On 11-13 September 2023 the National Research and Development Institute for Biological Sciences (NRCBI) received a visit from the Chairman of the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR), Dr. Yeadong Kim together with the administrative representative of KOPRI (South Korea Polar Research Institute), Mr. Sebin Lee. On this occasion, on 11 September, a round table was organized with the participation of the guests, the Director General of INCDSB Prof. Mihaela Păun, the Chair of the Scientific Council Dr. Simina Lițescu Filipescu, the Scientific Director Dr. Ana Maria Prelipceanu, the Coordinator of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Department Dr. Iris Maria Tușa and the representative of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting of Romania, Dr. Manuela Elisabeta Sidoroff.

During the meeting, the Research Strategy of the Department of Arctic and Antarctic Research was presented in the context of the institutional strategy and the devolution strategy of the institute. Research results of the 4 ROICE expeditions organised by the institute at the KOPRI base in West Antarctica, King Sejong Station on King George Island were presented and the possibility of signing a new MoU of cooperation with KOPRI was discussed. The research infrastructure was also visited and results of INCDSB projects were presented.

On 12 September 2023on the occasion of the visit of SCAR President Dr Yeadong Kim, The National Research and Development Institute for Biological Sciences together with the National Commission for Antarctic Research and Extreme Environments of the Romanian Academy (CNCAME) organized the Conference "Antarctic science" - the need for more national and international research, organized in the Romanian Academy Hall.

SCAR President Dr Yeadong Kim gave an overview of Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the 2023-2028 strategic plan, the climate research science programme and the urgent message from the south: Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and the fact that the most significant influence of climate change in Antarctica will also be on global mean sea level change and its impact on society and the environment. Other global impacts influenced by Antarctic change include extreme weather events, droughts, fires, floods and ocean acidification causing ecosystem disruption and biodiversity loss beyond the Antarctic region.

"Understanding Antarctica and its ecosystems, understanding its effects on global processes and using the region as a platform for studying the upper atmosphere and space is a comprehensive vision that helps us improve our knowledge of the world and the surrounding universe," said Dr Loreta Păun, Presidential Advisor. On behalf of Commission for Antarctic Research and Extreme Environments of the Romanian Academy were present at the event acad. Dumitru Murariu, president and vice-presidents acad. Panin Nicolae and Dr. Manuela Sidoroff, SCAR representative Dr. Cristina Purcărea, as well as the Secretary General of the Romanian Academy, Academician Ioan Dumitrache.

The Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitisation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were represented by the Directors General Dr. Antonio Rădoi and Dr. Felix Zaharia who underlined the importance of the event for both scientific research and Romanian diplomacy and reaffirmed the institutional openness to a field of study in which Romania has a long and brilliant tradition. On behalf of the organizers of INCDSB, Director General Prof. Mihaela Păun stressed the importance that the institute she represents attaches to climate research, the partnership with the KOPRI institute and the support given to the Arctic and Antarctic Research Department of INCDSB, and Dr. Iris Maria Tușa, coordinator of the INCDSB Arctic and Antarctic Research Department, presented the achievements of the four government ROICE expeditions organised by the institute at the King Sejong station of the South Korean Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) in Antarctica under an MoU between INCDSB and KOPRI. Prof. Carmen Chifiriuc, pro-rector at the University of Bucharest, supported the importance of research in the polar regions and the need for a national plan.

The conference was also attended by Dr. Florica Topârceanu, Romania's representative to the CEP (The Committee for Environmental Protection) for the Antarctic Treaty, Rear Admiral Marian Săvulescu, leader of the RONARE 2017 expedition participating in the Argentinean Army's "Antarctica 2016-2017" summer campaign, founder of the "Emil Racoviță" Association Dan Hazaparu, and Maria Uca Marinescu, Romanian explorer and president of the Sport and Environment Commission of the Romanian Olympic Committee.

The meeting at the Romanian Academy has several important objectives, including the identification of new research themes and programmes, but it is also a plea for the formulation of a National Research Plan in the Antarctic area, so that Romania can become a full member of an elite network that addresses, from multiple perspectives, current critical issues. We are still only an advisory member, although we have a long history of Antarctic research. It is very important for Romania to become a full member of the Antarctic Treaty, which would allow us to build on our relations with all member states. We will have the right to vote and to participate more actively in the drafting of internal legislation. We must understand that the formulation of this strategy is a joint effort of several entities and institutions, as the National Antarctic Programme needs not only a coherent vision within the scientific community, but above all, state support and funding.

Dr. Manuela Sidoroff - Vice-President of the National Commission for Antarctic Research and Extreme Environments of the Romanian Academy.