Ukraine expands research in Antarctic
Ukraine is expanding its collaboration with Turkey and also beginning a partnership with China and Malaysia in the area of Antarctic research, as reported by the press service of the Ministry of Science and Education of Ukraine.
“During the bilateral meetings with the Chinese and Malaysian delegations we agreed to have discussions about collaboration and as a result of them to sign memoranda regarding scientific and technological collaboration in the area of Antarctic research,” said Dmitry Cheberkus, head of the Ukrainian delegation.
He mentioned that such an agreement has already been signed with Turkey. Since Malaysia and Turkey do not have their own stations in Antarctica, they want to participate in research at the Ukrainian Vernadsky Research Base.
Cheberkus added that last year Turkish scientists already participated in short-term research projects using the Ukrainian infrastructure.
Australia has proposed that an intersessional contact group be created to discuss future challenges of Antarctic science. This is important for Ukraine because the location of the Ukrainian Vernadsky Research Base makes unique observation possible, since the melting of the ice cover is faster in this region.