With a 16-member delegation, the BASE Millennium Institute is taking part in the 12th SCAR Open Science Conference, one of the leading international gatherings dedicated to Antarctic research. Scientists and professionals from the ANID centre of excellence travelled to Oslo to share research findings, experiences, and progress in the study and communication of the frozen continent.
Dr. Gary Wilson, President of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and expert in marine geology and polar climate change. Photo: Constanza Barrientos.
During August, Oslo becomes one of the world’s main meeting points for Antarctic research. The Norwegian capital is hosting specialists from different countries and disciplines in a programme with around 50 scientific sessions, aimed at sharing new knowledge and strengthening international collaboration around Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
Once again, the BASE Millennium Institute is joining the 12th Open Science Conference of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), with a delegation that includes principal investigators Elie Poulin (University of Chile), Karin Gérard (UMAG), Luis Valentín Ferrada (Law, University of Chile), César Cárdenas (INACH) and Hugo Benítez (UNAB/CHIC), together with senior researchers Pete Convey (BASE) and Steven Chown (Monash University).
They are joined by a new generation of researchers who will present progress and results from their work in Antarctic science. Among them are early-career researchers: Daly Noll (U. Lagos), Giovannina Sutherland (Law, University of Chile / ICLAC), Jordan Hernández (UCM), Franco Cruz (Universidad Santo Tomás), Albert Palomino (UACh), Miguel Ángel Salazar (University of Rennes), Eduardo Pizarro (PUC/CRG) and Morgane Durand (National Museum of Natural History of France).
Dr. Elie Poulin takes part in thematic roundtables and the presentation of scientific results. Photo: Constanza Barrientos.
“Taking part in SCAR once again, with a diverse delegation, allows us to share the knowledge we are generating at the BASE Millennium Institute and, at the same time, strengthen our ties with an international scientific community that will be essential for the challenges ahead. We are moving towards milestones of great relevance for polar science, such as the next International Polar Year: 2032-2033, and these spaces are key to building new collaborations and scientific questions from now on,” highlights Elie Poulin, director of the BASE Millennium Institute and faculty member at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Chile.
Constanza Barrientos presents the upcoming BASE book “We dive with mum… in Antarctica!” (Editorial SurCiencia). Photo: Giovannina Sutherland.
The Communications and Education Directorate (DIRECOM) is also represented by science journalist Constanza Barrientos, who will give three oral presentations and a poster. Her participation will share Antarctic science outreach experiences developed by the BASE Millennium Institute to bring polar knowledge closer to different audiences.
The presentations by the also president of the Chilean Antarctic Youth Coalition Foundation, in Punta Arenas, will address experiences in children’s literature, Antarctic education, Artificial Intelligence and new technologies, showing how different languages, formats and tools can help broaden the social reach of knowledge generated about Antarctica.
By: Nadia Politis
Photographs: Constanza Barrientos from Oslo, Norway.
Two studies published in 2026, with the participation of researchers from the University of Chile, combined environmental DNA analysis, protein structural modelling and in situ culture devices to explore the set of genes and mechanisms associated with antimicrobial resistance, known as the resistome, in Antarctic soils.
The papers, developed through collaboration between the BASE Millennium Institute, the mBioClim Ring and teams from different institutions, deepen a Chilean research line that has had wide international impact and reinforce the importance of studying the White Continent from a One Health perspective, which recognises the close relationship between human, animal and environmental health.
Long before humanity began using antibiotics, microorganisms were already producing substances to compete with one another and developing mechanisms to defend themselves against them. Part of that ancient evolutionary race remains recorded in Antarctic soils, where there is a microbial diversity that is only now beginning to be explored.
Surroundings of Base Julio Escudero, Antarctica. Photo: Katherine Chávez
Two recent studies, published in the journals iMetaOmics and Environment & Health, show that the White Continent can be understood as a natural archive of the evolution of antimicrobial resistance. From complementary approaches, one reconstructed the genetic information of entire microbial communities, while the other recovered living bacteria that normally fall outside the reach of conventional cultures.
These papers add to the sustained growth of Chilean polar science. According to information released by the Chilean Antarctic Institute, researchers with a national affiliation took part in 134 Antarctic scientific publications in 2025, the highest figure recorded for the country. The two studies published in 2026 represent a continuation of this trajectory, marked by collaborative work among universities, scientific centres and national programmes.
A finding that travelled the world
The new publications have a direct precedent. In 2022, a team led by Andrés Marcoleta, faculty member at the Department of Biology of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Chile, published a study on the resistome of soils on the Antarctic Peninsula. The research showed that these environments hosted native bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics, especially in areas without evident human intervention, supporting the natural and ancestral character of this resistome. In some isolates resistant to colistin, a last-line antibiotic used against particularly difficult-to-treat infections, the known resistance genes were not detected, suggesting the existence of mechanisms that have not yet been characterised. Resistance genes associated with mobile genetic elements, potentially able to circulate among microorganisms, were also identified.
The finding had wide international impact and opened discussion both on the ancestral origin of resistance and on the questions posed by ice melt regarding contact between previously isolated microorganisms and other ecosystems.
That work did not remain an isolated finding. Its results and questions contributed to the development of the mBioClim Ring project, created to study how climate change modifies microbial communities in Antarctic soils and the distribution of resistance genes and traits associated with virulence.
In 2024, this line of research extended to the soils of Union Glacier, in the interior of West Antarctica, less than 1,000 kilometres from the South Pole. A less diverse microbial community was described there than that of maritime Antarctica, but with a distinctive resistome and bacteria able to resist up to 24 antibiotics.
