Our Research Program
On November 3, 2010, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a Resolution No 1002 “On Approval of the State Special-Purpose Research Program in Antarctica for 2011-2023”. Adoption of the Resolution opens a new space for scientific research and further integration into the international team of leaders of the Ice Continent development and will contribute to the fulfillment of Ukraine’s international obligations under the Antarctic Treaty.
The State Program objectives are to provide fundamental and applied research in Antarctica, to maintain effectively Akademik Vernadsky Antarctic station, to fulfill commitments of Ukraine in accordance with the Antarctic Treaty, and to evaluate biological and mineral resources in Antarctica based on scientific approach.
The main mechanisms to succeed are the comprehensive solution of the interrelated issues of the Antarctic activity of Ukraine in 2011-2023, which will be carried out in the following ways:
- Execution of research tasks and projects in Antarctica in accordance with the main modern scientific research areas covering Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and supported by the International Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). These are:
Geological and Geophysical Research
Geological and geophysical research is a constituent part of the State Special-Purpose Research Program in Antarctica for 2011-2023.
The purpose of the research is to study the geological structure of Western Antarctica, its main structural elements and their relationship with the ecology and mineral resource potential of the region.
Hydrometeorological Research
Hydrometeorological research is a constituent part of the State Special-Purpose Research Program in Antarctica for 2011-2023.
The purpose of the research is a detailed assessment of the climate system of the atmosphere-cryosphere-hydrosphere in the Antarctica and its impact on the global climate, the development of climate change scenarios; hydrometeorological support of scientific and technical activities at Vernadsky station .
Oceanographic Research
Oceanographic research is a constituent part of the State Special-Purpose Research Program in Antarctica for 2011-2023.
The purpose of the research is to obtain data on the state of the Antarctic Hydrosphere, to establish trends in the climatic variability of the oceanographic fields of the Southern Ocean, predictors of areas of increased biological productivity and industrial significance, the role of Antarctica in the global evolution of the natural environment.
Geospace Research
Geospace research is a constituent part of the State Special-Purpose Research Program in Antarctica for 2011-2023.
The purpose of the research is to study the interaction of atmospheric and space weather systems, the study of natural and man-made disturbances in the geospace to predict the state of space weather.
Biological Research
Comprehensive biological research is a constituent part of the State Special-Purpose Research Program in Antarctica for 2011-2023.
Biological research, taking into account the unique geographical location of Vernadsky station, covers a wide range of scientific problems in the field of zoology, botany, microbiology, virology, biochemistry, cell biology and genetic engineering, molecular biology and genetics with reference to the coordinate system and displaying biological layers on topographic map (in the ArcGIS program). Therefore, scientific research is carried out in a comprehensive format with the participation of leading experts from relevant scientific institutions of Ukraine and other countries.
Medical and Physiological Research
Medical and physiological research is a constituent part of the State Special-Purpose Research Program in Antarctica for 2011-2023.
The study of the medical and physiological direction is carried out by the leading experts of the Institute of Physiology. A.A. Bogomoltsa National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Institute of Medicine of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, National Antarctic Scientific Center of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Institute of Neurology, Psychiatry and Narcology of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine (Kharkov), which are united by a non-structural interdepartmental laboratory of biomedical problems in Antarctica.
New Technologies
Development and Implementation of New Technologies is a constituent part of the State Special-Purpose Research Program in Antarctica for 2011-2023.
The purpose of research is to develop and introduce new technologies to ensure the life of the station, environmental protection, safety, energy conservation, automation of scientific research, modernization of Vernadsky station infrastructure.
- Implementation of strategic objectives in the following areas:
- organizing and conducting Antarctic expeditions;
- cooperation with international organizations of the Antarctic Treaty;
- information and publishing activities regarding the presence of Ukraine in the Antarctic.
Research in Antarctica made by separate research institutions will cause increase in volume of expenditures from the state budget caused by sending researchers to Akademik Vernadsky station and their stay there, however since the research institutions do not have a research ship that will complicate the delivery of workers, goods, fuel, foodstuff, scientific and technical equipment to the Antarctic station.
The optimum way of problem solving is organization and conduction of Antarctic expeditions and researches involving enterprises, institutions and organizations of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Education and Sciences, and Ministry of Nature Conservation that will make it possible to fulfill commitments of Ukraine, to prepare scientifically substantiated recommendations on protection of economic interests of Ukraine in the Antarctic region.
Such an integrated approach will allow fulfilling international obligations arising from Ukraine’s participation in the Antarctic Treaty at the proper level, providing scientifically based recommendations regarding the state economic interests in the near (biological resources) and remote (mineral resources) perspective; to substantiate and realize the national interests of Ukraine in the Antarctic region.