Vadodara: An associate professor and dean of the faculty of sciences at Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT) has been selected for the 17th Indian Arctic Expedition (2026–27).Gayatri Dave’s research proposal has been approved under the Biology theme for field access at Himadri, India’s permanent Arctic research station in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard..Inaugurated on July 1, 2008, Himadri supports advanced research on climate change, polar biology and environmental systems.Dave’s project, titled “Establishment and Long-term Monitoring of Arctic Microbial Ecosystem: A Winogradsky Simulation of the Microbial Community Derived from Cryoconite, Brines and Shallow Sediments,” focuses on understanding microbial dynamics in extreme Arctic conditions.The study will simulate and monitor microbial communities to assess ecosystem functioning in harsh climates.She has been granted a summer berth for fieldwork at Himadri, with full funding covering travel, accommodation and allowances as per Govt of India norms.Her selection places her among a select group of Indian scientists contributing to polar research.The research is expected to generate crucial data on Arctic microbial ecosystems amid rapidly changing climatic conditions, with implications for global biogeochemical cycles, while also highlighting the growing contribution of Indian researchers to international Arctic science initiatives.
