Special Research Initiative for Antarctic Science will help forecast environmental change across the Antarctic region
Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future (SAEF) is a world leading Antarctic research program that exemplifies the leadership required in science and environmental stewardship to secure the environmental future of Antarctica.
Today Australian Research Council (ARC) Chief Executive Officer, Ms Judi Zielke PSM, attended the formal launch of SAEF at Monash University.
Funded by the Australian Research Council as a Special Research Initiative grant in Excellence in Antarctic Science (SRIEAS), SAEF's mission is to understand the changes taking place across the Antarctic region - to its climate and its biodiversity - and develop innovative ways to forecast, mitigate and manage these changes.
The SAEF Antarctic research program, led by Monash University, brings together partners from the Australian Antarctic Division, universities, government and international partners to identify conservation priorities and inform policy-making decisions for the benefit of Antarctica's future.
Ms Zielke said that the SRIEAS scheme supports outstanding research for targeted areas the Australian Government has identified as important for advancing Australia's research capability and global competitiveness.
"I am pleased to note that the research outcomes produced by SAEF will contribute to the Australian Government's Antarctic science research themes, spanning across Climate Processes and Change, Environmental Change and Conservation, and Frontier Science," said Ms Zielke.
"With Australia and other nations moving towards net zero emissions, it is now more important than ever to build a strong understanding of the climate changes occurring in the Antarctic region, and the large-scale consequences these may have if we don't address them."
With $36 million in ARC research funding over a seven-year period, SAEF will not only deliver high-quality research to the benefit of the community but will also play a key role in developing the science workforce of the future.
In its first year of operation, SAEF has recruited over 20 post-doctoral researchers and 20 PhD students, with an expectation to train more than 100 early career researchers over its seven-year funding period.
