ICAR-CIFT Scientist selected for Antarctica Expedition

Dr. Toms C. Joseph, Principal Scientist at the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT), Kochi, has been selected to be part of India’s 45th Scientific Expedition to Antarctica organized by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.

During the expedition, Dr. Joseph will study the role of microplastics as carriers of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes in the fragile Antarctic ecosystem. His research aims to understand how plastic pollution influences microbial communities and contributes to the spread of antibiotic resistance in one of the planet’s most pristine environments.

The findings from this study are expected to provide valuable insights into the global implications of microplastic pollution and its potential threat to environmental and human health.