The vacancy is available for chileans and foreigners with an academic degree of Doctor in accredited national programs or their foreign equivalents, in disciplines relevant to the required profile. Applications will be open until April 30, 2024.
The Biodiversity Institute of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE) seeks to provide a postdoctoral scientific position in Niche Models or Species Distribution Models (SDMs), a call to which Chileans or foreigners can participate to carry out research within the framework of Project ICN2021_002.
Looking for a person, preferably in regions, for biodiversity research in Antarctic and subantarctic areas, with management of software in the field of Geographic Information Systems, preferably ArcGis. In addition, with medium-advanced knowledge of the R language, knowledge of modeling packages and script development.
The submission of background information must be made through the email administracion@institutobase.cl and the deadline expires on April 30, 2024. The final resolution regarding the award of postdoctoral positions will be made by the Council of Principal Researchers of the project in May 2024.
For more details about the contest, review the rules:
Main image: BASE Millennium Institute / Pablo Guerrero
Punta Arenas, March 2024.- Earlier this week, Chile announced the detection of positive cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Antarctica, during the LX Antarctic Scientific Expedition (ECA 60) organized by the Institute Chilean Antarctic (INACH).
BASE Millennium Institute team in Antarctica, monitoring penguin colony. Photo: StudioPONANT / Morgane Monneret
For the first time, positive cases of avian flu have been detected in Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) and Antarctic shags (Leucocarbo bransfieldensis), marking a milestone in research into the health of wildlife in this territory. This discovery was made by the Millennium Biodiversity Institute of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE Millennium Institute) in collaboration with the french company PONANT, with the participation of an international research team led by PhD. Elie Poulin (Universidad de Chile, BASE Millennium Institute) and PhD. Juliana Vianna (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, BASE Millennium Institute and CGR, Lili, Institute for Sustainable Development UC), in collaboration with PhD. Céline LeBohec, from CNRS, France, and CSM, Monaco, and the Oceanographic Institute of the Albert I Prince of Monaco Foundation (IOM).
The samples were obtained at thirteen breeding sites along the Antarctic Peninsula and the western coast of the White Continent, with international support from the ship Le Commandant Charcot. Following a highly sensitive PCR analysis carried out by PhD. Fabiola León (BASE Millennium Institute, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, CRG, Lili), nine cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) were detected in penguins and shags, being the first records of these two species in Antarctica.
Adding to this epidemiological surveillance effort is what was carried out near the Czech Johann Gregor Mendel base on James Ross Island by national researchers. An unusual mortality of skuas was reported here in early March, which alerted the team of virologists from the National Antarctic Science Program (Procien) at the Professor Julio Escudero base at INACH. This equipment was transferred aboard the Chilean Navy ship Janequeo to carry out the corresponding sampling. This tuesday, it was finally confirmed that the samples collected returned a positive result for the avian flu virus.
Aerial view of the ship Le Commandant Charcot of the Ponant company. Photo: Ponant
These analyzes are part of the INACH collaborative project “Identification and Characterization of HPAIV H5N1 in Antarctica”, led by PhD. Marcelo González, head of the INACH Scientific Department. The tests were processed at the Escudero base by veterinary doctors specialized in molecular diagnosis, headed by PhD. Víctor Neira, from the Animal Virology Laboratory (FAVET) of the Universidad de Chile.
Since the beginning of monitoring the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in birds in Antarctica, the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) has developed a project to monitor the virus in the antarctic and subantarctic territories, a work that is being carried out continuously and systematically from Chile. These findings highlight the importance of collaborative work and scientific research in Antarctica to understand and mitigate the risks associated with avian diseases in the region.
By: INACH and BASE Millennium Institute
Main image: Ponant
The alternate director of the Millennium BASE Institute, Julieta Orlando, emphasized the significance of the white continent for the planet, during a keynote talk organized by the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the Universidad Católica del Maule.
BASE Millenium Institute associate researcher, PhD. Hugo Benítez, and alternate director of the BASE Millennium Institute, PhD. Julieta Orlando. Photo: BASE Millennium I.
“Protecting Antarctic biodiversity is important for humanity”. With this statement, the alternate director of the Millennium BASE Institute, Julieta Orlando, emphasized why the frozen continent is considered the heart of the planet, during a master lecture she gave at the Universidad Católica del Maule (UCM).
