Presi's Snigdha 1st woman researcher from West Bengal to go on Antarctic expedition
Times of India | 9 February 2025
Presidency University researchers Snigdha Bhaumik and Soumya Subhra Baishnab will join the 12th Indian Scientific Expedition to the Southern Ocean to study benthic communities amid climate change KOLKATA: Presidency University senior research fellows Snigdha Bhaumik and Soumya Subhra Baishnab are set to participate in a rare expedition to the Southern Ocean, popularly called the Antarctic Ocean, this month to study the benthic communities in the backdrop of rapid climate change and sea ice reduction. These organisms comprise several groups of invertebrates which reside on the floor of any aquatic ecosystems.Delhi Election Results 2025Saffron surge in Delhi as BJP ends AAP's reign in landslide victoryDelhi results: Complete list of winners from AAP, BJP and CongressTop 10 winners and losers in Delhi electionsBhaumik, at the same time, will make history as the first female researcher from any academic institution of Bengal to participate in an Antarctic Ocean expedition.
The duo is part of the 12th Indian Scientific Expedition to the Southern Ocean 2025, organised and funded by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). Bhaumik and Baishnab will reach Mauritius on Monday from Kolkata and will embark on their expedition that day itself on a ship named S A Agulhas.
Bhaumik said, "This is an absolute dream come true to participate in an expedition of marine ecologists. I am thrilled to be part of the ship which sails on Feb 10. It is all the more special for me as I will be the first female research scholar from Bengal to participate in the Southern Ocean expedition. We will be spending nearly 42 days on the Southern Ocean and will collect our samples from Prydz Bay." She did her undergraduate in zoology from Scottish Church College and Masters from Ballygunge Science College, CU.
Baishnab feels that they are fortunate to be selected as participants of the Eastern India region. "This was my goal when I joined PhD in the Presidency University three years ago. This opportunity will fulfil the main objective of my PhD thesis of studying the meiobenthic community structure from Prydz Bay. It will also help us learn from other scientists and at the same time it will be an adventure as the ship will pass through the 'Roaring Forties' on the Southern Ocean," said Baishnab.
Both the senior research fellows from the Marine Ecology Laboratory at the Department of Life Sciences shared that it is a lifetime opportunity for them as generally scientists who have years of experience get this chance. "It is rare that research scholars from any institution get to participate in such expeditions. We are thankful to our mentor, assistant professor Sumit Mandal, and the university authority," they said.
Bhaumik's area of study will focus on the aquatic invertebrates which are greater than 500 microns in size and are known as macrobenthos. "My study aims to unravel critical insights about the macrobenthic assemblages from this fragile eco-region integrating functional traits and cutting-edge molecular techniques like DNA barcoding to study their evolutionary pattern in the backdrop of reduced sea ice formation and rapid climate change," Bhaumik added.
Baishnab's study will concentrate on meiobenthic organisms, which range between 63 microns to 500 microns, and are found in the sediment beneath the water. "They are important for decomposition, biomineralization and tropic nutrient cycle and are crucial as bioindicators for environmental monitoring and assessment." He did his honours in zoology from Chandernagore Govt College and Masters from Burdwan University.
Mandal said, "I became a part of the expedition that went to the Southern Ocean in 2020. When I see two of my research scholars embarking on the same journey, I feel very happy."
Registrar Debajyoti Konar said, "It feels great to see the students keeping the legacy of their alumni intact. This also highlights growing contributions of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."
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