site.btaBulgarian Antarctic Researchers Present Projects at University in Argentina

Researchers from the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition presented their projects to lecturers and scientists at the National University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco in Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, BTA special correspondent Milena Ostrovska reported on Monday.

Through brief presentations, they shared their scientific goals, expected outcomes, and methodologies with their Argentine colleagues, sparking discussions on potential collaborations and data-sharing opportunities in Antarctic research.

The Bulgarian delegation comprised experts from various scientific fields, including space research, hydrology, nuclear physics, radio communications, ichthyology, ornithology, and biotechnology. Participants included Tsvetan Parov from the Space Research and Technology Institute at BAS, Boris Tzankov from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Daniela Pascal from the Horia Hulubei National Institute for Research and Development in Physics and Nuclear Engineering in Bucharest, and Ivaylo Nachev from the Technical University of Sofia.

Joining them were ichthyologists Kristiyan Vladov and Stefan Kyurkchiev from the Regional Museum of Natural History in Plovdiv, ornithologist Boyan Michev from the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at BAS, and biotechnologist Kiril Kandilarov, co-founder of a medical-diagnostic laboratory. Also present were Lyubov Kostova from the Beautiful Science Foundation and Kalin Mutafchiev, an expert from the Science Directorate of the Ministry of Education and Science.

The presentations sparked numerous questions from the Argentine researchers, especially regarding data exchange, fieldwork opportunities, and the logistics of conducting research at Bulgaria’s Antarctic base on Livingston Island. Romanian geomorphologist Daniela Pascal commended the logistics team of the Bulgarian Institute for Polar Research, assuring future researchers of robust support for their work in Antarctica.

Argentine scientists expressed curiosity about Bulgaria’s motivation for establishing a research base so far from home, finding the story of Christo Pimpirev and his colleagues both inspiring and emblematic of Bulgarian scientific ambition.

The meeting strengthened scientific ties and opened new possibilities for collaboration between the two academic communities, building on the Memorandum of Cooperation signed a day earlier between Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski and the National University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco.

This was the first-ever Antarctic research meeting held in Comodoro Rivadavia, initiated by the local academic community, setting the stage for future joint scientific endeavours.

The Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) departed from Varna on its third Antarctic expedition on November 7, 2024, and arrived at Livingston Island on December 28. The St Kliment Ohridski Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island opened for the new polar season on November 23, 2024.

BTA has a national press club on the vessel and at the Bulgarian Antarctic base. This is the third year in a row that BTA has sent a correspondent to Antarctica. This year's correspondent is Milena Ostrovska, who arrived at the base on January 17. Her reports are available for free in English at the Bulgaria-Antarctica Log on BTA's website and can be used for free by all media with attribution to BTA.