The first scientists of the 2013-2014 season have arrived at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica research station, to begin the four-month BELARE scientific research season. 

This week's arrivals include German glaciologist Dr Reinhard Drews, based at Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), who makes his second trip to Princess Elisabeth Antarctica as part of his InBev Baillet Latour Antarctic Fellowship. Drews received the award for his project Be:Wise, which investigates how the potential disintegration of Antarctic floating ice shelves could contribute to increased ice flow from inland glaciers, and a resulting rise in global sea level [1].

Also at the station is Dr Nicholas Bergeot (France) from the royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB), who will install GPS antenna to track crust motion due to ice mass variation as part of the ongoing ICECON project at the station.

Alexander Mangold (Germany) of the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium, returns to Antarctica to continue his long-term monitoring of the chemical and particle composition of the Antarctic atmosphere, ozone monitoring and of UV radiation.

A team of four scientists from Japan’s National Institute of Polar Research’s (NIPR) JARE-55 expedition are also due to arrive at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica this week.

During the 2013-2014 BELARE season, the zero emission Princess Elisabeth Antarctica will host scientists working in the fields of atmospheric science, glaciology, meteorology, geology, and, from several different countries, including large from Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Japan [2].

“The International Polar Foundation is proud to welcome polar scientists who make the journey to Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, and to support their endeavours so that we may better understand the Earth and its mechanisms.” said expedition leader Alain Hubert, at the zero emission polar research station.

Full list of science projects at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica during the BELARE  2013-2014 season:

• BE:WISE: Research on buttressing effects on ice shelves (ULB) – Dr Reinhard Drews and Lionel Favier will work on the Antarctic coast, funded by the InBev Baillet Latour Antarctic Fellowship.
• BELATMOS - Ozone, UV radiation and atmospheric composition - Belgian Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI). Dr. Alexander Mangold will maintain the existing atmospheric observatory instrumentation and will install a new aerosol instrument during this summer season.  In addition, the possibility to do filter sampling for aerosol chemical analysis will be tested.  Funded by BELSPO.
• ICECON: Understanding ice dynamics – Dr Nicholas Bergeot from royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB) will install GPS antenna to track crust motion due to ice mass variation . Funded by BELSPO.
• JARE-55: National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) team from Japan will carry out absolute gravimeter readings, as well as a reconnaissance flight over the Belgica Mountains.
• GIANT-LISSA: Dr Denis Lombardi from Royal Observatory of Belgium will engage in setting up a seismometer transect across the western Sor Rondane mountains.
• AWS AIR, AWS GUN– Simon Steffen of Swiss Institute for Forests, Snow and Ice (WSL) of a new Automatic Weather Station at the Romnoes Blue Icefield, donated to the International Polar Foundation by the University of Colorado and WSL in Zurich. Two more AWS will be equipped with Argos antennae.
• LGGE – Alain Hubert , Nighat Amin and Simon Steffens to carry out snow density measurement –traverse of 180 km, measurement of 60 points, twenty cores to measure snow density.
• GEOMAG project:  Site survey for installation of radome for the geomagnetic observatory. Jean Rasson from IRM Dourbes in Belgium carrying out survey in preparation for construction of geomagnetic observatory next season.
• ACME: Launch Radio sounding balloon to investigate the water vapour in the air column rising up to the troposphere. Partnership between International Polar Foundation, Swiss Institute for Forests, Snow and Ice and IRM.

The International Polar Foundation team arrived last night at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station to begin operations for the 2013-2014 four-month BELARE scientific research season, after being delayed by a week due to bad weather that hampered flight operations.

The ten person group, including six Belgians, and one each from France, Switzerland, Netherlands and Canada, arrived from Cape Town to Russia’s Novo Air Base on board an Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft. Seven of the team took a Twin Otter aircraft to the zero emission Princess Elisabeth Antarctica at 2215 CET and the other three will arrive at the station soon.