“While Antarc tica looks remote and isolated, it is very interconnected. What happens there can affect other latitudes, including permanent human settlements, and therefore the protection of that biodiversity not only takes care of that balance, but also the global one”, said the associate professor of the University of Chile in the activity organized by the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of Maule (CIEAM, in Spanish), belonging to the campus.
The event, which was attended by the dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences of the institution, Claudio Fredes, was aimed at commemorating Antarctica Month.
CIEAM Researcher, PhD. Alexis Castillo. Photo: Universidad Católica del Maule
“It is also important to maintain the balance in this territory because there are many resources within the biodiversity that are not yet known but could prove useful in the future”, stated the PhD of Sciences, who has made several contributions to polar research, considers both charismatic and well-known organisms, as well as imperceptible microorganisms that could mitigate climate change.
The scientist has participated in ten expeditions to the southernmost continent in the world, which celebrates its day every November 6, commemorating the milestone established by former President Pedro Aguirre Cerda when he defined the limits of the Chilean Antarctic Territory in 1940.
PhD. Julieta Orlando, alternate director of the BASE Millennium Institute. Photo: BASE Millennium I. / N. Politis
“The Chilean Antarctic Institute, INACH, envisions Antarctica being recognized not just on a specific day, but throughout a whole month, so that all people, even from Arica, Iquique or Antofagasta, can feel that this territory is an integral part of their country and the planet”, she emphasized.
In addition to Orlando, doctors Aparna Banerjee, Alexis Castillo and Felipe Gordillo, as well as the director of CIEAM and researcher at the Millennium BASE Institute, PhD. Hugo Benítez, shared their experiences on the white continent.
“The center has two Antarctic science projects that were awarded two years ago. With this event, we aimed to showcase our high-level research in the Antarctic environment, and invite students to participate of it with internships and doctoral or master’s theses”, said Benítez.
“I came to Chile for an exchange with the Catholic University of Chile (UC), I wanted to live in a country with research networks in Antarctic science. When I arrived, I sent an email to the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) of Chile and to my Edinburgh professors with contacts here, looking for an opportunity to get involved with the Antarctic scientific community from APECS Chile, they offered me to visit the Molecular Ecology Laboratory of the University of Chile (Uch).
Emily Gschwind with the doctoral researcher of the BASE Millennium Institute, Sebastián . Photo: BASE Millennium I. / N. Politis.
My name is Emily Gschwind, I am from Germany, but I am studying marine biology at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and that is where I first learned about APECS. Antarctica always caught my attention, so when I was in my first year of college and I met one of my professors, who researches microflora in Antarctica, I asked him about opportunities for ecology students and he told me about APECS.
In this exchange I learned a lot, it was the first time I was so far from home, from my family and friends. Arriving without knowing anyone and with a low level of spanish was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, but also, thanks to it, I was able to learn and grow. I learned to speak spanish, I met friends who were my second family, I learned to adapt to new places and situations, and I was able to travel and get to know Chile, one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world. I was also able to explore new interests, such as rock climbing, salsa dancing, and cooking.
I loved living in Santiago, what I liked the most were the new opportunities that the city offers, from culture and history and social movements, to the mountains and the incredible nature that is around. In Santiago there are always new things to explore. Being a mountaineer, I took advantage of how close the mountain range is to the city, and went hiking almost every weekend. I am from Berlin, a very flat place, so the part of living in Santiago that I liked the most was the opportunity to climb hills so frequently.
Emily Gschwind. Photo: BASE Millennium I. / N. Politis.
This experience has motivated me to link my scientific career with Antarctica more than ever, I have always been interested in Antarctic science, and this experience made my dream of working in it a real possibility for me. I am sure that I want to continue with this type of research (marine ecology) in the future, and especially on the white continent. Thanks to this experience I have seen the importance of Antarctic research, and also the great variety of topics that are studied and everything that this work means.
At first I was a little nervous, because it was my first marine biology internship, and my first experience working in a laboratory, but working with Sebastián Rosenfeld and PhD. Elie Poulin has been a great experience. I am very grateful to them for helping me, teaching me and making me feel welcome in the team. I learned a lot and gained a lot of confidence.
