Associate Professor Marcello Vichi

Africa Day is a reminder of Africa’s unique role in global observations and, more critically, the importance of building capacity within marine science across sub-Saharan Africa.

The opportunity to carry out research and training in the Southern Ocean in winter is extremely rare, yet UCT and its partners are well positioned through the use of South Africa’s research and polar vessel, SA Agulhas II, to undertake such pioneering work.

We are part of an interdisciplinary team. Polar sciences are just like Africa – we need to mix up colours, disciplines and expertise to tackle the complexity (in this case of Antarctic sea ice).

A/Prof Marcello Vichi
Marine Research Institute (Director)
Department of Oceanography
University of Cape Town