Events

MINSK, 8 November (BelTA) – The construction of the first stage of the Belarusian Antarctic station is supposed to be finished by 2019, BelTA learned from Aleksei Gaidashov, head of the expedition, on 8 November.

According to the source, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus intends to finish building the first startup complex of the Belarusian Antarctic station within the next two years in order to start all-season projects as from 2019 and allow Belarusian polar explorers to spend their first winter in Antarctica.

The construction of the Belarusian Antarctic station began in 2015. The first facility — a three-section module — was assembled during the eighth expedition. The platform for the second module was installed during the ninth expedition in addition to some other structures. The polar explorers will install four new sections of the Belarusian Antarctic station during the tenth expedition. The expedition will leave Belarus for Antarctica in November.

Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) Vladimir Gusakov underlined the importance of the fact that Belarus explores Antarctica and carries out scientific research alongside other countries. “Many NASB institutes order specific researches to the polar explorers — researches concerning air, coastal waters, minerals, microorganisms. These researches have already produced results,” he said.

A sendoff ceremony of the tenth Belarusian Antarctic expedition took place at premises of the History Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus on 8 November. Participants of Belarusian Antarctic expeditions met with members of the general public. Visitors were able to say a few words in person to the Belarusian polar explorers before they left the country for Antarctica. A lecture to review ten years of Belarus’ presence in Antarctica was arranged. The lecture reviewed the history of Belarusian Antarctic expeditions and the contribution of Belarusian scientists to South Pole exploration. International cooperation was touched upon as well as the construction of the Belarusian Antarctic station. Results achieved by Belarusian specialists were summed up and future prospects were outlined.

A film describing the work of the ninth Belarusian Antarctic expedition was screened with a focus on the modern state of affairs with regard to Antarctica exploration. Unique photos of Antarctic nature and of the daily life of Belarusian polar explorers were presented. Visitors were able to get first-hand information about such matters as atmospheric physics, biology, ecology, problems of global climate changes, geophysics, geology, critical services and logistics of polar expeditions.

The event was organized by the Central Scientific Library of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the public organization Youth Education Center Fialta.