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Members of the audience got an opportunity to listen to a wide array of speakers during the Antarctic Futures Symposium. 

Thulani Makhalanyane is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking at Stellenbosch University. He also holds a SARChI Chair in African Microbiome Innovation at Stellenbosch University. He earned his PhD from the University of the Western Cape in 2013, and his research focuses on understanding the ecology and evolution of microbial communities. He has co-authored over 150 publications in leading journals, including Nature, Science, PNAS, and The ISME Journal.

Nicolas Herinckx speaking at the Antarctic Futures Symposium in Luxembourg. 

IPF co-founder Gigi giving one of the opening talks at the first Antarctic Futures Symposium held at the Luxembourg Chambre de Commerce from April 23-24th, 2026

Audience gives a big applause at Antarctic Futures Symposium 

Dr. Eric Rignot leads the Science Advisory Committee at the Antarctic Futures Symposium and is seen here speaking in a breakout session with other scientists. 

The last members of the BELARE 2025-26 team take a group photo in front of the DC-3 prior to boarding.

The last members of the BELARE 2025-26 team finally arrive back in Cape Town on February 12th, 2026 after a three-month tour in Antarctica for many of them.  The summer weather feels great!