Now I plan my scientific career doing ecological research in Antarctica, working in the field. But in the near future, I’m going to finish my final year of undergraduate first, and then I see myself pursuing a master’s and then a PhD in marine ecology, but I’m not sure yet specifically. I would like to do more internships and further explore my interests in marine ecology before deciding. Hopefully in one of these steps I can return to Chile!“
By: Emily Gschwind
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Emily Gschwind is an undergraduate student at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and carried out taxonomic identification of shallow molluscs from the Weddell Sea, South Georgia Island and the Falkland/Malvinas islands, within the framework of conducting biodiversity inventories promoted by the BASE Millennium Institute supported by the doctoral researcher and specialist in molluscs PhD. (c) Sebastián Rosenfeld and by the director of the Molecular Ecology Laboratory of the University of Chil, also director of the BASE Millennium Institute, PhD. Elie Poulin.
Main photo: BASE Millennium I. / N. Politis
Five researchers from Punta Arenas, Valdivia and Santiago from the Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and the Universities of Magallanes, University Austral of Chile, and University of Chile, presented their scientific advances at the prestigious SCAR Biology Symposium held until the 4 August in the city of Christchurch.
Principal investigator Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and Laboratory of Antarctic and Subantarctic Genomics and Molecular Ecology Laboratory (LAGEMAS), Claudio Gonzalez-Wevar.
More than 300 researchers from 35 different countries, in the first SCAR face-to-face meeting in three years, they were exchanging advances and challenges in science in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, until the 4 August 2023. The thirteenth version of the SCAR Biology Symposium presented a delegation from the Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE)
For the principal researcher of the BASE Millennium Institute, PhD. Claudio González-Wevar, the symposium is a key opportunity to present the latest results obtained from his Fondecyt 1210787 project, including new data on species from New Zealand, Antarctica and South America: “Among the most interesting results is that a species of Laevilitorina (Laevilitorina venusta) is distributed between Antarctica and Macquarie Island (Australia), making it one of the first examples of the same species found on both sides of the Polar Front”, he says.
The associate professor at the Institute of Marine and Limnological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences at the Universidad Austral de Chile, says his results suggest that “Laevilitorina venusta is a model species for physiological studies, as this lineage would have the ability to survive in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic environments. This is part of one of the project’s objectives, and Julia Saravia will develop her postdoctoral project in this area,” says González-Wevar.
PhD. Andrea Piñones, associate researcher Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and academic Universidad Austral de Chile
On the other hand, the associate researcher of the BASE Millennium Institute and oceanographer PhD. Andrea Piñones, presented the interaction between high frequency physical processes, such as coastal circulation and the impact of the tide, in the generation of biological hotspots in the South Shetland Islands: “Understanding how dynamic oceanographic processes are or could be generating favorable places for Antarctic marine organisms helps us to describe their current state”, says the also researcher of COPAS Coastal and IDEAL Center.
Representing the Chilean chapter of the Association of Polar Early Career Scientist (APECS), Phd. Claudia Maturana, researcher at the BASE Millennium Institute, will present the main results of her postdoc, linked to the connectivity of different populations of a freshwater crustacean (Branchinecta gaini): “We need to understand what the effective dispersal capacity of organisms is in order to predict changes in distribution in the face of the possible effects of climate change,” she says.
Sebastian Rosenfeld, doctoral researcher Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE).Vice President of the Association of Polar Young Researchers, APECS Chile, (Association of Polar Early Career Scientist, APECS).
Similarly, the doctoral researcher of the Millennium Institute BASE, CHIC and the GAIA Antarctic Research Center UMAG, Sebastian Rosenfeld, presented the results of his doctoral thesis focused on the global phylogeny of littorinid gastropods, research also conducted in the framework of his INACH project DG-10-22. Rosenfeld, is also Vice-President of ACPECS-Chile and researcher at the Universidad de Magallanes (UMAG), stresses the importance of communicating his research results: “I will show some of the new species we are describing, and also the scenarios we are proposing to explain the current diversity patterns of Laevilacunaria, Pellilitorina and Laevilitorina. In a context of climate change, it is very important to know in detail the biodiversity that currently inhabits Antarctic and Subantarctic environments,” he says.
Claudia Maturana, researcher attached to Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE).