Referring to the evolution of this research line, Dr. Andrés Marcoleta, director of the Integrative Microbiology Group (GMI_UChile) and faculty member at the Department of Biology of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Chile, notes: “The 2022 study showed us that Antarctic soils host an extremely high diversity of bacteria, some of them resistant to multiple antibiotics used in clinical practice. This broad resistome reflects ecological and evolutionary processes that long predate the medical use of these drugs. Later work has allowed us to move from that first observation towards a deeper understanding of its diversity, its evolutionary history and the bacteria that harbour these mechanisms.”
A map of Antarctic beta-lactamases
Surroundings of Punta Armonía, Antarctica. Photo: Gaspar Mejías
The first of the new studies, published in iMetaOmics, analysed 81 metagenomes from Antarctic and subantarctic soils, that is, sets of DNA sequences that make it possible to study entire microbial communities without having to culture each microorganism. The research was led by José Coche-Miranda, Patricio Arros and Andrés Marcoleta, and included the participation of Julieta Orlando and Francisco Chávez, faculty members at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Chile.
The work was made possible by the partnership between the BASE Millennium Institute and the mBioClim Ring, which brought together samples, data and scientific capacities developed by different teams. The study combined protein sequence comparisons with three-dimensional structure prediction and functional inference, a strategy especially useful for detecting environmental enzymes that can differ greatly, in their sequence, from those known in clinical contexts.
The researchers identified 1,916 candidate beta-lactamase sequences, enzymes capable of inactivating beta-lactam antibiotics, supported by the concordance between their sequences and their predicted molecular structures. Although their activity will still need to be confirmed experimentally, many were very different from known beta-lactamases and yet conserved the architecture and catalytic elements that characterise them. This combination of diversity and conservation is consistent with a deep evolutionary history of these enzyme families.
The beta-lactamases also showed differentiated patterns among the subantarctic islands, the Antarctic Peninsula and the continental cold deserts, reflecting changes in the composition of microbial communities. Taken together, the results reinforce the idea that resistance is not exclusively a consequence of modern medicine, but also an ancestral ecological trait, shaped by competition and the adaptation of microorganisms.
On this point, Dr. Francisco Chávez, director of the Systems Microbiology Laboratory (SysmicroLab) and faculty member at the Department of Biology of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Chile, explains: “The aim is not to present Antarctic bacteria as an immediate threat, but to understand the ecological history of these resistance mechanisms. One Health reminds us that antimicrobial resistance cannot be studied only in hospitals: we must also observe the microorganisms, animals and ecosystems where that diversity originates and evolves”.
Recovering the microbial dark matter
The second study, published in the journal Environment & Health, approached the resistome from a complementary perspective: the recovery of living bacteria in order to study their characteristics directly.
The research was led by Jacquelinne Acuña, recently appointed as a faculty member at the Department of Biology of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Chile. The team compared traditional culture methods with in situ culture devices, also known as culture chips. These allow microorganisms to begin growing under conditions closer to those of their original environment, before being recovered and analysed in the laboratory.
The strategy made it possible to access rare bacteria or those underrepresented in conventional cultures. When evaluating 158 isolates against 35 antimicrobial agents, the researchers found widely distributed resistance and some bacteria able to tolerate more than 20 of them. They also detected activities that in clinical contexts are associated with virulence, although their presence, on its own, does not demonstrate that these microorganisms are pathogens.
On the contribution of this approach, Dr. Acuña highlights: “In situ culture devices allow us to access a fraction of bacterial diversity that usually remains hidden. Recovering these microorganisms alive is essential to move from genetic information to the experimental confirmation of their resistance and adaptation capacities.”
Many functions classified in clinical contexts as resistance or virulence may originally have arisen to obtain nutrients, compete with other microorganisms or survive the extreme conditions of the Antarctic environment. For that reason, these results should be interpreted in their ecological context and not as direct evidence of a health threat.
Two approaches to the same question
The iMetaOmics and Environment & Health studies make it possible to observe the Antarctic resistome at complementary scales. The analysis of environmental DNA, known as metagenomics, reveals genes, proteins and evolutionary relationships at the level of entire microbial communities, while in situ culture devices make it possible to recover living microorganisms and experimentally evaluate their properties.
This integration also strengthens a new scientific capacity at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Chile. Dr. Acuña’s experience in culturing environmental microorganisms is added to the work of Dr. Marcoleta in genomics, antimicrobial resistance and gene transfer, that of Dr. Chávez on interactions among bacteria, hosts and environments, and that of Dr. Julieta Orlando on the microbial ecology of extreme environments.
In the context of glacier retreat, studying these communities is especially relevant. As new ice-free soils appear, microorganisms that were previously isolated may become part of new ecological networks. This does not necessarily imply the emergence of health risks, but it does underline the need to integrate genetic analysis, culture and environmental monitoring in order to understand how microorganisms respond to a continent in transformation.
From a broader perspective, Dr. Julieta Orlando, deputy director of the BASE Millennium Institute and faculty member at the Department of Ecological Sciences of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Chile, emphasises: “Antarctica is not a territory disconnected from the rest of the planet. The processes that occur there are part of global ecological systems. Studying its microbial biodiversity not only expands our knowledge of life under extreme conditions, but also provides information needed to understand and protect ecosystem health in a changing world.”
Together, the studies consolidate Antarctica as a natural laboratory for reconstructing the deep history of antimicrobial resistance and observing how it may reorganise on a planet in transformation. The next steps will be to experimentally confirm the activity of the candidate enzymes, determine which of these genes can move between bacteria, and maintain monitoring series that make it possible to distinguish the natural resistome from changes associated with ice melt or human activity.
