Next generation of scientists supported through scholarships
18 May 2016
Next generation of scientists supported through Antarctic scholarships
One hundred years ago the Antarctic challenge was a race to reach the South Pole. Today the challenge is one of science and stewardship as the planet warms to levels never before recorded.
To better understand our changing world, five new research scholarships have been awarded to top New Zealand Antarctic researchers thanks to support from Antarctica New Zealand, New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute (NZARI) and New Zealand Post.
From an award pool of $50,000, the Postgraduate Research Scholarship Programme supports studies at masters and doctorate levels, to encourage researchers to pursue interests in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
The quality of applications were of a very high standard which is a testament to Antarctic research agencies across New Zealand. This reflects the growing importance of broader climate research in our communities and the career opportunities linked to this.
Antarctica New Zealand and its partners are committed to the valuable contribution that Antarctic science can make to the international knowledge base and understanding of Antarctica and global ecosystems and processes.
2016 research awards include:
New Zealand Post Antarctic Scholarship: Natalie Pilcher, University of Canterbury, MSc - “Mercury contamination in Adélie and emperor penguins in the Ross Sea: latitudinal, temporal, sexual, age and inter-specific differences.”
New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute Doctoral Scholarship: Alena Malyarenko, University of Otago/NIWA, PhD - “Interannual Ocean Variability in the Ross Sea.”
New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute Masters Scholarship: Rebecca Parker, University of Otago, MSc - “Sea ice and diatom primary production in the Ross Sea, Antarctica: the response to post-glacial warming.”
Antarctica New Zealand Postgraduate Scholarship: Ekkehard Scheffler, University of Canterbury, MSc - “Analysis of short term variations of glacier flow in the Ross Sea region, Antarctica, observed by new satellite sensors.”
New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute Prize: Marcus Arnold, University of Canterbury, MSc - “Surface Mass Balance of the Ross Ice Shelf: Dating Snow Layers from Radar by Using Stable Isotope Analysis.”
ENDS