Florica Topârceanu

Topârceanu was instrumental to Romania being accepted as an Associated Member State to SCAR in 2008 by consulting on documents related to NCAR establishment (Statute, Rules of Procedures, Organization), contributing to the Romanian Antarctic Science Strategic Plan (2013–2020) to develop the National Antarctic Program under the Laws of Antarctic Treaty and Madrid Protocol, and her role in Antarctic theme projects. Her work has provided insight into human adaptations to extreme conditions and continues to promote the domestic and international cooperation in polar research fields in order to develop the Romanian Antarctic community. Topârceanu has spoken on "Conducting scientific research in the field in Antarctica in accordance with the Environmental Code of Conduct issued by SCAR", at the Environment and Climate Change Ministry in 2013.

Topârceanu's invention "Considerations on possible cerulloplasmin functions in the infection with influenza and para-influenza viruses" won second prize. She received a plate of honour – "You offered us a life lesson", from the broadcast team of the national "Romantica" TV Station ("9409 – Romantica") on September 20, 2008.

Topârceanu was the primary biological scientist to the First Romanian National Antarctica Expedition (ENROCA 1) in the Austral summer of 2005–2006 and was present at the inauguration of the Law-Racovita Station (Australia-Romania) in Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica, on February 20, 2006. Topârceanu was, after Emil Racoviţă (a member of the Belgica Antarctic Expedition in 1897), the first Romanian biologist, as well as first Romanian woman biologist to study life in Antarctica, as well as being the first Romanian woman expert to the Antarctic Treaty.

She holds a central role in the National Commission for Antarctic Research (NCAR) of the Romanian Academy of Bucharest (Romania) and is the current Scientific Secretary of the Executive Bureau of NCAR. She is the current Chief Officer and Romanian contact point, of the NCAR Human Biology and Medicine (EGHBM) expert group, a joint programme with SCAR and SCAR-COMNAP and is the main Romanian delegate to SCAR. Topârceanu has also served as an APECS Mentor. Topârceanu was the delegate at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in 2005, 2006, and 2013 and is the Romanian representative to ATCM for scientific and operational. She was also the Romanian invited delegate of NCAR to the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP) AGM 2015.

Florica Topârceanu was born on June 14, 1954, in Romania. She attended the University of Bucharest and studied biology with a specialisation in biochemistry from 1973 to 1977. and continued to obtain an MSc in 1978. During the next twenty years she worked in the Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology at the Romanian Academy in the departments of Viral Molecular Biology (1983–1990), Viral Immunochemistry (1990–1993), Virosis Ethiopatology (1994–1999), Viral Genetic Engineering (2000–2004), National Center of Reference for Influenza and Respiratory Viroses (1992–2004), Anti-viral Therapy (2004–2009). She was awarded a PhD by Bucharest University in biochemistry in 1999.