Rather than announcing an immediate threat, this research line seeks to build knowledge and establish baselines that make it possible to anticipate changes, guide environmental surveillance and protect ecosystems whose microbial diversity we still know only in part.
Press release: SysMicro, LEMi, GMI_UChile.
The new partnership will seek to strengthen the dissemination of content on Antarctic and subantarctic research produced by the BASE Millennium Institute through the editorial’s lens, bringing excellent research closer to different groups of readers in Chile and around the world.
The recent collaboration agreement signed with Editorial SurCiencia represents a new stage for the science outreach developed by the BASE Millennium Institute. Among its priorities is the publication of works aimed at diverse audiences, with education as a central tool for knowledge. “This partnership seeks to give sustainability to the science outreach books we are able to develop, making it possible to expand their reach and presence throughout the country, as well as the development of new stories around Antarctic and subantarctic research aimed at different audiences,” says Dr. Elie Poulin, faculty member at the University of Chile and director of the BASE Millennium Institute.
“We believe that science outreach gains greater value when books succeed in meeting their readers. This agreement will allow us to work with the BASE Millennium Institute to develop publications that bring Antarctic and subantarctic research closer to children, families and educational communities, favouring a broad and sustained circulation of this content,” underlines Fresia Grimberg, editor and representative of Editorial SurCiencia.
Antarctica in early childhood
Cover of the new book: “We dive with mum… in Antarctica!”
One of the first projects contemplated in the work between both institutions is the publication of the book “We dive with mum… in Antarctica!”, a work aimed at early childhood that highlights Antarctic biodiversity, marine ecosystems, and the leadership of women in polar science. The book, created by journalists Constanza Barrientos and Nadia Politis,had scientific advice from members of the Millennium Institute such as: Dr. Angie Díaz (UdeC),Dr. Karin Gérard (UMAG),Dr. César Cárdenas (INACH) and Dr. Elie Poulin (University of Chile). The illustrations were created by Magallanes artist Daniela Silva (@artpatagoniawild).
Educators Marcela Soto and Porfiria Barrientos advised on the pedagogical content of the work, which tells the adventures of a family from Punta Arenas, led by a researcher mother dedicated to scientific diving in Antarctica: “In early childhood, girls and boys are discovering the world and are highly sensitive to everything. While it is very important for them to have experiences and play outdoors, it is also important that, little by little, they approach reading together with their caregivers: observing images, listening to stories at a calm pace and letting them be protagonists of the reading experience, so they can point to words and turn the pages. Books like this help form readers from early childhood, showing that reading can also be an adventure to explore the world and discover new places,” reflects teacher Porfiria Barrientos.
The book “We dive with mum… in Antarctica!” will also have a preview at the 12th SCAR Open Science Conference (SCAR 2026), which will take place from 8 to 19 August in Oslo, Norway, and is organised by the Norwegian Polar Institute. “As a team, we will take part in the Art and Science session to share our experience of integrating stories, symbols and analogies to bring Antarctica closer to the youngest audiences. This represents an international milestone for our institute,” highlights Nadia Politis, director of Communications and Education at the BASE Millennium Institute, an ANID centre of excellence of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation.
In the new project, Editorial SurCiencia will be responsible for the editing, publication, distribution and commercialisation of the first edition, as well as promoting its dissemination in bookstores, book fairs, libraries and educational spaces, in a first print run of one thousand copies. It also includes dissemination and promotion actions through launches, presentations in libraries, educational establishments and the media. More information at https://www.surciencia.cl
Source: BASE Millennium Institute and Editorial SurCiencia
The new tool makes it possible to access information about the frozen continent, its ecosystems, scientific research and the role Chile plays in the development of polar knowledge. The project seeks to bring Antarctic science closer to the public using an everyday platform, available 24 hours a day.
Project “Unfreeze the myth: Chatbot against polar misinformation”. Credit: BASE Millennium Institute.
Getting to know Antarctica no longer requires opening a specialised book or browsing dozens of websites. From today, anyone can freely access a chatbot available on WhatsApp, designed to answer questions about Antarctica, its ecosystems and the scientific research Chile carries out on the continent. The initiative, promoted by the BASE Millennium Institute, seeks to bring Antarctic knowledge closer to the public through an everyday platform.
Users can ask, for example, why Antarctica is key to regulating the planet’s climate, how scientific teams live during an expedition, what Chile’s historical relationship with this territory is, or resolve questions about the Antarctic Treaty System, which seeks to care for, govern and protect the White Continent and its marine areas.
The chatbot is free and is used through WhatsApp. Credit: BASE Millennium Institute.
Answers are delivered through a charismatic avatar, or platform character, illustrated by Chilean artist Raúl Matus: an Antarctic krill that, in an approachable language and with information based on scientific evidence, communicates with users: “We set out to develop this Antarctic chatbot to invite people, and especially young people, to learn more about Antarctica. Not only its scientific research, but also its close relationship with Chile through law, history, literature or even cinema,” says Dr. Elie Poulin, faculty member at the University of Chile and director of the BASE Millennium Institute.
More than a conversational assistant, the project seeks to become a gateway to Antarctic knowledge generated from Chile. Students, teachers, journalists and the general public can access polar information without prior knowledge: “The chatbot’s contents come from what we have learned at science fairs, schools and citizen meetings. We incorporated people’s most frequent doubts, curiosities and questions about Antarctica, while also making visible the knowledge generated from different cities in Chile in research,” underlines Dr. Julieta Orlando, faculty member at the University of Chile, president of SOMICH and deputy director of the BASE Millennium Institute.
The initiative has the backing of several institutions that promote education, science outreach and access to knowledge about Antarctica.