"Princess Elisabeth Antarctica is open for business – we’re busy clearing the extensive snow systems from around the station, and getting the systems up and running, in preparation for the international researchers who will arrive soon”, said expedition leader Alain Hubert. “The International Polar Foundation is once again proud to support the work of polar scientists who make the journey to Antarctica to help us better understand the the Earth and and its mechanisms.”

During the 2013-2014 BELARE season, the wind and solar powered station, operated by International Polar Foundation on behalf of the Belgian state, will host scientists working in the fields of atmospheric science, glaciology, meteorology, geology, and, from several different countries, including large from Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Japan. The first scientists arrive by aircraft on November 19th, including German glaciologist Dr Reinhard Drews who makes his second trip to Princess Elisabeth Antarctica as part of his InBev Baillet Latour Antarctic Fellowship. Drews was awarded for his work in investigating how the potential disintegration of Antarctic floating ice shelves could contribute to increased ice flow from inland glaciers, and a resulting rise in global sea levels.

Amongst ongoing construction/development projects at the station this season are maintenance of building and technical installations, improvement station facilities and major overhaul of the snow tractors and skidoos. The team also plan to  improve the communication network for scientists working in the field while in Antarctica.

Princess Elisabeth Antarctica’s design and construction seamlessly integrates passive building technologies, renewable wind and solar energy, water treatment facilities, continuously monitored power demand and a smart grid for maximising energy efficiency.

"After five seasons at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, we are proud to remain at the vanguard of  exploring new, durable ways of using and conservating energy and resource use to influence " said Hubert. “However, these methods and technologies should not remain in Antarctica – they should be an inspiration for how we use energy all over the world”.

 Science projects taking place at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica during the BELARE  2013-2014 season:

• BE:WISE: Research on buttressing effects on ice shelves (ULB) – Dr Reinhard Drews and Lionel Favier will work on the Antarctic coast, funded by the InBev Baillet Latour Antarctic Fellowship.
• BELATMOS - Ozone, UV radiation and aerosols - Belgian Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI). Dr. Alexander Mangold will be installing new instruments and filtering devices. Funded by BELSPO.
• ICECON: Understanding ice dynamics – Dr Nicholas Bergeot from Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) will install GPS antennae to track ice movement. Funded by BELSPO.
• JARE-55: National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) team from Japan will carry out absolute gravimeter readings, as well as a reconnaissance flight over the Belgica Mountains.
• GIANT-LISSA: Dr Denis Lombardi from Royal Observatory of Belgium will engage in setting up a seismometer transect across the western Sor Rondane mountains.
• AWS AIR, AWS GUN– Simon Steffen of Swiss Institute for Forests, Snow and Ice (WSL) of a new Automatic Weather Station at the Romnoes Blue Icefield, donated to the International Polar Foundation by the University of Colorado and WSL in Zurich. Two more AWS will be equipped with Argos antennae.
• LGGE – Alain Hubert , Nighat Amin and Simon Steffens to carry out snow density measurement –traverse of 180 km, measurement of 60 points, twenty cores to measure snow density.
• GEOMAG project:  Site survey for installation of radome for the geomagnetic observatory. Jean Rasson from IRM Dourbes in Belgium carrying out survey in preparation for construction of geomagnetic observatory next season.
• ACME: Launch Radio sounding balloon to investigate the water vapour in the air column rising up to the troposphere. Partnership between International Polar Foundation, Swiss Institute for Forests, Snow and Ice and IRM.  

Follow this season's expedition over on antarcticstation.org
 

With a record 200 participants gathering in Brussels for lively debate on an the challenges and opportunities facing the Arctic region, the 2013 Arctic Futures Symposium has been the event’s most successful year to date.

International interest in the event and the range topics discussed has continued to grow since Brussels premier Arctic event began in 2010.

Held on October 16th and 17th, the symposium focused on Canada’s "Development for the People of the North" theme as they chair the Arctic Council.  The symposium brought together an international and multidisciplinary group of speakers, including Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders, and a number of Senior Arctic officials, representatives from the EU Commission and the EU Parliament, including Vice-President of the European Parliament Isabelle Durant.