Finally, the geneticist and researcher attached to the BASE Millennium Institute and Postdoctoral Fellow of the Austral University of Chile (UACh), Phd. Julia Saravia announced advances focused on two species of high-latitude fish: the notothenids Harpagifer bispinis (Diablito de los canales, sub-Antarctic), and Harpagifer antarcticus (Spiny Pillar) that inhabit Antarctica: “The increase in ocean temperatures due to global climate change combined with the intensification of human activity represents a great challenge for native fish of high latitudes”, says.
The XIII SCAR Biology Symposium took place from August 4, 2023 in New Zealand and brought together hundreds of researchers from all over the world, in matters of acclimatization, adaptation and resistance of Antarctic flora and fauna, ecosystem patterns and processes, molecular ecology, biogeography and biosafety among others. More information in https://www.confer.co.nz/scarbiology2023
Julia Saravia, researcher attached to Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and Postdoctoral fellow Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh).
SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research), established in 1958, is an influential non-governmental organization composed of scientists from various disciplines. Its main objective is to promote, facilitate and coordinate worldwide scientific research in the Antarctic region. Adopting a collaborative approach, SCAR has become a fundamental pillar in advancing knowledge and understanding of the unique ecosystems and phenomena that characterize Antarctica.
Delegation of BASE Millennium Institute present at XIII SCAR Biology Symposium 2023, New Zealand (until august 4, 2023)
Principal investigator Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and Laboratory of Antarctic and Subanthartic Genomics and Molecular Ecology Laboratory (LAGEMAS). Academician of the Australian University of Chile (UACh) and researcher at the Center for Dynamic Research of Marine Ecosystems of High Latitudes (IDEAL).
Associate researcher Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and academic Universidad Austral de Chile and Institute of Marine and Limnological Sciences (UACh). Researcher of COPAS Coastal and Center for Dynamic Research of Marine Ecosystems of High Latitudes (IDEAL).
Researcher attached to Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and Cape Horn International Center for Studies of Global Change and Biocultural Conservation, CHIC, (Cape Horn International Center). Member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Young Polar Researchers, APECS Chile, (Association of Polar Early Career Scientist, APECS).
Dr. Julia Saravia (Valdivia)
Researcher attached to Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE) and Postdoctoral fellow Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh). Researcher Laboratory of Antarctic and Subantarctic Genomics and Molecular Ecology (LAGEMAS) and Center for Dynamic Research of Marine Ecosystems of High Latitudes (IDEAL).
Sebastián Rosenfeld (Santiago-Punta Arenas)
Doctoral researcher Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic ecosystems (BASE). Researcher University of Magallanes (UMAG), the GAIA Antarctic Research Center UMAG and the Cape Horn International Center for Studies of Global Change and Biocultural Conservation, CHIC, (Cape Horn International Center). Vice President of the Association of Polar Young Researchers, APECS Chile, (Association of Polar Early Career Scientist, APECS).
Main picture: (Names from left to right) PhD. Claudia Maturana, PhD. Sebastián Rosenfeld, PhD. Claudio González-Wevar, PhD. Andrea Piñones, and PhD. Julia Saravia
By: Carolina Gajardo and Nadia Politis
From October 24 to 26, 2023, more than a hundred scientific teams will meet at the Teaching and Research Assistance Center of the University of Magallanes (CADI-UMAG). Human footprints in Antarctica, biotechnology, climate change and international Antarctic law are part of the event’s themes.
Punta Arenas, June 2, 2023.- With the motto “Interdiscipline, Science and Future Scenarios”, researchers from all over Chile will meet from October 24 to 26 in Punta Arenas to exchange their advances in polar science and their challenges for the next years.
The eleventh version of the Chilean Congress of Antarctic Research, which after 19 years is once again taking place in this southern city, will also include tables on Antarctic Scientific Communication, Women in Antarctic Science and a keynote talk open to the public. In this way, the most important meeting of Chilean polar knowledge recovers its face-to-face character after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the previous version to be done virtually in 2021.
The State of the Antarctic ecosystem; Antarctic Thresholds: Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation; Climate change in Antarctica; Astronomy and Earth Sciences; Biotechnology; Human footprints in Antarctica, and Social Sciences and Humanities are the lines of study that converge in the National Antarctic Science Program, administered by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), with the aim of developing areas of particular national and international interest and establishing links to the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) programmes. In the same way, it guides the financing priorities of the competitive funds. All this universe of topics and interested parties will meet in the city that is the gateway to the White Continent.
