site.btaTurkish Geologist to Work at Bulgarian Antarctic Base, Bulgarian Physicist to Join Turkish Expedition

Bulgarian Antarctic researchers and representatives of Turkiye's Polar Research Institute Monday met at the National Center for Polar Studies of the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. Prof Christo Pimpirev, leader of the 32nd Bulgarian Antarctic expedition, logistics manager Dragomir Mateev and Antarctic Base Commander Kamen Nedkov met with logistics managers Cpt. Özgün Oktar and Cpt. Doğaç Baybars from Turkiye's Polar Research Institute, the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute (BAI) said.

The participants discussed joint projects and cooperation in logistics planned for the upcoming polar campaign. A Turkish geologist will work at the Bulgarian base on Livingston Island and a Bulgarian physicist will join a Turkish expedition.

"The Turkish colleagues will charter a plane to transport the participants in the expedition from Punta Arenas (Chile) to King George Island (Antarctica), and the Bulgarian Antarctic researchers take that flight. The Turkish researchers will also rent a Chilean ship for one month for their polar program," the BAI said.

In early February 2024, Bulgaria's Ambassador to Argentina, Stoyan Mihaylov, and Turkiye's Ambassador in Buenos Aires will meet on board the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii in King George Island Bay, the BAI said.

During the 32nd Antarctic expedition, the Bulgarian naval research vessel will transport 80 tonnes of materials for the construction of the science laboratory at the Bulgarian base on Livingston Island. The researchers will work on ten projects, some of which started during the previous expedition, while others are new.