The team, which participated in the 6th National Antarctic Science Expedition, carried out under the auspices of the Presidency, under the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and under the coordination of TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute, arrived in Istanbul after a long journey.

Including Dr. Mehmet Karadayı from Atatürk University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, and Dr. Onur Şatır, Astrophysics Research and Application Center (ATASAM) Deputy Technical Director the science expedition team's journey, which started on January 22, ended after 46 days of long work.

The expedition crew of 20 and the crew of 30 went to Horseshoe Island, where the temporary science camp was located, and studied 14 scientific projects in which 29 institutions were stakeholders. Two foreign researchers from Portugal and Bulgaria were also included in the team.

6th National Antarctic Science Expedition vice leader of science Assoc. Dr. Hasan Hakan Yavaşoğlu stated that 20 researchers, 2 of whom are foreign, continue their work with 14 projects, and said that "they continue to work on life sciences, physical sciences, earth sciences and astronomy, and these studies continue for 14 days."

Explaining that they completed their work on Dismal Island for 2 days and over 60 projects have been completed so far, Yavaşoğlu said: "We have 89 publications. When we think about it among the countries in Antarctica, it is a very high rate. This year, especially on live units, it was seen that our instructors worked efficiently. We can say,” he said.

National Technologies Included in the Expedition This Year

HAVELSAN's domestic and national GNSS receiver helps to collect data for location determination, while the 3D map of Horseshoe Island was studied with the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) developed in our country and data on glacial depths were collected. The team's communication in the field was provided by ASELSAN radios and modular radio repeaters. The thermal battery of TÜBİTAK SAGE was kept ready to meet the energy needs when necessary.

Turkey's first Meteorology station and the first three GNSS stations were established in Antarctica in recent years. The data collected from all stations sheds light on many scientific studies, especially climate change, sea-level changes, tectonic movements and glacier observations.

CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE – 18.03.2022