Staff from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are attending this week’s Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) Annual General Meeting in Norway. Antarctic operators from around the world come together to strengthen international collaboration in one of the planet’s most challenging environments.
The annual meeting brings together representatives from national Antarctic programmes to share operational experience, discuss emerging challenges and develop best practice for working safely, sustainably and efficiently across the Antarctic region.
As the organisation that manages the UK’s scientific and operational activities in Antarctica, BAS works closely with international partners throughout the year. The annual COMNAP meeting provides an important opportunity to exchange knowledge on topics including logistics, environmental stewardship, safety, aviation, shipping and medical support.
This year’s meeting includes a focus on how countries undertake search and rescue when working in Antarctica.
International cooperation is a cornerstone of Antarctic operations, with national programmes regularly supporting one another in remote locations where collaboration is essential. This includes sharing expertise, coordinating logistics and providing assistance during emergencies, such as medical evacuations.
Oliver Darke, Operations Director at British Antarctic Survey, is attending COMNAP. He said:
“No single national programme operates in isolation in Antarctica. The relationships we build through COMNAP are vital to ensuring we can work safely and effectively in one of the world’s most demanding environments.
“Whether it’s supporting one another during a medical evacuation, sharing operational expertise or learning from each other’s experiences, international collaboration benefits everyone working in Antarctica. Meetings like this help us strengthen those partnerships and continually improve how we deliver science in the polar regions.”
The meeting also offers an opportunity to identify new approaches to common operational challenges and ensure Antarctic programmes continue to adopt best practice while supporting world-leading scientific research.
BAS colleagues look forward to working with their counterparts from across the international Antarctic community throughout the week and continuing the close cooperation that underpins successful operations across the continent.
The 38th Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) Annual General Meeting takes place in Tromsø, Norway, from August 4–6, 2026, hosted by the Norwegian Polar Institute.