Access to the Antarctic chatbot for WhatsApp. Credit: BASE Millennium Institute.
They include the National Center for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA), the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), the Antarctic Youth Coalition, APECS Chile, Wikimedia Chile, the National Youth Institute (INJUV), the Guides and Scouts Association of Chile, the Encuentros del Futuro Foundation and the Association of Municipalities of Chile (AMUCH).
The development of the chatbot was made possible thanks to the support of the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID), through the 2026 External Projection Fund, and arises from the project “Unfreeze the myth: Chatbot against polar misinformation”, an initiative that will run workshops and talks in the cities of Santiago, Valdivia, Concepción, Punta Arenas and Puerto Williams to reflect on myths and false or inaccurate news about Antarctica, digital literacy and critical thinking, together with research and teaching groups from the BASE Millennium Institute and the supporting institutions.
Free access is available at wa.me/56972874940 and in the coming days the Instagram account @mileniobase will launch a contest to find a name for the Antarctic krill that stars in the chatbot, and that will seek to answer all the questions of people in Chile.
Antarctic education
“Unfreeze the Myth: Chatbot against polar misinformation” is a science outreach and education initiative promoted by the BASE Millennium Institute to bring information about Antarctica, polar ecosystems, their biodiversity and the scientific research developed from Chile. The project seeks to contribute to open access to knowledge through a free and easy-to-use platform for all citizens.
The chatbot is a science outreach and education tool. Its answers and materials are exclusively educational and are prepared from scientific literature, academic sources and publicly available information. The content provided does not represent official positions of the State of Chile nor does it constitute an expression of the National Antarctic Policy. Likewise, the initiative does not address or promote positions regarding international controversies, territorial claims, or interpretations of sovereignty, maintaining an approach centred on the communication of validated scientific knowledge and on respect for the principles of the Antarctic Treaty System.
The development of the chatbot was made possible thanks to the support of the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID), of Chile’s Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, through the 2026 External Projection Fund, which finances initiatives aimed at strengthening the link between scientific research and society.
Photo credit: BASE Millennium Institute
Dr Peter Convey has forged a close relationship with Chile, working actively with national teams in the study of subantarctic biodiversity. Visiting the Molecular Ecology Laboratory (LEM) at the University of Chile, the terrestrial ecologist – with nearly 40 years of experience at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS)– reflects on scientific collaboration, Antarctic biodiversity, and the future of the frozen continent.
A journey that linked the United Kingdom with Puerto Williams, and concluded in Santiago de Chile by projecting new scientific collaborations: this is how terrestrial ecologist Dr Peter Convey summed up his year so far. During his visit to Chile, he described his connection with the country as a “long-standing relationship”. For the BAS scientist, we are facing a crucial moment for research into adaptation, biodiversity, and biogeography – areas in which science plays a fundamental role.
Dr Peter Convey and Dr Claudia Maturana during the BASE/PONANT expedition to Antarctica and the South Georgia Islands in 2023. Credit: Dr Tamara Contador.
– What aspects define biodiversity?
It is complex to define Biodiversity, and that is something most people are not familiar with. One element of biodiversity is the count of species. Other elements relate to aspects such as their abundance, what population sizes exist and what kinds of traits they have that allow them to survive in their environment. That may not seem like biodiversity.
– And regarding knowledge of Antarctic biodiversity?
Most of the organisms that live in Antarctica are unfamiliar to most people, even the small invertebrates. I could show them in gardens or forests here and most people would not know they exist. Here, you can find very close relatives of the same organisms that live in Antarctica. However, most people have never learnt about them or realised they exist. In addition, there are many truly microbial groups that can only be observed with a microscope.
Dr Convey is a terrestrial ecologist with nearly 40 years of experience in polar ecosystem research, having worked on 15 summer campaigns and one winter in Antarctica, as well as on various Arctic expeditions in Svalbard (Norway). His work at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has made him a reference in the study of biodiversity and the effects of climate change in polar regions.
Dr Peter Convey and Dr Tamara Contador in the Falkland Islands / Islas Malvinas during the SAERI expedition in 2024. Credit: Dr Tamara Contador.
Science from the end of the world
The senior researcher at the BASE Millennium Institute has established a strong connection with the Chilean scientific community, especially through his collaboration with Dr Tamara Contador, researcher at the BASE Millennium Institute. Their joint work has expanded knowledge about Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems and their response to environmental pressures. This collaboration has been fundamental in strengthening Chile’s role in polar research, promoting participation in international projects and the development of conservation strategies.
The Honorary Professor at the School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham (United Kingdom), has also been a key actor in shaping international scientific priorities through the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). He has worked on programmes such as Evolution and Biodiversity in Antarctica and Regional Sensitivity to Climate Change in Antarctica, contributing to the understanding of biological evolution under extreme conditions and the impacts of climate change. His studies have demonstrated the resilience and adaptation capacity of Antarctic biodiversity, providing key data for the conservation of these fragile ecosystems.
Through collaboration with the Wankara Laboratory of Subantarctic and Antarctic Freshwater Ecosystems, the University of Magallanes (UMAG), and the Cape Horn International Centre for Global Change Studies and Biocultural Conservation (CHIC), in addition to the BASE Millennium Institute, the research line led by Dr Tamara Contador (UMAG/CHIC/BASE/INVASAL) has established bridges between science and education through – for example – environmental workshops at the Omora Ethnobotanical Park in the city of Puerto Williams.
Dr Peter Convey, Dr Tamara Contador, Dr Sebastián Rosenfeld and Dr Claudia Maturana in the field during the BASE/PONANT expedition to Antarctica and the South Georgia Islands in 2023. Credit: Dr Tamara Contador.
