NASC history

The Ukrainian Antarctic Center (since 2004 - NASC) was created in 1995 with the purpose of continuation of Antarctic studies which were carried out throughout past decades. The efforts of the Antarctic Center were directed to consolidate Ukrainian experts with experience of scientific work in polar regions, preservation of important directions of research in the field of geophysics, biology, meteorology, physics of the upper atmosphere, oceanology and their further development.

In 1996 (London) Petro Gozhyk and Barry Heywood signet the Memorandum of transfer of British Antarctic Faraday Station to Ukraine (now Akademik Vernadsky Station)

The British Antarctic Faraday Base on Galindez Island (now Ukrainian Antarctic Akademik Vernadsky Station) has been transferred to Ukraine in 1996. Since then the Ukrainian Antarctic Center became the main organization, which carries out Antarctic research expeditions, coordinates researches, selection and professional training of winterers and ensures the life activity of Vernadsky Station. By 2008 13 Ukrainian Antarctic expeditions were sent there.

The National Antarctic Scientific Centre (NASC) consistently renovates scientific and technical equipment at Vernadsky Station in accordance with modern requirements and new information technologies. In the course of realization of these plans the range of scientific research in which employees of leading institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, best Higher Educational Institutions of the country and foreign partners have started to be involved on a regular basis, has increased also.

In 2002 the Ukrainian government adopted «The State Program of Ukrainian Research in Antarctica for 2002-2010». Investigations of Ukrainian scientists formed the basis of the Program.

On May 27, 2004 at АТСМ XXVII in Cape Town Ukraine was recognized as a Consultative Party of the Antarctic Treaty. In January of the same year the Ukrainian Antarctic Center has obtained the status of the National Antarctic Scientific Centre in accordance with the Decree of the President