Belarus, Russia, Ukraine to exchange Antarctic research data

Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine will organize exchanges of the Antarctic researchers, BelTA learned from Deputy Head of the National Center for Polar Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, head of the Belarusian Antarctic expedition Aleksei Gaidashov after the first international science-to-practice conference dedicated to the monitoring of the Antarctic environment and support for national expeditions held in Naroch (Minsk Oblast).

“During the meeting it was decided that the scientific organizations and Antarctic expeditions of the three countries will hold regular exchanges of young and promising scientists,” Aleksei Gaidashov said.

The head of the Belarusian Antarctic expedition believes that such exchange of experience will promote the development of the Belarusian, Russian, and Ukrainian science and will strengthen cooperation between the three states in other areas.

Partaking in the conference were 60 scientists from 22 organizations. Aleksei Gaidashov noted that the scientific reports presented at the meeting covered a vast variety of issues connected with the exploration of the Antarctic including the construction of the Belarusian Antarctic station. “Other countries’ experience has shown that only with the construction of its own station Belarus will be able to actively participate in the exploration and utilization of the natural resources of the Antarctic,” the scientist specified. The conference also discussed the utilization and preservation of the biological resources of the Antarctic and the creation and development of the legal framework of the scientific work.

The participants of the conference praised the great contribution of the Belarusian scientists to the exploration of the Antarctic.

The Belarusian, Russian, and Ukrainian scientists agreed to strengthen cooperation in different research areas and to use the positive experience of the organization of Antarctic expeditions and scientific research.

There are plans to make a science-to-practice conference dedicated to the Antarctic a regular biennial event.