Preparations for the 4th National Antarctic Science Expedition, which will take place under the auspices of the Presidency, under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and in coordination with the TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute, have been completed.
The team that will go to Antarctica, where the average air temperature is -20 degrees in summer and -40 degrees in winter, was given training on survival at sea, fire prevention, fire fighting and basic first aid at Tuzla Marina Viaport.
Prof. Dr. Ersan Başar, Faculty Member of Karadeniz Technical University and Leader of the 4th National Antarctic Science Expedition, said that Antarctica is a "natural laboratory" for scientists.
Explaining that 22 Turkish scientists and 2 foreign scientists will take part in the science expedition that will start from Istanbul on February 9, Başar said, "Every scientific study we will conduct here contributes to world science. Global warming is already one of the biggest problems. The regions that suffer the most from this are our polar regions. For this reason, it is very important that we have the opportunity to work here."
Başar, who stated that he had participated in 3 science expeditions before, stated that the climate was quite difficult and said, "The working environment is not easy. You need to be ready, both psychologically and physically motivated. In this way, you can only sustain your life and conduct proper scientific studies."
"We have completed the preparations"
TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM) Polar Research Institute (KARE) Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy said that as the 4th National Antarctic Science Expedition team, they completed their preparations by receiving training on survival at sea, fire prevention, fire fighting and basic first aid.
Explaining that 15 scientific projects will be carried out with the expedition, Özsoy said: "We have participants from the General Directorate of Meteorology, the General Directorate of Maps, the Naval Forces Command and a teacher from National Education. They will carry out these 15 projects during the expedition. These projects will of course be realized with participants from different universities in Turkey."
"I am honored to be part of this team"
Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin, who is a member of the expedition team, stated that the 4th National Antarctic Science Expedition will take place under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and under the follow-up of Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank:
"There is a team of 24 people on the expedition. We are also in this team. Our Minister of Industry said that we should be on this expedition, especially since TEKNOFEST is in Gaziantep, because of our goal of moving to high technology. We gladly came here to share this excitement and received preliminary trainings today. Because it will be a journey under very difficult conditions, there is talk of a temperature of up to -60s. We came here for preliminary training on what to do under all conditions. On the 9th, God willing, the expedition starts. The expedition is from us and tawfik is from Allah. I am excited, I am excited for the point my country has reached in the name of science and technology. I am honored to be a part of this team and I am honored that my country is moving rapidly towards new goals."
