Written by Jenny Arthur and Fiona Old, 2020-21 UKPN Antarctic Flags project coordinators. On December 1st 1959, 12 nations signed the Antarctic Treaty, a document declaring that Antarctica would be off limits to military activity and setting it aside as a place for peace and scientific discoveries. Since 2010, December 1st has been celebrated each…
Written by: Stuart Doubleday / All photos credit: Stuart Doubleday This was my second stint working in Polar Regions Department. I came away the first time around, when I worked mostly on the Arctic, really wanting to be Deputy Head and Administrator of the British Antarctic Territory (BAT) one day. I feel very fortunate that I…
Written by Eleanor Floyd. Three years ago I joined the Polar Regions Department as the ‘Desk Officer for Antarctica and the British Antarctic Territory’ at the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Little did I know quite how varied the role would be and how much I would enjoy getting to know more about this unique…
Written by Ron Naveen, President of Oceanites With continued support from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Government of the British Antarctic Territory, the nonprofit science and education organisation, Oceanites, has completed the 26th consecutive field season of its unparalleled Antarctic Site Inventory (ASI) project. Antarctic Site Inventory (ASI) The ASI began in…
With thanks to the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust for this article Established over 75 years ago, as Britain’s first permanent base in Antarctica, Base A at Port Lockroy which stands on Goudier Island opened after Bransfield House was restored as a museum. Today it welcomes visitors to the site every summer season. Home to the…
As referenced in Jane Rumble’s blog in January, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Government of the British Antarctic Territory are supporting a Diversity in Polar Science initiative to promote and enhance Antarctic science opportunities to under-represented groups. Donna Frater is leading this work and sets out more about what this involves. I am…
Written by Jane Rumble, Head of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s Polar Regions Department and Deputy Commissioner for the British Antarctic Territory. 2020 is an important year. It marks 200 years since the discovery of the Antarctic continent. Having dedicated over 16 years working on Antarctica I am still amazed by this unique region and…
Written by Jennifer Freer, co-coordinator of the UKPN Antarctic Flags Initiative 2019 It is in the interest of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue to be used forever for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord The Antarctic Treaty On 1 December 1959, 12 countries signed the Antarctic Treaty…
