• Two matric girls from the Western Cape will be given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to support scientists and researchers on a voyage to Antarctica.
• The girls were chosen for letters they sent to SEAmester, which is organising the trip to the coldest place on Earth.
• From 18th to 28th June, the two girls, both aspiring marine biologists, will get first-hand experience on the SA Agulhas II.

For most high schoolers in South Africa, the June school holidays are a time to rest, relax, see friends at the mall and maybe enjoy a house party or two. This will definitely not be the case for Aimee Stollie and Akhona Zondo, two learners from the Western Cape, who are headed for the coldest place on Earth – Antarctica.

The two girls, both matric learners, will be taking part in a research voyage to the last frontier on the SA Agulhas II, the country’s icebreaker and premier research vessel. They will be joined by professional oceanographers, as well as fisheries, biogeochemical and biological experts. The voyage will see the two learners aboard the vessel from 18th to 28th June 2024.

“We are delighted that two Western Cape learners will join the voyage, along with one of our award-winning officials. Their selection is an outstanding achievement, and we wish them a rewarding journey and safe return to our shores!” said Western Cape Education Minister David Maynier.

The two learners, Stollie from Môrester Akademie, and Zondo from Simon’s Town High School, were selected in an unusual year for the SEAmester programme. The programme usually offers spaces for university students to come aboard and join a research expedition, but in 2024 the SEAmester leader Prof. Isabelle Ansorge set aside spaces for two high school learners.

“Grade 11 and Grade 12 learners with a passion for marine sciences were invited to apply for this amazing opportunity,” the Western Cape education department explains in a statement.

“Applicants had to provide a written motivation covering their understanding of the importance of marine science research on vessels such as the SA Agulhas II. They also had to indicate what they hoped to gain from the experience.”

The two learners aboard the Agulhas II will take part in hands-on ship-based deck activities and will have the opportunity to support real marine scientists and researchers on the voyage as they work.

“Not only would this opportunity propel me towards my dream of studying marine biology abroad, but it would also serve as the catalyst for initiating an awareness program within my community,” wrote Zondo in her successful application to SEAmester

“I would share this knowledge with others and help spread information by informing people about the environment. As someone who is interested in engineering and marine biology this is a dream come true,” wrote Stollie in hers.

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was specifically made available to learners taking Marine Sciences as a subject in high school in the province. The subject was made available at schools in 2020, initially piloted in 2018, and the provincial curriculum planner for Marine Sciences, Dr Mariëtte Wheeler will be joining the girls on the research voyage.

Dr Wheeler will be using the voyage to add to the national curriculum with practical experience gleaned aboard the icebreaker as it cruises into Antarctica.

[Image – CC BY-SA 2.0 NairnBairn on Flickr]