Galway PhD student seeks public support to fund cost of climate change trip down under
An international PhD climate change student selected for an expedition to Antartica has appealed for public help in securing the last tranche of funding she needs to take part after it was postponed until next March.
Sukanya Saikia is the first NUI Galway student to be selected as a Climate Force Ambassador for the upcoming International Antarctic Expedition, which had been due to take place in November.
The delay – designed to give 80 environmentalists from around the world the chance to get fully vaccinated – has been very welcome for Sukanya as she is still short €4,000 to fund the twelve-day intensive and immersive training programme.
The expedition aims to train and inspire young leaders in up-to-date climate change, sustainability and clean energy skills, and to provide a platform to engage in discussion and exchange ideas with top climate and sustainability leaders and help build strong collaborations.
The Polar Trek Simulator will be launched to haul what participants need to pitch a campsite, something used by Robert Swan, the first person to walk on both of the Earth’s poles, experienced on his trek to the South Pole.
“Going in March also means that it will be colder than in November since it’s the Southern Hemisphere. On a positive note, we will be able to see the night sky in Antarctica which otherwise would have been 24 hours daylight in November. I’m really excited and hoping that I’ll be able to see the rare Southern Lights.”
Her PhD in NUIG investigates the impact of climate change and urbanisation on wastewater management systems.
A native of Assam, India, Sukanya was involved in the mapping of Malaria as an impact of climate change in India. She helped tea gardens in Assam to develop adaptation strategies for climate change. She has a degree in chemistry and a masters in geoinformatics.
It will cost €18,000 to take part. So far, she has raised just €7,000 on an online fundraising platform and a further sum has been donated by friends and family in India, leaving her just under €4,000 short.
To donate, search ‘Help Sukanya reach Antarctica for a greener future’ on the gofundme website.