National Center for Antarctica and Ocean Research (NCAOR) launched and led India’s first ever National scientific Expedition to South Pole. They participated in the international celebration of centenary of man’s reaching South Pole in 1911 and unfurled the Indian Flag on Geographical South Pole on 20th November, 2010. The 8 member team of expert in the field of specific scientific activity carried out many experiments and collected many specimens.
Scientific highlights
The team conducted scientific experiments enroute. A number of new species of bacteria have been identified from cold habitats. In Antarctica 30 out of 240 new species discovered so far have been from India. 12 new species of bacteria have been reported from the Polar regions during 2008-2011.
Two genes namely t-RNA modification GTPase and aspratate aminotransferase have been identified as genes required for survival of bacteria at low temperature. A number of cold active and heat labile enzymes (protease, RNAase, Time GTPase etc) with application in biotechnology have been purified to homogeneity.
Using meta-genome analysis, bacterial diversity has been found to be extremely diverse and a few of them have been implicated in hydrocarbon remediation.
Biological samples which include soil samples from Antarctica have indicated Leads for some pharmaceutical uses. These are being developed in association with Piramal Life Sciences, to take it further.
Scientific Publications
· A Special Issue in the Indian Journal of Marine Sciences entitled “Antarctic and Southern ocean physical processes, published in March 2008, vol. 37(1), p.1-110, ISSN:0379-5136
· A Special Issue in the Indian Journal of Marine Sciences entitled “International Polar Year – Studies on Antarctic and Southern Ocean” published in
December 2008, vol. 37(4), p.1-110, ISSN: 0379-5136
· A Special Issue in the Indian Journal of Geosciences entitled “Antarctica Special”, brought out in the Journal from Geological Survey of India.
Vol.63, No.2, 2009, ISSN 0019-5936
· Three Technical Reports comprising of Scientific Report of the Indian Antarctic Programme has been published
a. Technical Publication No.19 – Scientific Report of the
XXI Indian Expedition to Antarctica
b. Technical Publication No.20 – Scientific Report of the
XXII Indian Expedition to Antarctica
c. Technical Publication No.21 – Scientific Report of the
XXIII Indian Expedition to Antarctica
· A Monograph on Lichens from Antarctic published by NCAOR in 2010 April.
· Bi-Annual Polar News is being publishes , bilingually, since last three years.
Capacity Building
· A total of 106 scientific members have participated in the last three years from 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10 respectively representing different organizations and institutions.
· Under Student Participation Scheme in the Indian Antarctic Program to develop human resource in the field of polar regions, 05 students have participated in the last three expeditions and two have joined NCAOR as Junior Research Fellows for furtherance of the scientific research.
· Universities have been encouraged to participate and the participants include members from Barkatullah University- Bhopal, Dr.R.M.L.Avadh University, Faizabad, Allahabad University [KBCAOS], Visva Bharati Santiniketan
Antarctica linked to Goa by IT Connectivity
· NCAOR is now linked with Maitri – Antarctica 24 X 7 by a Satellite connectivity. This was made operational by installing 3.2 meters C-band antenna enclosed in a RAYDOME at Maitri and a corresponding facility at NCAOR Campus.
International recognition
Ø India is represented in the international bodies linked to Polar activity by NCAOR.
Ø India elected as Vice Chair of Council of Managers of Antarctic Program (COMNAP) 2008-10
Ø India elected as Vice Chair of Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) 2008-10, 2010-12.
Ø India is currently the Chair of the Asian Forum for Polar Sciences (AFoPS) for the term 2010-12
Ø India was a member of Selection Committee of Martha Muse Award of US $100, 00 for outstanding contributions in Antarctic science and policy matters.
Ø Two SCAR fellowships, in the years 2009-10 and 2010-11 were bagged by NCAOR researchers namely: Nuncio Murukesh and
Dr. Sunil Kumar Shukla
NCAOR scientist continues to represent India in UNCLOS, a UN body to oversee the claims of nations pertaining to legal continental shelf.
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