Researchers in the natural and social sciences presented some of the changes seen in the Arctic as well as some of the problems local populations in the Arctic are facing.

The symposium also examined both local and broader interests, hosting representatives from Arctic Communities including the mayors of Tromso and Alaska's Northwest Arctic Borough, as well as members of the Sámi reindeer herding community.  Representatives from the oil and gas, mining, fishing and shipping industries provided a view on the current and future economic possibilities in a changing Arctic.

The International Polar Foundation would like to thank its supporting partners, including the Belgian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Statoil, and our partners in the EU Commission-funded Arctic NGO Forum, with whom we organized the Arctic shipping workshop on October 17th.  We would also like to recognize our partners at the EU Arctic Information Centre and the North Norway European Office for their in-kind contributions to the symposium.

The Arctic Futures Symposium 2013 runs from 0900-1815 CET on October 16th 2013 and 0900-1700 on the 17th. The event can be watched remote via livestream.com. To keep track of the event on social media, join us on Twitter @polarfoundation and on the hashtag #ArcticFutures. There's more information on the Arctic Futures page.

The programme for Arctic Futures Symposium 2013 which takes place in Brussels this 16 and 17 of October is now available to download. European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki, Vice-President of the European Parliament Isabelle Durant and Belgium’s deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders headline next week Brussels’ premier gathering on Arctic issues.

President of the Canadian Climate Forum, Gordon McBean will address the need to close the divide between the scientific community and policymakers on climate issues, while Agneta Fransson of the Norwegian Polar Institute will look at Arctic Ocean acidification and its impacts on marine ecosystems.

For the full speaker list, and to download the programme, please visit the Arctic Futures Symposium page.

Registrations are now open for the Arctic Futures Symposium, which takes place on October 16 and 17 in Brussels.  Organised by the International Polar Foundation, Arctic development will top the agenda at this multidisciplinary event, which will see Arctic stakeholders discuss safe Arctic shipping, sustainable circumpolar communities, and the research needed to inform policymaking.

Brussels’ premier gathering on Arctic issues brings together stakeholders such as Arctic residents, researchers, industry representatives and politicians for frank and lively discussions on the issues facing the region. The programme for the 2013 edition of Arctic Futures corresponds with Canada’s priorities during its chairmanship of the Arctic Council, which began following the Kiruna Ministerial in May of this year under the theme “development for the people of the North”.

Speakers include Maria Damanaki, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and Belgium’s deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders. Hannu Halinen, Finland’s  Ambassador to the Arctic Council, will discuss his country’s plan to lead the way towards a sustainable Arctic, while Konrad Steffen (Director, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research) will speak about the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet – and how it affects global sea levels. President of the Canadian Climate Forum, Gordon McBean will address the need to close the divide between the scientific community and policymakers on climate issues, while Agneta Fransson of the Norwegian Polar Institute will look at Arctic Ocean acidification and its impacts on marine ecosystems.

Arctic Futures will address Arctic Council priorities during sessions focusing on the following topics:

• The priorities and concerns of Arctic Council nations and other Arctic stakeholders
• Natural and social science research on the Arctic's environment and communities to inform policymaking
• The Arctic’s resources and the sustainable development of Northern economies
• Trends and future scenarios for Arctic marine transport

 For more information, including details for registration, full speaker list and programme, please visit www.arcticfutures.org

The recent Wired Next Fest in Milan, Italy, saw International Polar Foundation Executive Director Thierry Touchais give two presentations on Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, the world’s first zero emission polar research base.

On Friday, at the Wired Dome, Thierry discussed the range of innovations that defines Princess Elisabeth Antarctica project including technical, financing, partnering, vision and education. On Saturday, at the GDF Suez igloo, Thierry expanded on the principle of innovation during a talking covering the technical aspects of station’s revolutionary energy systems in greater depth.

