We inform you that the National Research and Development Institute for Biological Sciences (INCDSB) is organizing the Romanian Governmental Scientific Expedition to Antarctica - ROICE 2015, at the King Sejong Station of the Korean Institute for Polar Research, King George Islands, from 3 to 23 February 2015.

The aim of the expedition is to investigate Antarctic ecosystems by studying the microbial communities in various habitats in order to identify and characterise the microcosms specific to these habitats. It also aims to study the effects and adaptations of organisms in extreme environments.

The research team consists of Cristina PURCĂREA - Expedition leader, Cristian COMAN - Expedition coordinator, Corina IȚCUȘ - expedition member and Iris TUȘA - research team member.

The ROICE 2015 project is carried out under the scientific leadership and coordination of Dr. Manuela Elisabeta SIDOROFF - Director General of INCDSB and Vice-President of the CNCA of the Romanian Academy, and Acad. Octavian POPESCU - Director of IBB and Scientific Coordinator for Life Sciences of the CNCA of the Romanian Academy.

This action was made possible with the support of the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research / National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For details go to www.roice.ro.