For the first time, the Ukrainian research vessel Noosphere is conducting research in the Southern Ocean on behalf of the US National Science Foundation.
For several days now, our icebreaker has been operating in the waters around the US Antarctic Palmer Station. From the Noosphere, US scientists carry out their marine research program.
In honor of this cooperation, the flags of both countries were raised on the ship and at the station.
It is worth noting that this is the first such mission not only for Noosphere, but also for the Ukrainian Navy in general.
“During Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, cooperation with other countries in the Antarctic is becoming increasingly important for us. This is not only our contribution to the development of world science and attracting additional funds from foreign partners, but also “Antarctic diplomacy”, as the icy continent is an important arena of world geopolitics,” says Yevhen Dykyi, Director of the National Antarctic Science Center.
At the end of this week, Noosphere will complete its mission on the Palmer and head to the Ukrainian Antarctic station Akademik Vernadsky with its American colleagues on board. There, negotiations are planned to expand the cooperation.
We remind you that the fourth Antarctic season of Noosphere, the most international one, is currently underway. Previously, the Ukrainian ship delivered expeditions to the Polish Antarctic stations Arttovsky and Vernadsky. Cooperation with Spain and the Czech Republic and the implementation of two EU Horizon Europe projects are in the pipeline.
