Antarctic Fellowship Recipients Announced
The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) and the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) have announced the recipients of the 2025 Antarctic Fellowship and Early-Career Awards.
The annual awards are an investment in the professional development of talented early-career persons. IAATO has awarded 10 recipients since launching its fellowship in 2019, and COMNAP has granted 23 Early-Career Awards since 2011.
IAATO has awarded $15000 USD from its fellowship fund to Dr Manuel Novillo for his project titled, ‘Frozen Clues: validating age and growth of an overexploited Antarctic fish through otolith microchemistry’. Manuel is from the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences – Institute of Animal Diversity and Ecology, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Amanda Lynnes, IAATO CEP and Environmental Senior Advisor, said: “Manuel brings forth an exciting project that will enhance our understanding of the long-term impacts of fishing on an important species of fish on the Antarctic Peninsula. As stewards of this incredible region, we are eager to see his research further scientific knowledge that can contribute to the continent’s continued protection.
As part of the fellowship, Manuel will receive hands-on training that will advance his career while strengthening scientific cooperation in Antarctic research that will benefit future conservation efforts.”
Manuel’s project will examine the ear bones (known as otoliths) of an Antarctic fish called Gobionotothen gibberifrons, or the humped rockcod, famous for having antifreeze proteins in its body fluids to allow it to survive in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean.
The otoliths can be thought of like tree rings that show how old the fish is and how fast it grew throughout its life. This species was one of several that were almost wiped out by intense commercial fishing in the 1970s and 1980s. Despite a complete fishing ban since 1990, it still hasn’t fully recovered. To help understand why, Manuel will compare a unique sample of fish otoliths from an area where intensive commercial fishing occurred with an area that was never fished. Manuel will use a powerful technique called otolith microchemistry for the analyses, the first time for this important fish species. Understanding the age and growth of fish is critical in measuring the effectiveness of conservation policies. This work fills a crucial gap in our understanding of how fishing pressure affects life-history traits in Antarctic fishes.
Manuel will be joining an expert team at the Institute of Polar Sciences and the Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology of the Italian National Research Council in Ancona, Italy. There, he will have access to the sample of humped rockcod otoliths and will receive training on cutting-edge ageing techniques. The methods and skills he will learn will enable him to continue his research on other species.
In support of the Antarctic Treaty’s unique mission for peace and science, IAATO came into being 34 years ago to advocate and promote the practice of safe and responsible Antarctic private-sector travel. In 2019, the association launched its Antarctic Fellowship with the intention of strengthening international capacity and cooperation in fields such as climate, biodiversity, conservation, humanities, and astrophysics research by providing annual funding opportunities for talented early-career researchers, scientists, engineers, environmental managers, and other professionals.
COMNAP’s 2025 Early-Career Award will go to Stephen Smith.
Stephen, from the British Antarctic Survey (United Kingdom), will join colleagues from the Norwegian Polar Institute (Norway) for his project titled ‘UK-Norway Antarctic Aviation Safety Collaboration: Joint Operational Training and Knowledge Exchange of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Procedures in Antarctica’. Stephen aims to develop and strengthen understanding of aircraft rescue and firefighting practices with a focus on the sharing of knowledge, and the development of shared best practices suited to the unique challenges of polar aviation safety.
Andrea Colombo, COMNAP Engagement, Information and Project Manager, said: “These awards not only celebrate individual achievement but also fosters international collaboration and the development of new professional relationships that will shape the field for years to come. Early career researchers are vital to the future of Antarctic science and science-support, and through this initiative, COMNAP aims to empower the next generation of leaders committed to working across borders to address the unique challenges of the region.”
A second COMNAP 2025 Early-Career Award will be announced in the upcoming months.
