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BELARE / Princess Elisabeth Antarctica

The IPF at the 2008 SCAR-IASC meeting

SCAR IASC logos

This year, the 30th edition of the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (SCAR) meeting, was co-organized with the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-08, with the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as co-sponsors.

This important event, known as the SCAR-IASC-IPY Open Science Conference, was hosted by the city of St Peterburg in the first two weeks of July and attended on behalf of the IPF by Alain Hubert (Chairman), Gigi Johnson-Amin (Vice-President, International Affairs), and Jean de Pomereu (journalist for SciencePoles.org and IPY Education & Outreach sub-committee member).

With over 1,400 scientists, logistics experts, programme managers, and other polar research related experts from 64 countries in attendance, the conference served as a platform for a whole host of science, logistics, and strategy focused side-meetings. It also saw some 550 science presentations, as well as 640 posters relating to recent or ongoing polar research programmes and findings. These focused on all of the principle IPY themes, with a growing emphasis on the effects of climate change on the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems, as well as the Polar Regions as privileged barometers of change.

On the opening day of the conference, SCAR medals where awarded to Vladimir Kotlyakov (Russia), Claude Lorius (France), and Angelika Brandt (Germany).

The event also served as a unique and timely opportunity for the Polar Research community to discuss and exchange ideas on a range of important (and in some cases urgent) science-related topics and issues, including:

The need to sustain Polar Research funding in order to properly address climate change - And the increasingly important role played by outreach and communication in this achieving this goal
The rapid rise in oil prices and its very negative impact on fuel dependant polar research and logistics
The scientific, data, educational and policy legacies of the IPY 2007-08 - including the IPY Oslo Science Conference in June 2010
The instigation of a 'Polar Decade'.

The Princess Elisabeth Antarctica a few days after opening for 2024-2025 BELARE campaign.

The 2024-2025 BELgian Antarctic Research Expedition (BELARE) has officially begun with opening team hard at work!

The first 14 members of the BELgian Antarctic Research Expedition (BELARE) are off to a strong start opening and preparing the station for the arrival of scientists in the coming days. 

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Part of the contemporary portion of the MAS exhbition 'To the Antarctic'.

"To the Antarctic" Exhibition at MAS Closes but Leaves Behind Great Memories and Many Successes

The MAS exhibition 'To the Antarctic' welcomed more than 45,00 visitors over the 4.5 months that it was open to the public. 

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Aymar de Lichtervelde presenting about the water treatment system at the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica zero-emission polar research station

Another Successful Trip to the Arctic Circle Assembly

The International Polar Foundation was again present and active at the annual Arctic Circle Assembly and accompanying Arctic Circle Business Forum in Reykjavik, Iceland from October 17th-19th.

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A view of Bodø, Norway from above.

Arctic Futures Symposium 2024 Fast Approaching!

The latest edition of the annual Arctic Futures Symposium organised by the International Polar Foundation and its many Arctic stakeholder partners will take place in early December. Register to secure your spot!

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Alain Hubert receiving the 2024 Belgica Prize from Prof. Roland Souchez

Remembering Roland Souchez

IPF is sad to learn of the passing of glaciologist Professor Roland Souchez, who made important contributions to the fields of glaciology and climate science during his decades-long career.

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Lego enthusiast Daniel Vermeir poses with his scale replica of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica

LEGO Enthusiast Daniel Vermeir on his Scale Model of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Station

To celebrate the opening of the exhibit “To the Antarctic: Belgica’s Polar Pioneers”, Antwerp resident and LEGO enthusiast Daniel Vermeir built an amazing scale model of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, the world’s first and to date only zero-emission polar research station.

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“To the Antarctic” Exhibition Opens June 21st at MAS Museum in Antwerp

“To the Antarctic” Exhibition Opens June 21st at MAS Museum in Antwerp

The International Polar Foundation has been part of creating a fascinating new exhibition on Belgium's contributions to Antarctic exploration and research, opening at the MAS Museum in Antwerp starting from Friday, June 21st.

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MAS Expo Opening Evening

Much-Awaited Exhibit at MAS Museum in Antwerp Opens to Large Crowds

After much anticipation, on Thursday, June 20th, the exhibition “To the Antarctic: Belgica’s Polar Pioneers” at Antwerp’s MAS Museum officially opened its doors.

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European Sustainable Energy Week Invites Alain Hubert to “Debate with Ambassadors” Panel

European Sustainable Energy Week Invites Alain Hubert to “Debate with Ambassadors” Panel

On Tuesday, June 11th, IPF Founder and President Alain Hubert was invited to participate in the “Debate with Ambassadors” panel at European Sustainable Energy Week 2024 (EUSEW24).

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Alain Hubert Awarded Prestigious Belgica Prize at Ceremony in Brussels

Alain Hubert Awarded Prestigious Belgica Prize at Ceremony in Brussels

At a ceremony held the afternoon of Monday, June 10th at The Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium, Alain Hubert, Founder and President of the International Polar Foundation, received the prestigious Belgica Prize alongside French glaciologist Professor Jérôme Chappellaz.

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