Guests of the Scientific and Technical Library, Lviv Polytechnic, had the opportunity to go on online tours and talk with the participants of the 27th Ukrainian expedition, who have already been on Galindez Island in the Argentine Islands Archipelago near the South Pole for six months. At the event, there was also presented an exhibition of photographs «Ours at the Pole» by Serhii Hlotov, the biologist of the expedition, who told about the scientific research conducted by scientists, showed how and where Ukrainian polar explorers live, and answered numerous questions of library guests.
Serhiy Hlotov noted that the station «Akademik Vernadskyi» was once called «Faraday» and belonged to Great Britain. In 1996, it was transferred to Ukraine and renamed in honour of the outstanding Ukrainian scientist, Academician Volodymyr Vernadskyi, the first president of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. From that time, the countdown began for Ukrainian science in the Antarctic.
«I want to emphasize: what Ukrainian polar explorers do is not only about scientific discoveries, but also about technologies, experience, and cooperation with thirty countries of the world, because that is how many countries have their stations here. Most of them belong to the most developed, and it is an honor for Ukraine to be among them. I note that each specialist at the station does not carry out his own scientific research, but part of the state program. All of them are the property of world science, because any non-scientific activity is prohibited in the Antarctic. During this time, we conducted a lot of important research in the fields of biology, astrology, geophysics, ecology, medicine, and many others», said Serhii Hlotov.
In addition to science, Serhii Hlotov is also interested in photography, so he took several cameras with him on the expedition.
«Since childhood I have been photographing and love it very much. So, when I went on an expedition, I took several cameras with me and now I shoot the life of Ukrainian polar explorers in Antarctica, as well as nature, animals, and birds. Photos allow me to share this beauty with other people, to show how Ukrainian scientists live and work. Today, I also donate these photos to volunteer funds or charity events, and the proceeds from their sale are used for the needs of the Armed Forces. In general, I am a biologist by education, I was born in Luhansk and lived there until 2014, then I moved to Lviv, where I already defended my dissertation. Once upon a time, I could not even imagine how rich the Antarctic world is, there is such a diversity of life, which is no less interesting and rich than, for example, in the forests of the Carpathians», noted Serhii Hlotov.
After going on an online tour of the station, those present saw the meteorology room, three bio-laboratories, a sports hall, the station museum, as well as talked with the chef Oleh Kurus, who showed the kitchen and told what he was cooking for the expedition participants. After the excursion, members of the expedition answered numerous questions of the participants of the event.
