Thai woman boffin is off to Antarctica

       Marine scientist Suchana Chavanich will investigate the impact of climate change on the Earth's southernmost continent.
       The 37-year-old lecturer from Chulalongkorn University's marine science department has been chosen to join the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) on a four-month study trip, starting next month.
       She is the second Thai marine scientist to join the expedition after her colleague,Voranop Viyakarn, was part of the JARE exploration team in 2004.
       Ms Suchana and 80 other marine researchers, mostly from Japan, will study the marine biological system and its reaction to climate change.
       They will be based at the Japanese Antarctic base at Syowa Station, part of a joint team of biological and ocean research groups.
       "Visiting Antarctica is a dream come true for a marine scientist like me," Ms Suchana said.
       "Antarctica has a pristine environment largely undisturbed by human activities.I can't wait to go."
       The scientist, who won the L'oreal outstanding female scientist award last year, said she also wanted to learn about the impact of climate change on the continent's ecological system.
       "It will be a tough journey, but I have been trained to work and survive in extreme weather and tough terrain."
       Ms Suchana will board the icebreaker ship AGB II at Fremantle in Western Australia and travel to Syowa Station,one of the most inaccessible points on the continent.
       It will take three weeks to reach the station. The scientists are scheduled to complete their mission in February 2010,before the sea freezes again.