PLN 88 million for the Polish Antarctic Station im. H. Arctowski
Polish Antarctic Station im. Henryk Arctowski is located on the pósouthern hemisphere in the Shetland archipelagoóin the South, on the island of Króla George. It has been operating continuously since 1977. The first expedition went there in late 1975 to assess fish and krill stocks in the Southern Ocean. On February 26, 1977, it was decided to establish a permanent scientific research station.
As we read on the website of the science ministry, the station „gives Poland access to the largest natural laboratory of nature, which is the Antarctic. The station enables Polish scientists to conduct ambitious multidisciplinary programsóin research and supportócooperation with the best placóThe station will be open to scientific research institutions from all over the world”.
The activities of the Arctovsky station are financed with funds from theóin the Ministry of Science within the framework of the so-called. of special research equipment (SPUB). SquareóThe station is managed by Institute of Biophysics and Biochemistry (IBB) OF THE POLISH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. The annual subsidy for the station’s operations is about. PLN 6 million. The funds are earmarked for logistical security – chartering a shipóin transportation, employment of employeesów, food, fuel or equipment repairów, but according to the managers of the facilityówka, this amount is insufficient. According to estimatesóin the station’s authorities to purchase new equipment and self "operation of the station at an appropriate level" requires about PLN 10 million.
The station has had funding problems for years. First and foremost, it is about głóThe station’s main building. At the time it was erected 40 years ago, it was several metersów from the sea; now, with high levels of wód is less than a meter. Much to be desired is left by the róThe station’s technical condition. Maintenance of the station’s infrastructure is not conducive to Antarctic climatic conditions.
With help came Ministry of Science and Higher Education, które is to provide nearly 88 millionóin gold for „For the implementation of a construction project for the station’s strategic research infrastructure, including the construction of a new head buildingówny, which will enable further work of Polish researchers in Antarctica”.
– It is safe to say that the Polish Antarctic Station named after. H. Arctowski is our visitóThe station is an unofficial embassy of the Republic of Poland in Antarctica, as well as its technical condition. Every year it is visited by official international delegations, representatives of programóin the Antarctic of other countries and tourists from around the world. However, this is not the most important for us. The most important thing for us is the extensive research opportunities that the existence of the station provides for Polish scientists – said at a press conference Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin, Minister of Science and Higher Education.
Gowin also stressed that Poland is one of the pioneeróin polar research. He pointed out that the achievements of Polish scientistsów have for years placed us among the world’s topówce in this respect, and these achievements were possible thanks to the Arctowski station.
At the Arctowski station and in the dwóch field bases – „Lions Rump” i „Demay” – Polish scientists conduct research in areas such as oceanography, geology, glaciology, geomorphology, climatology, microbiology, botany, ecology, ornithology, genetics, biology, marine chemistry and cartography. There are also ongoing environmental monitoring.
Construction of a new station building, including several new laboratoriesóIn the past year, the station’s construction and living quarters were valued at approx. 90 million zlotys. Also ready is the design of the new station prepared by the architectural firm Kurylowicz & Associates. The new booth is to have 1,300 metersóin the square surface.
Poland – As one of the signatories of the Antarctic Treaty – is among the 29 consultative countries, które can make decisions about human activities in Antarctica. The presence of researchers in the area is just one element of theóin the game of political influence over the zone, whichóra has no owner. One of the conditions foróin allowing you to join the ranks is to conduct significant scientific research work, such as establishing a scientific station or sending a scientific expedition. There must also be the consent of the other treaty countries.
The political element of the station’s operation, in addition to the scientific one, was also noted by Minister Gowin. During the press conference, he said that the existence of the station is important for Polish foreign policy. – In 2030 wróc discussions about the future of the continent. Thanks to the presence of Polish researchers on it, thanks to their spectacular research achievements, Poland’s voice will be strongly heard in the debate on the future of Antarctica – emphasized the politician.
Poland also has a second, defunct station. It is an abandoned site since 1979ówka im. Antony Dobrowolski at the Bunger Oasis. The land for the station was given to the Poles by the Russians in 1959. It consists of m.in. two wooden houses. Reaching it is not easy, as it lies inland. It is currently managed by the Institute of Geophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Last November, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Lukasz Szumowski admitted that the powrót to an abandoned im. Anton Dobrowolski’s study is realistic. However, resolutions are not yet in place.
Sourceósource: Ministry of Science and Higher Education, fot. Acaro/ Wikimedia Commons/ CC BY-SA 3.0