The XI Chilean Congress of Antarctic Research is organized by INACH, the Millennium Biodiversity Institute of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE Millennium Institute) and the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research. Registration can be done on the site https://www.inach.cl/xicongresoantartico/ .
In parallel, the “V Chilean Conference on Antarctic Law: Relationship between the Antarctic Treaty System and other international regimes” will be held, promoting multi and interdisciplinarity in polar studies. The meeting will take place on October 24 and 25, in a hybrid manner. Papers and articles will be received that, preferably, address political-legal issues regarding the relationship between the Antarctic Treaty System and the other international regimes that eventually apply or may apply in the Sixth Continent or in the Southern Ocean, such as the Agreement on the Conservation of Biodiversity beyond the Areas of National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), among others. Abstract submission is available until August 18.
In collaboration with PhD. Claudio González-Wevar, principal investigator of the Millennium Biodiversity Institute of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), PhD. Hamish Spencer came to Valdivia to address the students of the Faculty of Sciences of the Austral University of Chile (UACh).
PhD. Hamish Spencer and PhD. Claudio González-Wevar, at the UACh Faculty of Sciences. Photo: BASE Millennium I./ J. Cova
“The key role of marine algae as a raft”, was the keynote talk given by PhD. Hamish Spencer, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Zoology at the University of Otago, New Zealand. PhD. Spencer’s participation at the Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh) is part of a Fondecyt Regular 1210787 collaborative project, and during his visit, he exchanged reflections with the students of the UACh Faculty of Sciences in Valdivia.
The talk, coordinated by the principal investigator of the BASE Millennium Institute, also UACh, Centro Fondap IDEAL and LAGEMAS, PhD. Claudio González-Wevar, focused on the ability of algae to form large floating structures in the ocean in the form of ” rafts”, fulfilling the task of providing habitat, shelter and food resources for various marine organisms such as crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, fish, seabirds and even mammals.
“It was good to know that there are other people who are interested in using genetic tools to try to understand what is happening to many species, in particular the raft function of algae in the Southern Ocean,” said PhD. Hamish Spencer. He also stressed the importance of linking research from different countries, specifically between Chile and New Zealand: “I really like the work we have been doing, as we have a set of different species and we are getting a very clear picture of them”, he pointed.
PhD. Spencer is Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of Otago, New Zealand. Photo: BASE Millennium I. / J. Cova
Similarly, PhD. Claudio González-Wevar valued the collaboration and joint work that has existed with PhD. Hamish Spencer, and highlighted the relevance of carrying out this type of instances. “The talks are very important to attract potential thesis students and show the community what we do”, he said.
Finally, PhD. Hamish Spencer expressed his fascination for the interest of Chilean students in this type of research, and invited future scientists to “enter into new challenges and explore the world of scientific research in places that get out of their comfort zone.”
By: Jemima Cova and Constanza Barrientos
Photographs: BASE Millennium I./ J. Cova
The project promoted from the Magallanes region by the Patagonian Institute of Cultural Studies (INPAEC), in collaboration with researchers from the BASE Millennium Institute, is now available on Spotify, Ivoox and the INPAEC YouTube channel.
“Bitácora Antártica” (Antarctic Logbook) is the name of the new scientific outreach podcast that seeks to reflect on Antarctica from the perspective of Anthropology, History, Science, Geology and Biodiversity. The proposal, promoted by the Patagonian Institute of Cultural Studies (INPAEC), and its director, Sociologist Silvio Reyes Rolla, seeks to discuss the Antarctic continent and its connection with people and knowledge, from a close, entertaining and reflective format: “We wanted to highlight Science as an agent of change that today is the protagonist of the great reflections of the future”, says Reyes, who is also a poet and cultural mediator.
Through 10 episodes of 40 to 50 minutes, researchers linked to Antarctica reflect on the challenges in the continent and how the Academy, Science and Civil Society work for its protection and awareness, a project in which the BASE Millenium Institute joined, with the participation of five of its researchers: PhD. Elie Poulin, PhD. Julieta Orlando, PhD. Juliana Vianna, PhD. Pablo Guerrero and PhD. Andrea Piñones.
