Six scientists from UTM participated in a research cruise expedition in the freezing waters on the Antarctic from 25 February to 19 March 2015. The focus of the 21-day research expedition centred around the fields of remote sensing, microbiology, sport science, and mechanical engineering.
The members of the team were:
i) Prof. Dr. Mazlan Hashim and Dr Mohd Nadzri Md Reba from the UTM Geoscience and Digital Earth Centre (INSTeG), researchers in the field of Remote Sensing, researching changes in atmospheric variables in the Antartica and Asian regions related to global warming, and comparative studies on oceans in the Antarctic Ocean and Asian waters.
ii) Dr. Mohd Firdaus Abdul Wahab from the Environmental Biotechnology Research Group (ENVIBIO), researcher in Microbiology, studying microbes from Antarctica.
iii) Dr. Mohd Farid Muhammad Said from the UTM Automotive Development Centre (ADC), researcher in Mechanical Engineering, using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for underwater studies.
iv) Prof. Dr. Abd. Hafidz Omar and Kamaruzzaman Soed from the UTM Sports Innovation & Technology Centre (SITC), researchers in Sports Science, researching changes of human triglycerides, glucose and lactates toward extreme climate, total lung capacity during an Antarctic expedition, and the effect extreme cold weather toward exercise.
Near a penguin habitat at Curveville Island
ROV Operation at Paradise Harbour
Researchers and crew of the UTM-Antarctic Expedition
The expedition travelled aboard the Australia under the guidance of Captain Ben Wallis, and gathered samples from such places as Melchior Island, and Curveville Island, close to a penguin habitat, and Paradise Harbor.
Additionally, the expedition did not waste the opportunity to strengthen international networks by visiting Chilean, Argentinian and Ukrainian base stations.
The video of the expedition can be seen here