Under the auspices of the Presidency and the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the 10th National Antarctic Science Expedition (TAE X), conducted by the TÜBİTAK Polar Research Institute (KARE), has been successfully completed. In a statement on social media, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır noted that 15 research projects were carried out during the expedition.
Minister Kacır used the following statements in his post:
“Our 10th National Antarctic Science Expedition has been successfully completed. Our scientists carried out 15 research projects over a period of more than a month in the harsh conditions of Antarctica. Under the patronage of our President and coordinated by our TÜBİTAK Polar Research Institute, we will continue our polar research expeditions to increase our country's scientific capacity and offer solutions to the global problems facing humanity. Our goal is to establish a permanent Turkish Scientific Research Station in Antarctica and to obtain ‘Advisory Country’ status within the Antarctic Treaty System.
As part of the expedition, a team of 17 people, including 16 Turkish and 1 Bulgarian researchers, carried out fieldwork for the TÜBİTAK Kutup 1001 projects. During the expedition, annual data was collected from the low-frequency (VLF) measurement station established jointly with the USA, and maintenance/upkeep work was carried out at the Turkish Scientific Research Camp located on Horseshoe Island. Additionally, long-term monitoring studies were conducted, maintenance was performed on our GNSS stations, and work continued on the nautical charting of Horseshoe Island and its surroundings.
This year, our scientists were accompanied by three secondary school students from Aydın and Ankara, who won the TEKNOFEST Polar Research Project Competition.