Silvio Reyes Rolla is a Sociologist, Poet, Cultural Mediator and Director of the Patagonian Institute of Cultural Studies (INPAEC).¿
In chapter five, PhD. Andrea Piñones (BASE Millennium Institute, UACh, IDEAL, COPAS) reflects on ecogeographic elements of Antarctica and the so-called trophic chain (Premiere chapter: May 12, 2023). While in chapter six, PhD. Juliana Vianna (BASE Millennium Institute, PUC, CRG, Núcleo Milenio LILI) details the scientific work carried out with Penguins (Premiere chapter: May 15, 2023).
In chapter seven, PhD. Pablo Guerrero (BASE Millennium Institute, UdeC, IEB) gives details about his research on Antarctic plants (Premiere chapter: May 17, 2023), and on the other hand, chapter eight, PhD. Elie Poulin (Instituto Milenio BASE, Uchile) refers to pollution, invasive species and tourism developed in Antarctica (Premiere chapter: May 19, 2023). Finally, in chapter nine, PhD. Julieta Orlando (Instituto Milenio BASE, Uchile) reflects on Bioremediation and antibiotic resistance (Premiere chapter: 22 May 2023).
The podcast “Bitácora Antártica” (Antarctic Logbook), a popularization of history and science about the frozen continent and sub-Antarctic geography, is now available on Spotify, Ivoox and the INPAEC YouTube channel. The proposal has the musical collaboration of the Magellanic group Lluvia Ácida, with the song “Camino de la Ballena”, from the album Archipiélago Coloane. More information at https://www.inpaec.com/bitacora-antartica/
Chapters of “Antarctic Logbook”.
History of Antarctic research. Phd Marcelo Leppe Chapter premiere: May 2, 2023
Antarctic Treaty from the history. Rodrigo Santibáñez Chapter premiere: May 5, 2023
Human condition of research in the Antarctic field. Anthropologist Florencia Vergara – Chapter premiere: May 8, 2023
Geological conformation of Antarctica. Phd. Luis Jara Premiere episode: May 10, 2023
“Traveling more than 12,000 kilometers for my first job, was it worth it? 100% sure it is! The adventure began on September 29, 2022 with a flight from my country of origin: Belgium. The trip was a disaster, everything that could go wrong, went wrong, but after being trapped in Madrid for almost three days, I left Europe and arrived in Punta Arenas.
The objective of my trip was to work as a research assistant for PhD. Karin Gérard, principal researcher at the BASE Millennium Institute. Last year I had already been in Punta Arenas for a month in the context of my master’s thesis on starfish in Magellan and I fell in love with this beautiful region. Thanks to Dr. Karin Gérard, I had the opportunity to come back.
Luka Vantomme with the principal researcher the BASE Millennium Institute, Dr. Karin Gerard. Photo: BASE Millennium I. / C. Barrientos
Although I learned the basics of Spanish a few months before coming, I arrived in Chile without being able to say almost anything. Fortunately, the people are very nice, they were very (very!) Patients with me and my level of baby speech. Thanks to them I have learned very quickly. I started playing volleyball, I met people and in the end they became my best friends whom I will miss a lot. With them I went to visit Faro San Isidro, Faro Dungeness, Villa Dorotea, the Magallanes National Reserve, and they took me to try the famous choripanes of the “Kiosko Roca”, and also completos, pichangas, and chorillanas.
On the other hand, I am also very grateful to my colleagues from the Laboratory of Antarctic and Subantarctic Marine Ecosystems (LeMAS), led by PhD. Andrés Masilla. They were always very cool and the work environment seemed like a family. Thanks to Karin’s trust in me, I was able to work calmly and independently.
LmAS team together with a researchers from Belgium and France. Photo: BASE Millennium I. / C. Barrientos
At the end of my stay in Chile, colleagues came from Belgium and France with whom I had the opportunity to go diving in the small, beautiful and southern city of Puerto Williams. At this time of the year (end of March) the weather began to change and I saw my first snowfall from Chile (and I dived for the first time in snow ☺).
After an April full of diving, meetings with friends and farewells, it was time to return to Belgium.
I will never forget the people, nature, and the memories of Punta Arenas. Thank you all!”
Written by: Luka Vantomme
Main picture: BASE Millennium I. /C. Barrientos
Together with sub-Antarctic research teams, the alternate director of the Millennium Biodiversity Institute of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), PhD. Julieta Orlando, participated in coordination, interdisciplinary and scientific collaboration sessions.
