While Turkey's polar studies gained an institutional structure with the Polar Research Institute established within TÜBİTAK, a total of 24 participants from different institutions will carry out studies on the "white continent" during the 4th National Antarctic Science Expedition, which will start in February under the coordination of the institute for the first time this year.

The Polar Research Institute (KARE), which was first announced by Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank during the 2020 Central Government Budget negotiations in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, has started its work.

Established under the umbrella of TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM), KARE's director is Assoc. Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy, who led Turkey's previous expeditions to the continent, and the first mission that the institute worked hard on was the 4th National Antarctic Science Expedition.

"He will continue his scientific and political work"

Özsoy spoke to AA correspondent about the Polar Research Institute and the preparations for the 4th expedition to Antarctica.

Stating that with the new organization, momentum has been gained towards the realization of national goals in polar studies, Özsoy said, "KARE, which has been determined as the new executor of the Project for the Establishment of a Science Base in Antarctica, will continue scientific and political studies for Turkey to become an advisory member country within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty, which is the decision-making mechanism regarding the Antarctic continent that does not belong to any country, and will ensure the representation of our country in international activities."

"Strategies are implemented in line with national interests"

Pointing out that there are some customs and written rules to become a consultant country in the Antarctic Treaty System, Özsoy said that the establishment of KARE is one of them.

Özsoy pointed out that in order to become a consultant country in the system, significant scientific research should also be carried out, and said:

"This does not only mean publishing a large number of publications, but also scientific publications of high quality and international visibility. Such publications can be produced through long-term observations and measurements in a specific area. In other words, having a science base is a necessity to meet this requirement. This is also necessary to meet logistical needs. Full membership to the Scientific Commission on Antarctic Research and the Council of National Antarctic Program Executives (COMNAP), where Turkey is represented by TÜBİTAK, the implementation of the Antarctic Treaty Protocol on Environmental Protection into domestic law, the establishment of an Antarctic Database, and international cooperation are among the prerequisites that need to be realized both in writing and by custom. In Turkey, all stakeholders are coordinated and strategies are created and put into practice in line with national interests."

Aim to take part in decision-making for the polar regions

Stating that the legal establishment process of KARE has been completed, Özsoy said that the institute has started its activities at TÜBİTAK Gebze campus and that the institutional structuring process continues.

Özsoy noted the following:

"KARE aims to carry out regular scientific expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic, to make these expeditions sustainable, to include scientific projects in these expeditions, to contribute to the international scientific community by publishing Turkish scientists on the projects carried out, to increase studies on the polar regions by training human resources, to develop the infrastructures that our country has in the polar regions, and most importantly, to realize studies to make Turkey a country that takes part in decision-making mechanisms related to the polar regions."

Training for the 4th expedition to Antarctica begins

Özsoy stated that the 4th National Antarctic Science Expedition, which will be held under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and under the coordination of TÜBİTAK KARE, will be organized in the February-March period, and that the work for the expedition is continuing rapidly.

Özsoy, who informed that the trainings will start on January 30, said: "A total of 24 participants, 22 Turkish and 2 foreigners, will take part in the 4th National Antarctic Science Expedition. Within the scope of bilateral collaborations, 2 of our scientists will carry out studies in the bases of Belgium and Poland on the continent."

Özsoy said that 15 scientific projects will be carried out on the continent this year, and that in addition to these projects selected within the scope of the TÜBİTAK call, participants from the General Directorate of Meteorology, the General Directorate of Maps and the Turkish Naval Forces Navigation Hydrography and Oceanography Department will also be present this time, as they were last year.

Özsoy stated that he will provide the coordination of the expedition and that Prof. Dr. Ersan Başar, a faculty member at Karadeniz Technical University and also the President of the Mountaineering Federation, will be the expedition leader this year.

Stating that there will be two deputy expedition leaders this year, responsible for scientific studies and logistics, Özsoy said that Assoc. Prof. Hakan Yavaşoğlu and Captain Özgün Oktar will carry out these duties.

Özsoy pointed out that the Arctic should be on the agenda as much as Antarctica in polar studies, and added that work on this issue is ongoing.