The research, highlighted in the article “Discovering the role of insects in climate resilience”, emphasises the importance of Parochlus steinenii as an essential biological indicator for understanding how Antarctic ecosystems respond to climate change. Initially, Dr Contador’s research focused on Parochlus steinenii, an insect that inhabits the South Shetland Islands, but is also found in South Georgia and at the southern tip of South America, in the Cape Horn archipelago. “That immediately led us to become interested in its physiology, how it survives in its environment, its morphology and its biogeography, that is, how long the different populations have been there,” explained Dr Convey.
In his role as a science communicator, the British Antarctic Survey researcher has also played an active role in education and outreach of Antarctic and polar research. His participation as a STEM Ambassador and his teaching work in various universities reinforce the importance of international collaboration in Antarctic science.
Dr Peter Convey at the XI Open Conference of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) in Pucón, Chile, in 2024. Credit: Constanza Barrientos.
– In what way could scientific knowledge be communicated to the public?
I believe one of the most spectacular things about Antarctica is its uniqueness. The environment, the ice, the penguins are so different from everything else we have seen. The biodiversity of Antarctica is unique, especially because many species exist only there. Penguins, for example, although common in other latitudes, only inhabit Antarctica. The conservation of its biodiversity is essential, and a species does not need to be large or colourful to be important. In addition, biodiversity in Antarctica is complex, with different unique regions within the continent. We must protect all that biodiversity, and as a Chilean foreigner, I recognise that it is a unique example of global biodiversity. There are mechanisms to protect it through the Antarctic Treaty, but to do so, we need to know it better. Despite human risks, Antarctica remains largely pristine, and we are still in a position to contribute to its protection.
“Changes in Antarctica have profound consequences for all of us,” notes Dr Peter Convey, also Visiting Professor of Polar Biology at the Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Reflection that arises after referring to the VIII Chilean Congress of Antarctic Research (CCIA) which, together with the XII Latin American Congress of Antarctic Science (CLCA), was held in Valdivia from 28 July to 1 August 2025, as well as the XIV International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences (ISAES), held from 18 to 22 August 2025 in Punta Arenas, which once again brought Convey to the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic region. Instances that seek to exchange knowledge and promote the exchange of ideas around Antarctic and subantarctic science.
Dr Peter Convey presenting at the XIV International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences. Credit: Constanza Barrientos.
“A new year of relevance for Antarctic science in Chile,” underlines the British polar researcher, referring to 2025 as the “International Year of Glacier Preservation” declared by the UN and accompanied by the proclamation of 21 March each year as World Glacier Day. An opportunity to raise public awareness worldwide about the fundamental role of glaciers, as well as about the economic, social and environmental repercussions of the imminent changes in the Earth’s cryosphere, notes the international body.
Dr Peter Convey warned about the need to take urgent measures to conserve Antarctica, one of the last pristine environments on the planet. “We are in a position where we can make a great contribution to protecting it,” he affirmed, stressing that “the knowledge we obtain today is crucial to protect these ecosystems in the future.”
He also highlights the importance of international cooperation in polar research, mentioning his work with Chilean institutions such as the BASE Millennium Institute and the University of Magallanes. In this regard, he calls for strengthening research with more resources and global commitment: “We still have time to do things right. Antarctica is one of the last pristine spaces on the planet and we have the responsibility to protect it for future generations,” concluded the Antarctic-subantarctic researcher.
By Benjamín Groff and Nadia Politis
Edited by Constanza Barrientos
Photographs: Tamara Contador, Constanza Barrientos and Nadia Politis / BASE Millennium Institute
References:
Chown, S.L. et al. (2022). Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment: A Decadal Synopsis and Recommendations for Action. SCAR, Cambridge.
Cannone, N. et al. (2022). Acceleration of climate warming and vascular plant expansion in maritime Antarctica. Current Biology, 32, 1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.074.
Bokhorst, S. et al. (2022). Temperature impact on the influence of penguin-derived nutrients and mosses on non-native grass in a simulated polar ecosystem. Global Change Biology, 28, 816–828. DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15979.
With over 130 participants gathered in Inari, Finland, UArctic held its annual assembly, hosted by the Sámi Education Institute. The event marked a milestone, welcoming the largest number of new members in the network’s 20-year history — with Chile’s Millennium Institute BASE standing out as the sole representative from both Chile and Latin America.
The University of the Arctic (UArctic) is a network of universities, research institutes, training centers, and other organizations dedicated to education and research in and about the North. Is a decentralized organization with several offices across the Arctic countries, and its annual assembly took place from June 6 to 9, 2025, in Finland.
Among the key announcements, Frederik Paulsen was re-elected as Chair of the UArctic Council for a second three-year term (2025–2028). The network also welcomed 21 new member institutions — 13 from Arctic regions and eight from other parts of the world. Chile’s BASE Millennium Institute on Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE Millennium Institute) was the only institution from Latin America to join.
In the field of Arctic research, the BASE Millennium Institute is spearheading several cutting-edge studies.
“We’re excited about this new partnership, which not only allows us to share our scientific expertise in Antarctic ecosystems, but also to bring fresh perspectives from our recent Arctic expeditions, launched in 2024 in collaboration with the French company PONANT,” said Dr. Elie Poulin, professor at the University of Chile and director of the BASE Millennium Institute.
