The training of candidates for the 29th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition has been completed. The training took place for a week at the National Ecological and Naturalistic Center for Student Youth of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
Future polar explorers were given lectures on various aspects of organizing expeditions, life and work at the station. In particular, on all areas of research, legal issues of life in Antarctica, scientific and technical history of Vernadsky, distribution of responsibilities during wintering and the season, fire safety, ethics of communication in the expedition, etc.
Specialists from the Institute of Neurology, Psychiatry and Narcology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine also joined the training. They conducted both individual interviews with participants and observed them during presentations, where applicants had to talk about themselves and answer questions from others.
“During the training, the candidates not only get the knowledge necessary for the upcoming wintering, but also undergo the coordination process. That is, we observe how they interact with each other, manifest themselves in different situations, performing common household duties, etc. Then this also plays a role in selecting participants for the main team,” said Evgen Dykyi, director of the National Antarctic Scientific Center.
We remind you that 25 people took part in the training this year: 16 male candidates and 9 female candidates. Of them, 7 have already worked at the station before, and 18 are newcomers.
The training was traditionally held under the leadership of an experienced winterer, head of the 15th UAE, geophysicist Andriy Zalizovskyi.
Based on the results of the training, the final composition of the 29th UAE wintering team for 2024-2025 will be formed, which we will be announced additionally.
Usually, a wintering team consists of 12-14 participants: scientists in the fields of biology, meteorology, geophysics, as well as a life support team – a cook, a doctor, a system administrator, a system mechanic, and a diesel electrician. Before training, candidates pass an open competition, which anyone can apply for.
