- Nacim Guellati, a Montpellier biology student, joined Antarctica as a specialist in environmental DNA, to carry out a mission with Greenpeace.
- Its role will be, in particular, to make an inventory of local fauna and flora.
"Sorry, the connection is very random here! It is not always easy to answer journalists when you approach the southernmost region of the globe. However, Antarctica or not, Nacim Guellati is happy to share with as many people as possible, on Facebook or Instagram, the experience he is experiencing. "One of the biggest in my life," he says. For the past week, this 22-year-old Montpellier biology student has been on board the Arctic Sunrise, heading for the South Pole.
This expedition, led by Greenpeace, is the last step in a large-scale campaign, which began last spring. Its objective: to link the two poles, to better understand the oceans, and the evils from which they suffer.
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In two short weeks, I will embark on what I will call my home for a little less than two months: the Arctic Sunrise, a little baby from the Greenpeace fleet who will take me to Antarctica as part of of the last part of the Pole to Pole expedition. This expedition is part of one of the most ambitious conservation campaigns in history. It aims to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030 (more details below for the curious 😗). - I am fortunate to be part of it under the tutelage of the University of Montpellier as "Environmental DNA Manager" (steupled), my role will mainly consist in carrying out an inventory of marine fauna on the different sites that we are going to explore using this new technique which has never been used in these waters before (we will expand on this in the video). I will also participate in other nifty scientific manipulations which will revolve, among other things, around cetaceans, plankton, and microplastics along the coasts of the frozen continent 🙃 I will communicate a lot around the event (Articles, Photos and Videos ) through the Communication Service of the University of Montpellier and also on Instagram (subscribe toa ❤). - Look forward to embarking and sharing coughs with all of you! _________________________________________ Lelz _________________________________________ The expedition: https://www.greenpeace.fr/espace-presse/protection-oceans-greenpeace-lance-expedition-de-larctique-a-lantarctique-demander-traite-international-ambitieux/ Université from Montpellier to Antarctica: https://www.umontpellier.fr/articles/lum-en-antarctique-avec-greenpeace Moa: https://www.umontpellier.fr/articles/nacim-guellati-un-etudiant-qui- don't-leave-ice-_________________________________________ Photo credits: Greenpeace Video credits: MUSE _________________________________________ #umontpellier #greenpeace #antarctica #poletopole #expedition #arcticsunrise #ocean #protecttheocean #travel #adventure #science #lelz
A post shared by Nacim Guellati (@nacimguellati) on Dec 21, 2019 at 8:56 am PST
An inventory of local flora and fauna
In this incredible epic, Nacim Guellati is responsible for collecting environmental DNA. "I carry out water filtration to extract the DNA of the animals living in the area," explains the student. We can thus carry out a complete inventory of the marine fauna of the region, cetaceans, seals, penguins, fish, etc. The data that I collect will be used to feed studies on biodiversity in Antarctica, and how it is disrupted with climate change. "
And Nacim Guellati is not shy. The conditions prevailing at the South Pole do not seem to scare this young Algerian. "Having crawled here and there, especially near the Arctic Circle, I'm used to it," says this thrill seeker, who practices diving, apnea… or parachute jumping as soon as he can.
"Physical resistance is absolutely necessary"
That's good, "physical resistance is absolutely necessary to participate in this type of mission," says David Mouillot, professor at the Marbec laboratory and referent of the mission at the university. It is essential to train the young generations and show that the university trusts them in a context where students sometimes lack perspective and ambition, this is a real signal given to young people. "
“Life on board the boat is extraordinary, I am fortunate to be surrounded by a team from all over the world, very quickly became my adoptive family, we build strong ties when we are in the same boat, that 'We have to stick together,' says Nacim Guellati. The student will be back with souvenirs in the suitcases on February 15.
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