In the field of Arctic research, the BASE Millennium Institute is spearheading several cutting-edge studies. One key project, led by Dr. Juliana Vianna (BASE/PUC/CRG) in collaboration with Dr. Lucas Kruger (BASE/INACH), explores the adaptive convergence of seabirds in the Arctic and Antarctic. Another initiative, headed by Dr. Léa Cabrol (BASE/IRD/MIO) alongside Dr. Julieta Orlando (BASE/UCH), focuses on Arctic and Antarctic microbial communities, particularly their role in regulating oceanic methane balance. A third line of research, directed by Dr. Hugo Benítez (BASE/UNAB/CHIC) in partnership with Dr. Tamara Contador (BASE/UMAG/CHIC/INVASAL), examines insect adaptations to Arctic environments.
Connecting with Global Experiences
With the latest additions, UArctic now counts 212 member institutions. “This milestone reflects Arctic’s increasingly inclusive and interdisciplinary approach to Arctic issues,” the organization stated. Alongside the Millennium Institute BASE, new members include Carleton University, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), New York University, Norwegian Police University College, University of Chicago, University of Ottawa, the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research (ICHR), and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA).
BASE Millennium Institute was the only institution from Latin America to join.
Founded under the framework of the Arctic Council, UArctic aims to strengthen and develop shared capacities and infrastructure that enable its member institutions to support and contribute to their communities and regions. The network maintains a strong commitment to sustainable development principles and to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UArctic also promotes a circumpolar vision that is inclusive and respectful—valuing cultural diversity and Indigenous knowledge of the North. It fosters open, barrier-free collaboration across cultures and academic systems, encouraging broad participation in the creation of knowledge. In addition, it provides guidance to support sustainable development and informed decision-making in the Arctic region.
The Assembly confirmed that the next UArctic Congress and Assembly will take place from May 26 to 29, 2026, in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, hosted by the University of the Faroe Islands.
Antarctic humanities and social science scholars and stakeholders to the 2025 biennial academic conference of the Standing Committee on Humanities and Social Sciences (SC-HASS) of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). The Antarctic Studies Program of the Universidad de Chile’s Law Faculty is very proud to host this conference for the first time.
The conference will take place on October 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2025, in an online format. The first two days will feature three live stream channels, divided into two-time blocks (morning and evening, according to Chilean time). We have considered plenary conferences, panels, individual presentations, and pre-recorded video presentations. The last day we will have time for SC-HASS and the action groups’ business meeting.
We have prepared online forms for you to submit your proposals and applications. I look forward to seeing all of you through the online platform.
Call for Abstracts
Open from June until the 9th of August, 2025
There will be no fee for submitting an abstract
Date and expected format of the conference: October 7-9, 2025, online format The conference will be held online
Preferred manner of presentation: When you submit your abstracts, you are also requested to provide your preferred manner of presentation
Online live oral presentation; or
Online uploading of video presentations, with on-demand viewing and commenting
The Theme of the Conference:
The conference theme is “Antarctica in Times of Change”, chosen to reflect the challenges and pressures placed on the Sixth Continent by climate change, accelerated ice melt, biodiversity loss, and growing geopolitical and economic interests. In keeping with the ethos of SC-HASS, we warmly invite contributions from all disciplines within the humanities and social sciences, including the performing and creative arts, that explore an aspect of the relationship between humans and the Antarctic (including the Southern Ocean)
The format, length, and number of abstracts: Abstracts must be submitted via the following Google form (link here). Both proposals for individual presentations and proposals for panels on a specific topic or theme are welcome. Proposals should be written ideally in English; however, given the strong support from our community for non-English language streams, presentations in languages other than English will also be considered. The proposals should not exceed 500 words in length for a panel submission or 250 words for an individual submission. Additionally, please include the academic information and a brief biographical statement, as required in the Google form, for each presenter. You are welcome to submit multiple abstracts, up to two per person, as the first author. The conference’s Academic Planning Committee will review all proposals. Questions related to the submission of proposals and the academic content of the conference may be submitted to Luis Valentin Ferrada (schass2025 [@] gmail.com)
Deadline for submitting abstracts:August 9th (Saturday) up to 23:59 hours, Chilean time (GMT -4). Successful applicants will be notified by the end of August. Registration is planned to open by the end of August 2025. Send your summary here.
Luis Valentín Ferrada
Convenor, 2025 SCAR SC-HASS biennial conference
Professor and Director of the Antarctic Studies Program of the
Universidad de Chile’s Law Faculty
Principal investigator Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystem (BASE)
As part of its participation in the 61st Antarctic Scientific Expedition (ECA61) of INACH, the team from the UC Molecular Biodiversity Laboratory, led by Dr. Juliana Vianna, crossed the Antarctic Circle to enhance the surveillance and monitoring of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in the frozen continent.
Punta Arenas.—Under strict biosecurity measures and in coordination with the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), the Chilean Navy, Army, and Air Force, scientists Dr. Fabiola León, Claudia Ulloa, and Carolina Márquez embarked on their scientific journey aboard the Betanzos vessel, operated by DAP. Their mission is to collect samples and conduct laboratory analyses as part of their work at the UC Molecular Biodiversity Laboratory, led by Dr. Juliana Vianna (BASE/CRG, Lili, UC Institute for Sustainable Development), in collaboration with the Millennium Institute BASE.
“After successfully detecting positive cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Antarctica during the ECA60 expedition of INACH in January 2024, we have been working diligently to analyze samples and coordinate research teams studying birds such as penguins, cormorants, and skuas in Antarctica,” says Dr. Juliana Vianna, a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Ecology and a faculty member at UC.
The Antarctic scientist, who also serves as the deputy director of the Millennium Institute CRG, highlights the importance of studying wildlife health in Antarctica due to the connectivity between species and the continent’s crucial role in global ecosystem balance. “The migration and movement of species can influence the spread of avian influenza, potentially increasing mortality rates. This underscores the importance of continuing field studies to monitor affected areas and species,” emphasizes Dr. Vianna.
