Preparations for the 4th National Antarctic Science Expedition; which will be conducted under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Turkey, with the support and financing of the Ministry of Industry and Technology and under the coordination of TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute; have been completed. The team, which will go to the Antarctic where the average temperature is -20 degree in summer and -40 degree in winter, was trained on survival, fire prevention and fire fighting in sea and on basic first aid at Tuzla Marina Viaport. The Karadeniz Technical University faculty member and the leader of the 4th National Antarctic Science Expedition Prof. Ersan BAŞAR stated that the Antarctic is a “natural laboratory” for scientists. He expressed that the scientific expedition which will start from Istanbul on the 9th February will include 22 Turkish and 2 foreign scientists, and added “Each scientific study in the polar regions makes a contribution to the world science. Global warming is already one of the biggest problems. The regions that suffer the most from this problem are the polar regions. Therefore, having the opportunity of conducting studies at these regions is of great importance.” Stating that he participated in 3 scientific expeditions before, Prof. BAŞAR said “The working environment is not easy at all. You need to be ready and motivated both psychologically and physically. Your survival and proper conduct of scientific studies are dependent on this readiness.”
“Our preparations are complete”
TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM) Polar Research Institute (PRI) Director Assoc. Prof. Burcu ÖZSOY said that the 4th National Antarctic Science Expedition team has completed the preparations by getting trainings on survival, fire prevention and fire fighting in sea and on basic first aid. She explained that the expedition will include participants from the Turkish State Meteorological Service, the General Directorate of Mapping, the Turkish Naval Forces and the Ministry of National Education, who will perform 15 scientific projects conducted by partners from various universities of Turkey.
“I am proud of being a part of this team”
The expedition team member and the Metropolitan Gaziantep Mayor Fatma ŞAHİN stated that the 4th National Antarctic Science Expedition is conducted under the auspices of the President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN and with the follow-up of the Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa VARANK. She added “The expedition team is composed of 24 persons. I am a part of this team. Our Minister of Industry asked me to take part in this expedition since Gaziantep hosts the TEKNOFEST event with a view to switching to hightech. I gladly came here to share this excitement and got the preparatory trainings today. Because it will be a journey with harsh conditions. We have gotten preparatory trainings on what to do at any circumstance. Hopefully, the expedition will start on the 9th of February. I hope that Allah the almighty helps us during the expedition. I would like to express my excitement regarding the current status of my country in science and technology. I am proud of being a part of this team as well as my country’s rapid progress towards new goals and horizons.”
