As reported on the website of the National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine on Thursday, January 17, the 24th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition to the Vernadsky Research Base has been launched. The largest team of Ukrainians in the last 18 years, 26 researchers and engineers, will be heading to Antarctica.

“The 24th expedition is a special one. After all, there have been certain stagnation trends in Ukrainian studies of the Antarctic in recent years. We maintained our place on the map but no development has been recorded. After a few changes at the National Antarctic Scientific Center, we are now rapidly developing,” said Maxim Strikha, Deputy Minister of Education and Science.

The seasonal expedition team consists of researchers having various specialties, mainly geologists, geophysicists, meteorologists and biologists. There are four women in the expedition group.

It is noted that the expedition team will conduct experiments not only at the station but also on the islands around it. Moreover, some studies, primarily studies of Antarctic vegetation and soil, will cover areas from Tierra del Fuego and sub-Antarctic islands to the Southern Arctic Circle.

With the help of special drones and innovative software, the Ukrainian scientists will build 3-D models of glaciers. In addition, the scientists plan to conduct a comprehensive study of the diversity of bacteria and viruses and the algae bloom mechanism in the Southern Ocean.

It was reported in June 2018 that Ukrainian polar explorers celebrated Midwinter at the Vernadsky Research Base. The scientists held the "baptism" of newcomers in icy water and competed in ten sports.

It was also reported that Nikolai Veselsky, a Ukrainian polar explorer and biologist, a member of the 23rd Ukrainian expedition in Antarctica, was evacuated from the Vernadsky Research Base to a hospital in the Chilean city of Punta Arenas due to appendicitis.

  Ukraine, Antarctica

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