The scientific work with birds in Antarctica aims to strengthen the surveillance and monitoring of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1).
Throughout 2023-2024, the collection and analysis of samples in Antarctica were coordinated by researchers Dr. Fabiola León (UC/BASE/CRG, Lili) and Eduardo Pizarro (UC/BASE/CRG), with international support from the vessel Le Commandant Charcot, operated by Ponant Cruises. In 2025, the research is being conducted aboard the Betanzos vessel, part of the DAP group, reaching beyond the Antarctic Circle into the so-called “deep Antarctica,” specifically in Lagotellerie Island and Aves Island in Margarita Bay.
“Our field experience has been essential in ensuring safe and rigorous scientific work under strict biosecurity measures. It is important to highlight that our campaigns cover a wide geographic range and are conducted at different times of the season, allowing for surveillance over a timeline that helps determine the status of avian influenza at various stages of the nesting season for both flying and non-flying birds,” says Dr. Fabiola León. Her research has taken her to sample emperor, Adélie, gentoo, and king penguins in locations such as Snow Hill Island, Danger Islands, Red Rock Ridge, Cape Hallett, and Sims Island.
Essential biosecurity measures
The “Prevention and Control Protocol for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Antarctica,” issued by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), aligns with international recommendations from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). These biosecurity measures apply to all expeditions taking place from January to March 2025 in Antarctica and follow the “One Health” guidelines for preserving the health of the unique and fragile Antarctic ecosystem.
“The study of avian influenza and its evolution is essential for understanding viral dynamics and global public health. At our Millennium Institute BASE, we are committed to scientific excellence, working rigorously and collaboratively to address this constantly evolving phenomenon. High-quality science not only allows us to obtain accurate results but also provides the necessary tools to anticipate and mitigate risks associated with the spread of infectious diseases,” states Dr. Elie Poulin, director of the Millennium Institute for Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Ecosystem Biodiversity.
As part of these protective efforts, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) plays a crucial role. As indicated by the Chilean Institute of Public Health (ISP), PPE includes specialized gear, apparatus, or devices designed to protect the body—either partially or entirely—from specific risks. These measures help prevent occupational diseases, reduce accidents, and minimize their impacts.
Researchers Fabiola León, Claudia Ulloa, and Carolina Márquez wear biosecurity suits for sample collection in Antarctica.
The Millennium Institute BASE/UC/CRG research team emphasizes that in Antarctica, the use of masks, gloves, and coveralls protects both people and the living organisms inhabiting the region. “Introducing new pathogens from humans to birds and mammals or unintentionally transporting and spreading them from healthy colonies to other locations is a critical concern that requires extreme caution,” they note. Additionally, pre- and post-sampling cleaning of equipment before entering any area is a mandatory part of the daily protocol during field expeditions.
“Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a major concern within the international scientific community,” states Dr. Ricardo Jaña, head of INACH’s Scientific Department. “A special group has been organized to gather and analyze evidence across different Antarctic research sites, establishing an information system through reports,” he adds.
Jaña highlights that this effort extends beyond Chile, as other countries are also contributing data from their research expeditions. “South Korea has recently reported findings in the Fildes Peninsula area, and Chile, through its campaign in Margarita Bay, has also documented cases from different bird populations,” he notes.
INACH’s Scientific Department head and expert in Natural Resources/Glaciology affirms that “this concern extends beyond Antarctica.”“In the local region, a working group led by the Ministry of Agriculture has been established, with our colleague Marcelo González serving as an institutional representative,” he concludes.
Blood Sample Analysis in Penguins Helps Study Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1)
The early detection and epidemiological surveillance of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the Antarctic Peninsula are being led by various virology and wildlife teams from the Chilean Antarctic Institute’s National Antarctic Science Program (PROCIEN). Since 2024, two avian influenza testing laboratories have been operating at Escudero Base and O’Higgins Base to support areas of national and international interest and establish connections with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) programs.
This initiative is complemented by Antarctic governance actions, where Chile is leading an intersessional contact group under the Antarctic Treaty on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. This group includes, for example, Dr. Luis Valentín Ferrada, a professor at the University of Chile and researcher at the Millennium Institute BASE.
A joint effort between universities, top-tier research institutes, and Antarctic operators underscores the significance of collaborative work and scientific research in Antarctica to understand and mitigate the risks associated with avian diseases in this unique region.
By: Nadia Politis Photographs: Constanza Barrientos/Millennium Institute BASE
Aboard the French research vessel Le Soléal (Ponant Cruises) collaborative effort between PhD. Claudio González-Wevar (UACh/BASE/IDEAL) and Professor Hamish G. Spencer (University of Otago) combines expertise in molecular genomics, evolutionary biology, and biogeography to investigate the distribution, diversity, and evolutionary history of molluscs in the Southern Ocean’s unique and understudied ecosystems. The expedition aims to advance the understanding of subantarctic molluscs through detailed collection and study.
Marking their tenth expedition, the BASE Millennium Institute and Ponant Cruises continue groundbreaking research, this time on Macquarie, Stewart and Auckland Islands, led by PhD. González-Wevar, head of the Laboratory of Antarctic and Subantarctic Molecular Genomics and Ecology (LAGEMAS-UACh). The project is also strengthened by the expertise of Professor Hamish G. Spencer, Sesquicentennial Distinguished Professor from the Department of Zoology at the University of Otago, New Zealand. Together, the team focuses on sampling and analyzing intertidal ecosystems, highlighting the importance of these islands, which host key study groups such as mollusc species Nacella (e.g., terroris, macquariensis), Laevilitorina (e.g., mcphersonae, venusta), and Margarella (e.g., violacea, macquariensis), among others.
