Congratulations to British Antarctic Survey (BAS) staff who have been awarded a Polar Medal in the 2025 New Year’s Honours List for their contributions to improving our understanding of Antarctica, through scientific or technical work in or about the Polar Regions.
A23a, arguably the world’s largest and oldest iceberg which has been wandering through the South Atlantic and headed for the British Overseas Territory of the South Georgia Islands since last month, has been reported not to have changed course this week nor upped nor melted, thus posing a serious threat to the local fauna. Earlier this week, it was spotted 173 miles (280km) away.
According to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the 3,600 square kilometer iceberg known as A23a broke off from Antarctica and was reportedly going adrift in the South Atlantic, probably towards South Georgia Island. It is arguably the world's largest and oldest iceberg, with ice sheets 400 meters thick, and weighing almost one billion tons.
From their unmistakable tusks to their characteristic bristles (the envy of many a ‘Movember’ moustache!), the walrus is one of the Arctic’s most iconic species, and today (Sunday 24 November) is World Walrus Day!
A team of researchers are using drones and satellite images from space to count southern elephant seals on the sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia. Using remotely piloted aerial systems (RPAS) to capture detailed ‘on the ground’ photos; the team will compare these with satellite imagery taken from space. This work will update the last island-wide census, conducted nearly 30-years ago.
The British High Commission in Ottawa organized an expedition for a group of British & Canadian early-career researchers to travel on board HMS Protector for an Arctic cruise. The UK and Canada have an exciting portfolio of collaborative projects relating to science, technology, and research.
The British Antarctic Survey, BAS, has announced that the UK Antarctic Science Conference 2024 will take place at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, 1st – 3rd October 2024. The meeting aims to bring together all in the UK who are involved in Antarctic research or the support of Antarctic research.
Cambridge researchers are set to explore the uncharted depths of life in the extreme cold, with findings that could reshape our understanding of biology and pave the way for future scientific breakthroughs.
For the first time, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are publishing their carbon footprint data on their website to increase transparency and help other organizations reduce their carbon emissions.
Professor Lloyd Peck FRS, Science Leader and marine biologist at British Antarctic Survey, has been announced as the 2024 recipient of the SCAR Medal for Excellence in Antarctic Research. The medals, awarded by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), recognize exceptional service to the international Antarctic community and contributions to Antarctic and Southern Ocean research.