British Antarctic Survey (BAS)

As part of a coordinated approach to marine data management, BODC and BAS have entered into a laboratory liaison programme.

More about BAS

The British Antarctic Survey has a long and distinguished history of carrying out research and surveys in the Antarctic and surrounding regions. BAS science programmes are closely linked with essential logistics support, making it very effective in carrying out the complicated and sophisticated scientific polar field programmes that are often a requirement today.

As a major research centre of the Natural Environment Research Council, BAS

• Provides a national capability for Antarctic science and logistics
• Carries out scientific research, long-term observations and surveys
• Provides a focus for international cooperation and programme coordination
• Concentrates on issues fundamental to NERC’s science strategy and the conservation of the Antarctic environment

The British Antarctic Survey has over 500 staff at Cambridge, in Antarctica and on two Royal Research Ships. The science strategy is currently encompassed by one programme, Polar Science for Planet Earth covering the Grand Challenges identified at BAS, namely Polar Change, Earth and the Poles, People and the Poles and Polar Frontiers.

In order to accomplish its objectives, BAS is organised in 9 science teams:

• Biodiversity, Evolution and Adaptation
• Atmosphere, Icea and Climate
• Space Eather and Atmospher
• Ice Dynamics and Paeloclimate
• Geology and Geophysics
• Ecosystems
• Palaeo Environments, Ice Sheets and Climate Change
• Polar Oceans
• Research Development and Support

In addition it also has a Corporate and Business team (which includes Leadership, Communication, Finance, HR, Information Services and Innovation teams), and the Operational teams which cover the management of Arctic and Antarctic Reserach stations and the operating polar ships and aircraft.

The Information Services team provides the home for the Polar Data Centre (PDC), NERC’s designated data centre for coordinating the management of polar data from UK-funded research. The PDC is responsible for ensuring that environmental data collected in the polar regions are made available and accessible to all. The PDC is also the UK’s designated National Antarctic Data Centre on the Standing Committee on Antarctic Data Management and the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) sponsored Arctic Data Committee.