Gautami Samui, PhD

I am working in the multidisciplinary field of biogeochemistry in glacial ecosystems. My research has been focused on the dynamics of dissolved organic matter in different supraglacial ecosystems. Understanding the complex interlinkages of microbial activity, nutrients, and other parameters with photochemical processes in supraglacial and allied ecosystems to map their response and resilience to changing climate has been my forte.

What keeps you going?

My job has introduced me to incredible people and their extraordinary passion inspires me. It has given me the privilege to visit astonishing landscapes. The moment I land in Antarctica, I feel an incomparable silence and stillness amid chaos. I have visited the continent thrice, but this feeling never gets old and is unforgettable. The long walks involved to access the sampling locations of Antarctica are physically demanding, but the serenity of the continent is encouraging. Constant and unconditional support from my family keeps me going. I do this work because it brings me immense joy to be a part of a bigger community working towards only one objective – protecting the climate.

What’s your message to the world?

It is a crucial time in human history and vital for our generation to realize that unlike shifting homes, we cannot shift planets. It is time we change our lifestyles to save this planet for ourselves and for the next generations. For that, it is essential that each one of us take conscious steps towards it.