On 15 March, 10:30 a.m., a meeting was held at the National Research and Development Institute for Biological Sciences (INCDSB) a media event on the successful conclusion of the "Romanian Scientific Research Expedition to Antarctica - ROICE 2019".

ROICE 2019 is the Third ROICE Expedition - to the King Sejong Station of the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI), King George Island, Barton Peninsula, West Antarctica. The expedition took place from 17 January to 15 February 2019 under the agreement between INCDSB and KOPRI for a period of 5 (five) years (2015 - 2020).

The event was attended on behalf of the Ministry of Research and Innovation by Mr State Secretary Prof. Lucian Puiu Georgescufrom the Ministry of Environment, Councillor Nela Miaută, CEP contact point for Romania, on behalf of the Romanian Academy, of the National Commission for Antarctic Research (CNCA), attended Mr. President Acad. Dumitru Murariu, Mr. Acad. Nicolae Panin and Mrs. Scientific Secretary Dr. Cristina Purcărea.

The event was opened by Ms Manuela Elisabeta Sidoroff, Director General of the INCDSB, Vice-President of the CNCAwhich presented ROICE team members (Dr. Cristian Coman - scientific leader of the expedition, Dr. Corina Ițcuș and Dr. Iris Maria Tușa - members of the expedition), the scientific achievements of the expedition team as well as the prospect that Romania, through INCDSB, will be further involved in Antarctic research. There followed presentations on the current and future research of the expeditioners, on the organization of activities at the KOPRI centre in King George Island.

Films of field and laboratory research activities in Antarctica were shown, and discussions were held on the topics presented at the event.

NACC members referred to the need to find solutions to open up the possibility for researchers from several research areas to participate in the Antarctic area.

At the end of the event, Mr State Secretary Prof. Lucian Puiu Georgescu congratulated the expeditionary researchers ROICE 2019 and presented them with diplomas of excellence on behalf of the Ministry of Research and Innovation.

INDCSB Press Office/ 15.03.2019