For three days, from May 30 to June 1, Milan was the center of the global conference on Innovation. An estimated 30,000 visitors came to Wired Next Fest, the first such festival hosted by the Italian edition of Wired magazine. The event was a collaboration between Condé Nast and the City of Milan to promote the city as a hub of innovation and cradle of the Italian digital revolution.

More about Wired Next Fest

To mark UN World Environment Day on June 5th, the International Polar Foundation's Nathalie Van Isacker  presented the College Onze Lieve Vrouw ten Doorn, from the Flemish town of Eeklo, with our annual award for initiatives making a significant impact against climate change, for its project 'Act for the Climate', as part of the 8th Belgian Energy and Environment Awards, held in Brussels landmark venue Tour & Taxis.

Since 2006 the Belgian Energy and Environment Awards has honored more than 1500 projects developed by citizens, corporations, institutions, associations, schools and administrations that have provided exceptional contributions to the construction of a sustainable future, at a local, regional and national level.

After participating in the Sing for the Climate initiative, teachers and students from school College Onze Lieve Vrouw ten Doorn decided to act for the climate, by developing their understanding of climate change and working together to meet five sustainable development challenges in their school related to meat, energy, waste, water and product production and consumption.

Congratulations from the International Polar Foundation to all the 2013 Energy and Environment laureates!

Photo: Sophie Peckstadt, Roel Bettens and Klaas De Clercq all teachers from from College Onze Lieve Vrouw ten Doorn.

We were proud to welcome Their Royal Highnesses, Prince Philippe, and his daughter Princess Elisabeth of Belgium to the “Inside the Station” exhibition at Tour & Taxis, Brussels today.

“Inside the Station” features an interactive journey inside the iconic zero emission polar research station, Princess Elisabeth Antarctica. The station was named in honour of Her Royal Highness Princess Elisabeth on its inauguration in 2009, so the Foundation takes special pride in the Princess’ visit.

“It is a great honour for the Foundation to welcome our honorary president His Royal Highness Prince Philippe, and Princess Elisabeth to Inside the Station today”, said International Polar Foundation Executive Director Thierry Touchais. “We fondly remember the “good luck” wishes HRH Princess Elisabeth recorded in 2009 for Alain Hubert and the construction team in Antarctica for the station’s inauguration. In a week when 49 foreign delegations are here in Brussels for the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, the Foundation is proud to pursue its mission by sharing the achievement of Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, which continues to showcase Belgium on the international stage”.

Inside the Station features reconstructions of the polar research station and its environment, which give visitors the opportunity to experience to daily life in the frozen South, the importance of polar science, and the continuing evolution of the world’s first zero emission polar research facility, along with:

• The technologies used at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica– the smart grid, the renewable energy systems, the space-age water treatment plant and more
• The incredible Antarctic environment
• Logistics – arduous journeys to and in the Antarctic – using satellites, aircraft, ships, and tractors
• The science – the scientific programmes at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, which help learn more about our planet’s mechanisms
• Daily life – working, eating, sleeping and managing energy
• Princess Elisabeth Antarctica as an example of how we can deal with climate change – and the actions we can take at a personal and community level to respond to this challenge
• Belgian Antarctic Research Expeditions (BELARE), when more than 30 scientists from Belgium and other countries live and work at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica through the season.

Five years after displaying the polar station at Tour & Taxis, the International Polar Foundation welcomes the public to once again share in the success story that is Princess Elisabeth Antarctica.
Inside the Station opened at Tour & Taxis, Brussels on December 22, 2012, and runs until May 31, 2013.

For more information, including detailed information on ticketing, opening hours and directions, please visit www.insidethestation.be

The Arctic Futures Symposium, which was held at the European Parliament in Brussels in conjunction with the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco and the Aspen Institute on October 14^th and 15^th was a huge success, thanks in no small part to the quality of the presentations of the speakers who attended.

You can now have a look at what the speakers presented. A number of speakers also agreed to do short video interviews on topics they addressed during their presentations, ranging from the effects of a changing Arctic to the possibility (or lack thereof) of establishing an Arctic Treaty System similar to the Antarctic Treaty System.