25th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica on Dec 22 18 Dec 2005 - UNI
Panaji: The silver jubilee Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica is all set to be launched from Cape Town onboard Israeli vessel "MV Paardeberg" on December 22, under the overall coordination and supervision of the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa. For the first time, some talented post-graduate students have been included in the expedition, with the authorities deciding to provide those pursuing professional courses an exposure to Antarctic research. The 50-member expedition team to the icy continent would be led by Dr L Prem Kishore, a scientist from the Hyderabad-based National Geophysical Research Institute, with vast experience in Antarctic wintering, a NCAOR source told UNI here today. The summer component of the 25th Indian Antarctic Expedition (IAE) and winter component of 24th IAE expedition is expected to return to India by March/April next year. The team comprises 23 winter component members and 27 summer component members drawn from 24 research institutes. The other representatives are from Geological Survey of India, CSIR laboratories, Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Force, defence organisations, DRDO laboratories, and various universities. The expedition members will be given a formal farewell tomorrow at the Vasco headquarters of the NCAOR, from where they will fly to Cape Town in South Africa to join the expedition vessel of M/S Dynamic Shipping Services (DSS) Ltd for their onward voyage to Antarctica. As the nodal agency, the NCAOR is mandated by the Department of Ocean Development (DOD) for the overall planning, coordination and execution of the national Antarctic expedition, besides undertaking specific R&D activities in polar sciences. The agency is also responsible for the maintenance of the Indian research station 'Maitri' in Antarctica. Many developed and developing countries are active partners in Antarctic research under the umbrellas of various international governing bodies like ATCM, COMNAP, SCALOP and SCAR. India too is engaged in establishing the third permanent base in Antarctica before the existing Maitri base outlived its utility. Indian Antarctic Programme involves five major themes focused on Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences, Earth Sciences and Glaciology, Biology and Environmental Sciences, Human Physiology and Medicines, Engineering and Communications. So far, 24 annual expeditions to Antarctica (excluding three special expeditions to the Southern Ocean and one Total Solar Eclipse Expedition) have already been launched. Significantly, the first ever visit of the ministerial delegation to the Antarctica was led by the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Ocean Development Kapil Sibal, in February this year. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------