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Researching aquatic parasites on Antarctica a lifelong dream

31 March 2020 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Gerhard de Jager

Prof Linda Basson recently returned from a three-month research expedition in Antarctica. Here she is, relaxing on the ice with the ever-inquisitive Adelie penguins having a gander at these strangers in their snowy world.

Very little is known about the parasites of Antarctica, which is a highly productive part of the oceans. These small organisms can be used very successfully to determine the health of this fragile ecosystem.

“Our research data can make significant contributions to the biodiversity of parasites, for a start. The data can also be very valuable to indicate the overall health of this large ecosystem – an ecosystem that drives many of the life-giving processes on our planet.” This is the belief of Prof Linda Basson from the Department of Zoology and Entomology at the University of the Free State (UFS).

She is an aquatic parasitologist who concentrates on various parasites from a wide range of hosts, including vertebrates (fish and amphibians) and invertebrates (plankton, urchins, starfish, sea cucumbers and red-bait).

Prof Basson, together with PhD student Gerhard de Jager, was invited by Prof Isabelle Ansorge, Head of the School of Oceanography, University of Cape Town, to join her research team on the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAE) Voyage 59 to Antarctica.

Widen the scope of research
“Our aim on this trip was to determine how we can collaborate with the various oceanographers to widen the scope of research normally performed on these voyages, in order to also include parasitological aspects. Once we arrived on the continent of Antarctica, we worked to collect a range of hosts from the Southern Ocean to screen these for the whole array of parasites,” she explains.

No research of any kind on aquatic parasites has ever been done in Penguin Bukta and Akta Bukta, the specific areas where Prof Basson was based with other scientists and the rest of the Agulhas crew.

She adds: “Our research will contribute to the wider knowledge of parasites in marine environments, but specifically in this area where little to nothing is known.”

A chance of a lifetime
“Antarctica was literally one of the top research destinations on my bucket list. Travelling to and working in Antarctica is a lifelong dream of mine. It was a chance of a lifetime that I could not miss out on,” says Prof Basson.

Sharing her experience, she says a typical day on board the SA Agulhas II in Antarctica will start with a cup of good, quality coffee and a look at the prevailing weather on the stern of the ship.

“One would always be amazed by the beautiful, ceaselessly changing water, the restless sea ice and the impressive ancient ice shelf in very invigorating temperatures, while an ethereal Snow Petrel swirls past and the occasional Adelie penguin comes to gaze and contemplate the presence of this large red structure floating in their habitat and obscuring their view. After tearing yourself away from this, the rest of the day would be spent either in the well-equipped laboratory working through collected samples, or else planning the next exciting collection in the intensely cold water.”

Remarkable journey
To eternalise memories of this unique experience of almost three months, Prof Basson says that, “One cannot go without a fully charged camera with a large SD card, ready to capture the many facets of this exceedingly fragile but enchanting world of ice and sky, ever changing and all in innumerable shades of white”.

“This truly remarkable journey will forever be associated with a myriad of brilliant highlights.”

Finding it extremely difficult to single out a specific highlight, she listed a long list of memorable events, but as a scientist she will always remember “realising the wealth and cornucopia of microscopic life present in the southernmost of our oceans and seeing this first-hand under the microscope”.

News Archive

Fundraising campaign launched to help feed hungry students

2012-03-28

From the left is Dr. Carin Buys (Patron of NSH), Ms. Nicky Abdinor (guest speaker), Mrs. Grace Jansen (patron of NSH) and Redi Tlhabi (master of ceremonies).
Photo: Johan Roux
28 March 2012

Video clip (YouTube)

The University of the Free State (UFS) received over R200 000 for its No Student Hungry (NSH) Programme at the NSH launch dinner on Friday 23 March 2012 in Bloemfontein.

Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS as well as founder of the NSH Programme donated R100 000 from the proceeds of his book We Need to Talk to this programme. Standard Bank also donated R30 000.

An additional amount of about R90 000 was raised by means of pledges made by guests and the auctioning of several items. These items were donated by local companies and university staff.

The No Student Hungry Programme (NSH) aims to raise funds to provide modest food bursaries for needy students and give them daily access to a balanced meal.
Prof. Jansen started the NSH programme in 2011 with the proceeds of his book, We Need to Talk.

The NSH funds more than 100 students in the hope of helping them to excel in their academic endeavours and, ultimately, to obtain their degrees.

In 2011, Prof. Jansen discovered that a significant number of students were studying without eating on a regular basis. These were often students with strong academic records but without adequate funding to sustain themselves with regular meals.

The project was established in January 2011 when the NSH Team started to develop the structure and processes of the programme. The first 100 students who were awarded the food bursaries started using their student cards for daily meals on campus on 1 April 2011.

“The No Student Hungry Campaign is not only about creating a university campus that cares. It is about creating a country where being human matters. Our students on the NSH project are amazing young people. They struggle to get by, but they have great potential and achieve good marks," Prof. Jansen said on Friday.

Prof. Jansen’s wife, Grace, and Dr Carin Buys, wife of Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, volunteered to drive the programme and raise funds to address the problem. They are supported by various divisions within the university.

Students apply for the bursaries and are selected on the basis of their financial needs, good academic results, active participation in student life programmes and commitment to give something back to the community.

The raising of funds is a continuous process involving awareness campaigns, seeking of partnerships with companies and institutions and support from the general public, staff and individuals.

An agreement has been made with several food outlets/restaurants on campus who offer healthy, balanced meals to NSH students when they swipe their student cards that are funded by the programme.

At the end of the year the process is reviewed and students who still qualify are reinstated on the programme, whilst those whose circumstances have changed or are no longer in need of the bursaries, make way for new applications.

The NSH Team meets with students on a regular basis with the purpose of offering training, motivation and opportunities for personal growth and career development. Students are also expected to become involved in projects as a way of ploughing back into the community.

The goal is to expand the project annually as support for it grows.
Ms Nicky Abdinor, a clinical psychologist from Cape Town, who was born without arms and with shortened legs, provided an entertaining motivational speech at the launch. Ms Abdinor, founder of the Nicky's Drive organisation, also visited the UFS’ Unit for Students with disabilities where she delivered a talk on independence for people living with disabilities.

To become involved with the NSH Programme, please contact Mrs René Pelser on +27(0)51 4019087 or e-mail pelserr@ufs.ac.za.

Media Release
28 March 2012
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: +27(0)51 401 2584
Cell: +27(0)83 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

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