Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition Survives Severe Financial Conditions

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov presented the Bulgarian flag to Prof.Hristo Pimpirev, leader of the expedition Thursday. Photo by BGNES

The Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition is heading to Livingston island again Friday, in spite of the drastic budget cuts, the Bulgarian Antarctic institute informed.

The budget for this year's expedition has been cut down by half to just BGN 200 000, but the Bulgarian base at Livingston will not be closed, Bulgarian Antarctic Institute Chairman and leader of the expedition, Prof. Hristo Pimpirev, declared before President Georgi Parvanov.

As a result of the financial situation, the 19th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition will consist of only 17 members, half as many as previously. They will stay for a shorter period, too.

The Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition carries out most of its its research in the St. Kliment Ohridski base on the island of Livingston. The base is used by scientists from Bulgaria and other nations for research in the field of geology, biology, glaciology, topography and geographic information.

In livingston, The Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition is involved in a number of projects aimed at defining the extent of global warming. In earlier 2010, Bulgaria's Environment and Water Agency funded a project for the research of penguin plumage.

Bulgarian scientists at the Antarctic are among the most active, they mapped the Livingston Island in 2005, giving all landmarks Bulgarian names and added a dash of fun to their scientific discoveries by tying Spain in the first ever football game played on the continent.

Camp Academia, a camp in eastern Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, named after the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in appreciation of Academy's contribution to the Antarctic exploration. The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, though, is currently also in a serious financial struggle due to budget cuts and recently threatened to shut itself down.

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