Türkiye’s Antarctic expedition sets sail with 19 cutting-edge scientific projects

A team of 20 members from Türkiye’s 9th National Antarctic Science Expedition (TAE-IX) team has arrived on King George Island after a 2.5-day journey across Brazil and Chile.

The expedition is organized under the auspices of the Turkish Presidential Administration, with support from the Ministry of Industry and Technology and coordination from the TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

During the expedition, scientists intend to carry out 19 projects in the fields of biological, social, physical, and geological sciences.

Departing from Istanbul, the team travelled approximately 14,000 kilometres, reaching King George Island, where they boarded the Chilean vessel Betanzos. From there, they plan to head to Dismal Island and later to Horseshoe Island, where Türkiye’s scientific research camp is located.

Prior to landing on the continent, all equipment and personal belongings of the participants were thoroughly disinfected to prevent the introduction of non-native species, in line with Antarctica's stringent environmental protocols.

Expedition coordinator, Professor Burcu Özsoy, highlighted the importance of these measures in preserving the continent’s unique ecosystem.

Earlier, in Santiago airport, the Türkiye team was welcomed by Türkiye's Ambassador to Chile, Ahmet İhsan Kiziltan, who emphasized the significance of Türkiye’s presence in Antarctica, both from a scientific and resource perspective.

The expedition aims to conduct research across various fields, including biology, geology, and climatology, as well as test Turkish-manufactured equipment in Antarctica’s extreme conditions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev