Who We Are

RRS Sir David Attenborough sailing through pack ice

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is the UK’s national polar research institute. 

We do all things polar 

We monitor and observe how the frozen parts of our planet are changing and we tell decision makers and the world what that means.

We’ve been doing this for more than 80 years. Our long-term data collection has led to vital discoveries about the Earth. If you want to do research in these regions, we have the infrastructure, experience and knowledge to make it happen.

Today, we operate five permanent research stations in and around Antarctica, the UK’s polar research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough and the NERC UK Arctic research station. 

We help represent United Kingdom interests in Antarctica and within the Antarctic Treaty system.

Underpinning the UK’s polar research   

A key part of our science in the Arctic and Antarctic is delivering large-scale, long-term monitoring. This underpins the UK’s polar research (also called National Capability science).  

The long-term research tracks key environmental indicators of Earth systems in polar regions.  

These unique datasets are open to all scientists, supporting innovation and global collaboration.

Our vision and mission

Vision

To be the world’s leading centre for polar science and the operations that enable it—advancing understanding of Earth’s most remote regions and their critical role in our global climate system.

Mission

As a research-driven organisation, we are committed to:

  • Scientific excellence – pushing the boundaries of polar science and engineering
  • Trusted partnership – being the partner of choice wherever polar expertise is required
  • Operational safety – delivering complex missions safely in the world’s most extreme environments
  • Environmental responsibility – protecting and stewarding the polar regions for future generations
  • Knowledge sharing – making our science accessible to researchers, policymakers and the public
  • Polar leadership – sustaining an active and influential presence on behalf of the United Kingdom

Corporate aims and organisation 

BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).   

We are committed to excellence in science, polar operations and environmental stewardship. With over 500 skilled staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, we combine world-class science with technical innovation to advance understanding of the Earth and the impacts of climate change. 

Collaboration is a key part of what we do. We work with governments, researchers and businesses to innovate, deliver economic growth and protect the natural environment.  

We aim to be the partner of choice for polar expertise, safely delivering complex missions in some of the harshest environments on Earth.