A Ship, An Island

Transcript

With only five days’ notice, Mehita was thrown into a whirlwind of preparation: rushing between medical clearances, work arrangements, and the essential question: what does one even pack for a month on the ice-cold Southern Ocean? In this unexpected turn of events, she found herself standing on East Pier beneath the warm autumn sun, flanked by two kit bags and staring in awe at her home for the next 33 days – the SA Agulhas II. Her destination: Marion Island. Hear her story of sudden departures, scientific voyages, and the quiet awe of the subantarctic ocean.

The South African National Antarctic Programs Artist and Writers Project was devised and is run by Prof Charne Lavery at the University of Pretoria and Prof Jean Brundrit from the University of Cape Town. It is a pilot program designed to improve public engagement with South Africa’s Antarctic involvement through the arts and humanities. The Project is funded and supported by the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) and the South African Government. This episode introduces the SA Agulhas II, South Africa’s national scientific research vessel, and Marion Island, South Africa’s subantarctic territory.

We want to thank the following guests on this episode:
– Dr Azwianewu Makhado and Mr Marcel van der Berg from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment
– Mr Yinhla Shihlomule, Ms Eleanor Weideman, Mr Chandler Patel, and Mr Peter Cunningham from the South African Polar Research Infrastructure.
– Prof. Guillaume Delpech from the Universite’ Paris Saclay
– Prof. David Hedding from the University of South Africa
– Ms Nicola Marneweck from the University of Pretoria
– Ms Kanyisa Makubalo from the South African Weather Service.

For more information on the work discussed in this episode, visit:

– Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment: www.dffe.gov.za/antarctica-and-so…rn-oceans-islands
– South African National Antarctic Programme: www.sanap.ac.za/
– South African Polar Research Infrastructure: www.sapri.ac.za/
– South African Weather Service: www.weathersa.co.za/

This season is funded by the NRF-South African Research Chair in Science Communication, located within the Centre for Science Communication at Stellenbosch University. Prof Mehita Iqani is the Chairholder. | www.imidibaniso.co.za

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