In a meeting around international collaboration, scientific development and knowledge transfer, the Cape Horn Subantarctic Center inaugurated this Monday, May 15, its research center in Puerto Williams, with the aim of promoting excellent research from the Region Magellan and Chilean Antarctic.
Alternate director of the BASE Millennium Institute, PhD. Julieta Orlando, together with the director of CHIC, PhD. Ricardo Rozzi. Photo: BASE Millennium I./ N. Politis.
An environment of cooperation and exchange of knowledge that was highlighted by the Regional Governor of Magallanes and the Chilean Antarctic, Jorge Flies, who emphasized the local perspective that will be promoted from Puerto Williams: “The great dream is for it to be a region of world science. That is where having the BASE Millennium Institute, the University of Magallanes with CADI-UMAG, and what in a few years will be the International Antarctic Center (CAI), will allow us to achieve the highest rate of scientists per population in America, with 1 in every 120 inhabitants”, he pointed out.
While the CHIC director and principal investigator PhD. Ricardo Rozzi, highlighted the interdisciplinary work between centers: “Collaboration is a necessary condition to address problems that are complex, and the BASE-CHIC couple expresses the complementarity in collaborations, as a couple mutualist. This avoids, with limited resources, redundancy, which leads to instruments shared by BASE and CHIC, contributing to the ecosystem of centers of excellence in the Antarctic capital of Chile”.
While the director of the UMAG headquarters in Puerto Williams, Francisca Massardo highlighted collaboration as a tool for global change, to contribute to the study of environmental crises: “I think that having an infrastructure of the quality we have is a privilege and a permanent invitation to people to approach and develop research that has many points of view, to generate results among people”, he said.
Alternate director of the BASE Millennium Institute, PhD. Julieta Orlando, together with the alternate director of CHIC, PhD. Lorena Medina. Photo: BASE Millennium I. /N. Politis.
Collaboration from the Millennium Biodiversity Institute of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE) was represented through its alternate director, PhD. Julieta Orlando: “It is essential to link up, participate, and continue strengthening our ties with the Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), since we are not only linked through a shared affiliation of our researchers and researchers, but we are also building collaboration through work in research laboratories and the training of human capital with doctoral students”, she said.
PhD. Orlando, also an academic at the University of Chile and vice president of the Chilean Society for Microbiology (SOMICH), also met with researchers linked to both centers of excellence: PhD. Tamara Contador, PhD. Máximo Frangopulos, PhD. Roy Mackenzie, Melisa Gañán, Javier Rendoll and PhD. Brenda Riquelme. The instance allowed the development of field trips and the design of scientific collaboration in the field of publication and project development.
Research advances
In addition to the research and project development meetings, the alternate director of the BASE Millennium Institute, PhD. Orlando, attended the “First CHIC International Conference: Global Change and Biocultural Conservation”, which will take place until Friday, May 19 at the Cape Horn Sub-Antarctic Center promoted by CHIC. In the instance, researchers from the BASE Millennium Institute, CHIC, INVASAL and the University of Magallanes (UMAG) participated.
Team of researchers at the BASE Millennium Institute-CHIC . Photo: BASE Millennium I. /C. Barrientos.
With the talk “Phenology and life cycles of aquatic insects: sentinels of climate change” PhD. Tamara Contador reflected on bioethical scientific research, with emphasis on understanding Climate Change in invertebrates and sub-Antarctic and Antarctic ecosystems. The UMAG, CHIC and INVASAL researcher highlighted how adaptability and distribution can provide new responses to scientific research.
During the conference there will be scientific poster sessions, beginning on Tuesday May 16 with presentations by researchers CHIC-BASE Millennium Institute, Dr. Máximo Frangopulos, Melisa Gañán and Javier Rendoll. More information, and live streaming, at https://capehorncenter.com
By: Marcelo Sotomayor
Pictures: Nadia Politis y Constanza Barrientos
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And I'll be your guide to learn more about Antarctica. Do you have any questions? 👇
Punta Arenas, June 2, 2023.- With the motto “Interdiscipline, Science and Future Scenarios”, researchers from all over Chile will meet from October 24 to 26 in Punta Arenas to exchange their advances in polar science and their challenges for the next years.