The scientific work involves sampling from the subantarctic intertidal zone. Image: Hamish Spencer
“The participation of PhD. Hamish Spencer from the University of Otago has been invaluable. His expertise enabled us to access Stewart Island and collect specimens for our studies”,González-Wevar adds. The expedition covers rare and remote locations, including Traills Bay, the Auckland Islands in New Zealand, and Macquarie Island in Australia. These areas offer unparalleled opportunities for understanding biodiversity and ecological dynamics.
Professor Hamish G. Spencer, underscores the significance of the research: “The biogeography of the Southern Ocean is fascinating and yet understudied. Nevertheless, we have long understood that the world’s strongest oceanic current, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), is the major physical player in the distribution of organisms in the subantarctic. In a long-standing collaboration with Professor Claudio González-Wevar of BASE, I am interested in understanding how long-distance dispersal in the ACC has shaped the marine biodiversity around the shores of the Southern Ocean. We have used molluscs as our model organisms and have previously collaborated on projects about limpets (Nacella and Siphonaria), topshells (Margarella), and periwinkles (Laevilacunaria and Laevilitorina)”.
Spencer elaborates on the mission’s goals: “We now want to expand our work to include more populations and species from the New Zealand and Australian subantarctic islands (Auckland, Campbell and Macquarie). These islands are especially important because they have acted as refugia for some species during past Ice Ages. We are aiming on this cruise to collect samples of all of the above genera, as well as some others for new projects (e.g., the bivalve Gaimardia). Our preliminary work on some of these groups suggests that there has been significant evolutionary radiation in this region, even though it is connected by long-distance dispersal to Patagonia, the Antarctic Peninsula, and the subantarctic islands in the Atlantic and Indian sectors”.
The Auckland and Campbell Islands (New Zealand) and Macquarie Island (Australia) are key sites for scientific research.
A Partnership Driving Scientific Excellence
Since 2022, the collaboration between the BASE Millennium Institute and Ponant Cruises has paved the way for groundbreaking research. “This partnership allows us to conduct more and better science while strengthening ties with world-class research teams”, says PhD. Elie Poulin, director of the BASE Millennium Institute.
PhD. Claudio González-Wevar and Phd. Hamish Spencer embarking on a subantarctic expedition. Image: C. González-Wevar
Together with Dr. Spencer, González-Wevar delves into population genetics, phenotypic plasticity, phylogenetics, and the unique characteristics of New Zealand molluscs. The Auckland, Campbell, and Macquarie Islands are pivotal to their work, particularly Macquarie Island, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage site in 1997. This island’s geological significance, as the only location where mantle rocks are exposed above sea level, underscores its importance for scientific inquiry.
Professor Spencer concludes: “The ultimate goal of our work is to explain the origin of intertidal and nearshore Southern Ocean biodiversity, especially the range of evolutionary outcomes, from widespread species to island-group endemics”.
UNESCO highlights New Zealand’s subantarctic islands as biodiversity hotspots where Antarctic and subtropical waters converge, fostering high marine productivity and unique ecosystems. “These islands boast significant endemism, especially among birds, plants, and invertebrates”, the organization points. This biodiversity underscores the global significance of research conducted by González-Wevar and his team.
By: Nadia Politis, BASE Millennium Institute
Main picture: French vessel Le Soléal, operated by Ponant Cruises. By Hamish Spencer.
The Institute of Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems calls for a public competition for a postdoctoral position in Environmental DNA, Metabarcoding and Metagenomics for biodiversity research in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic areas. Chileans or foreigners may apply. The postdoctoral fellow will join the research team “Biodiversity Observatory”, along with providing transversal support to the research of other groups of the institute. The place of performance is preferably in Punta Arenas, Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica.
This line of research seeks to improve knowledge of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic biodiversity through the characterization and monitoring of marine and terrestrial ecosystems to detect significant changes in macro and microorganism communities because of anthropogenic climate change, using advanced technologies such as environmental DNA analysis (eDNA), metabarcoding and metagenomics.
The researcher will design, develop, and implement bioinformatics workflows to process and analyze massive sequencing data, with special emphasis on metabarcoding and metagenomics methodologies. The researcher will participate in the study of samples previously available in the laboratory and in obtaining new samples through field expeditions. The requirements are to have the academic degree of PhD in accredited national programs or their foreign equivalents, in disciplines related to the required profile: ecology, evolutionary biology, microbiology, or related disciplines, and availability to start working preferably from May 2025.
The documents to be submitted for the application are:
Doctorate degree certificate (a simple photocopy is accepted for application, the selected applicants will be asked for the original documents or certificates).
Curriculum vitae, highlighting the research carried out, through participation in research projects and published or accepted articles. Include bibliometric indicators such as H index. In addition, include a link to a personal academic portal such as ORCID and/or Google Scholar.
A letter of intent
Two letters of recommendation
In the event that the selected researcher is a foreign national, he/she must prove residence in the country through a permanent or temporary residence visa or a document that proves the application for a permanent visa with work authorization at the start date of the project. It is also possible to consider a student visa with work authorization. To do so, they must send the document that accredits it and a valid identity card for foreigners. If the selected researcher has a temporary visa, he/she must send the document that accredits him/her and a valid identity card for foreigners. If he/she has permanent residence, he/she must submit the latter document. In qualified cases, the relevance of other visas will be analyzed. The processing of the contract will be subject to the presentation of the aforementioned documents.
