TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute (KARE) and Istanbul Technical University Satellite Communication and Remote Sensing Application and Research Center (UHUZAM) signed a cooperation protocol by joining forces for studies to cover the polar regions.

Polar studies are one of the vision projects that our country has recently attached importance to together with Space. In this context, expeditions to the South and North polar regions are organized annually. The foundation and nucleus of the expeditions and scientific studies to the polar regions were initiated in 2015 under the roof of ITU, and then TÜBİTAK MAM KARE, established in 2019, was structured as the focal institution of polar studies.

The expeditions to Antarctica in 2017-2018-2019 were coordinated by ITU Polar Research and Application Center (PolReC) and the expeditions in 2020-2021-2022 were coordinated by TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute (KARE).

With this protocol, the process that started within ITU and continued under TÜBİTAK MAM KARE has been combined and strengthened. Thus, the memory of the two institutions will be merged, their contribution to education will be increased, scientific project potential will be strengthened and cooperation will be crowned.

With the National Antarctic Science Expedition (TAE) and Arctic Science Expedition (TASE) coordinated by TÜBİTAK MAM KARE, our scientists are conducting valuable studies in the polar regions. The main data acquisition methods of the studies carried out in the polar regions are ground observations/sampling and satellite observations or remote sensing. Ground-based observations have limitations such as logistical difficulties, cost, life risks and transportation. Remote sensing, on the other hand, allows the collection of observation data over large areas without traveling to the region.