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Nearly 88 million PLN special-purpose subsidy for the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has provided funding for the construction of a new main building of the Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station, making it the largest subsidy for polar research over the past 40 years.

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From left: Prof. Robert Bielik, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Higher Education Jarosław Gowin, Agnieszka Kruszewska and Prof. Piotr Zielenkiewicz during a press conference at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Photo courtesy of MNiSW)

"Poland is one of the pioneers of polar research. For years the achievements of Polish scientists have placed us in the world's forefront in this respect. The achievements were possible by the fact that we had a special place in Antarctica – Arctowski Station" - said Jarosław Gowin, Minister of Science. He added: "Unfortunately, the station has been systematically depreciating due to climate change and sea level rise. There is a threat of its further existence.”

In difficult Antarctic conditions, the Station’s building is aging extremely fast. Moreover, the global warming causes sea level to rise, in consequence of which today the Station’s building is located just next to the shore (originally it was situated a dozen meters from the shore). The new Arctowski Station is planned to be built deep inside the island.

The building's project, prepared by the Kuryłowicz & Associates architecture studio, is ready. The building will have over 1300 square meters of useful floor area. These areas will include: living quarters, laboratory facilities, conference room and small library.

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Visualization of the new main building of the Arctowski Station proposed by the Kuryłowicz & Associates architecture studio (Photos courtesy of MNiSW)

The Henryk Arctowski Station, situated along the western shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica, has been operating since 1977. For over 40 years, the Station has been providing technical and logistic support for Polish and international scientific groups conducting research in the following fields: oceanography, geology, geomorphology, glaciology, meteorology, seismology and above all biology and ecology.

Poland is one of the 40 countries that runs a year-round research station in Antarctica and among 29 countries that can make decisions about human activity in Antarctica.

Source: PAP – Nauka w Polsce