymakers in designating new protected areas to safeguard Antarctica’s unique plant communities.
Zuzana Zajková from the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC) (“Institut de Ciències del Mar”), Spain , who has received the CCAMLR Fellowship.
Her project is titled “Revisiting the East Antarctic Marine Protected Area proposal: Insights from long-term wintering distribution of Adélie penguins”.
Zuzana’s project aims to advance research on the conservation of Adélie penguin habitats using bio-logging technology. She will assess the effectiveness of the proposed East Antarctic Marine Protected Area, which currently leaves key moulting and wintering areas unprotected. By presenting her findings to experts and policymakers, Zuzana aims to provide scientific evidence to support improved protection for migratory species and enhance ecosystem connectivity within the Southern Ocean MPA network.
Congratulations, Gabriel, Charlotte and Zuzana! We are looking forward to the outcomes of your work.