Freedom of Information requests

Adelie Penguins on a sheet of sea ice in Ryder Bay near Rothera Research Station.

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is open and transparent. We make information about our activities widely available through our website and publications.

BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which in turn is a body of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) government department.

UKRI’s Publication Scheme outlines the types of information we regularly publish. Use our contact details to make an enquiry if you cannot find information you want on the BAS or UKRI websites.

If you still cannot find information you want, you have the right to request it under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIRs).

The FOI Act gives you specific rights to obtain information about what we do and how we do it. If your request involves environmental information it will be dealt with under the EIRs.

You can ask for any information held by BAS about how we do business. This information will generally not include:

  • anything we are prevented by law from disclosing, is considered to be protected, or is exempt under the FOI Act
  • information that is no longer readily available because it is too difficult to access.

Before making a request you should check to see if your query has been answered in previous information releases.

How to make a request

You can make an FOI request by emailing the BAS FOI Officer at foi@bas.ac.uk, or by writing to us at:

Freedom of Information Officer

British Antarctic Survey

High Cross

Madingley Road

Cambridge

CB3 0ET

 

You can also contact UKRI to make an FOI request by emailing  foi@ukri.org, or by writing to:

Freedom of Information Officer

UK Research and Innovation

Polaris House

North Star Avenue

Swindon

SN2 1FL

Further information about making an FOI request is available on UKRI’s . This includes information on charges for information and on how to make an appeal.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) also has useful guidance on what to expect when making an FOI or EIR request.

Request for personal information

The Data Protection Act 2018 gives  you the right to find out what personal information we hold about you, and to request to see, correct or erase that information.

To make a request about your personal information email the UKRI Data Protection Officer at dataprotection@ukri.org , or by writing to:

Data Protection Officer

UK Research and Innovation

Polaris House

North Star Avenue

Swindon

SN2 1FL

Further information about making a request for personal information is available on UKRI’s website. This includes information on  charges and on how to make an appeal.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) also has useful guidance on what to expect when making a request for personal information.