site.btaUPDATED Bulgaria Is Paving Way for Other Nations to Explore Antarctica, Prof. Pimpirev Says

Bulgaria is paving the way for other nations to explore Antarctica, the head of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute (BAI), Prof Christo Pimpirev, said ahead of the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic expedition. In his words, apart from traditional partners such as Colombia, Portugal, and Spain, this year the Bulgarian Antarctic explorers will cooperate with representatives of Greece and the United Arab Emirates.

In 2024, the expedition involves some 37 scientists, Pimpirev said, noting that there will be strong international participation. He was confident that the expedition will result in many scientific findings that will benefit the Bulgarian and global community. “We will support the first Greek expedition represented by two ladies who will board the Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii vessel from Ushuaia, Argentina, Pimpirev said. The first expedition of the United Arab Emirates will be launched, with a seismologist and a meteorologist boarding RSV 421 to deploy advanced stations on Snow Island, he added. Pimpirev stressed that Bulgarian scientists are already extending their research beyond Livingstone Island because this country has its own research vessel.

The 33rd expedition will be the first to involve ornithologists. Pimpirev said that there will be two ornithologists on board the vessel during the entire voyage, exploring the diversity of birds at different latitudes. The expedition also includes a specialist from the Centre for Underwater Archaeology, who will bring an advanced sonar for seabed mapping in the vicinity of the Bulgarian base on Livingstone Island.

Commenting on the results of last year's research, Pimpirev said that when exploring an unknown place, and the most remote continent is just that, there are always surprises. He pointed out that Bulgarian scientists have examined fish in this area and have found the presence of heavy metals and microplastics. It turned out that pollution covering populated continents had also reached Antarctica, Pimpirev pointed out. In fact, he said, this is further evidence of the problem, as scientists years ago found heavy metals in the feathers of penguins as well. All these studies alarm that more efforts should be made to protect nature, the BAI chairman stressed.

He said that he would be boarding the RSV 421 from King George Island to get to Livingston Island. "Returning to Bulgaria, we will also continue our role as diplomats, as we will stop at the port of Comodoro Rivadavia, where a delegation led by Vice President Iliana Iotova is due to arrive to meet with the Bulgarian community in Argentina," Pimpirev said.

He specified that during the current expedition the premises of Livingston's new scientific laboratory are to be furnished. The interior rooms will be furnished, and the plan is to have beds so that the scientists can stay overnight when they conduct experiments, Pimpirev added. He noted that the full scientific equipment of the laboratory will be delivered during the next, 34th Bulgarian Antarctic expedition.