Head of Arctic Office
UK Arctic Research Station
UK Arctic Research Station, Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen, Norway
- Position
- Lat: 78.916667, Long: 11.933333
- Occupied
- 1991 to present
The UK’s only Arctic Research Station, also known as ‘Harland-Cox Huset’, is situation in the international research community of Ny-Ålesund, on Svalbard.
The station is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and is one of fourteen internationally operated institutions that form part of this unique northernmost research community. It is managed and operated by British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
The station operates primarily from March to September each year, providing essential facilities, field support and accommodation for researchers from UK universities, research institutes, and their international collaborators.

Ny-Ålesund International Research Village
The cross-discipline research and international collaboration conducted in Ny-Ålesund brings together researchers from many nationalities and disciplines to advance the understanding of global environmental issues.
Science programmes
The international community at Ny-Ålesund focuses on four Flagship science programmes:
- Kongsfjorden system (Marine)
- atmosphere
- terrestrial ecosystems
- glaciology
The station itself supports approximately 10-15 research projects annually, involving 40-50 scientists. It’s a relative accessibility makes it an ideal location for proving new technology in a hostile environment and for early career researchers to gain valuable skills in polar fieldwork.
Field work
The station is well-equipped with a versatile multipurpose laboratory that includes a large main laboratory, wet lab and a dry lab that provide researchers with basic lab equipment to carry out some of their research.
The station owns a Polarcirkel Workboat, which is used to carry out research, but also to transport teams to locations within the Kongsfjorden area. This 5.8m boat is equipped with a 100bhp outboard engine and a winch to deploy scientific equipment that can reach a depth of 500m.
Researchers also receive field training and support, including mandatory weapons training as part of polar bear awareness, a necessary safety precaution in Ny-Ålesund.

Two scientists looking at snow reflectance using a rotating detector array. This science is essential for the interpretation of satellite imagery of the polar regions.
Take a virtual tour
The station provides excellent facilities and accommodation for researchers from across all UK universities, research institutes and other recognised organisations, and their international collaborators, wanting to carry out a range of environmental research in accordance with the Natural Environment Research Council science remit.
This includes ecological, glacial/periglacial geomorphology, hydrology and atmospheric chemistry and marine research.
Priority use of the station is given to researchers funded by United Kingdom Research and Innovation.
If you wish to apply, please visit the NERC Arctic Office.
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Arctic Station boating
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Arctic Station laboratory
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Biogeochemical processes in polar ecosystems
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Silicon cycling in glaciated environments
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Bedmap Himalayas
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Impact of Plastic in the Polar Regions
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Live from the Arctic!
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ARCTIC BLOG: Life on the Petermann Ice Shelf, Greenland
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ARCTIC BLOG: Life on ice in the High Arctic
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ARCTIC BLOG: Students learn skills required for polar science
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Calling for ‘Walrus Detectives’ on World Walrus Day
Read more of: Calling for ‘Walrus Detectives’ on World Walrus DayToday, 24 November 2022, marks World Walrus Day, and British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and WWF are inviting the British public to become ‘walrus detectives’ and get involved in their Walrus […]
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Scientists begin work counting Arctic walrus
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Funding addresses environmental challenges
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BBC Radio 4 Today Programme in the Arctic
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Successful testing mission at UK Arctic Research Station
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On the ice opportunity for PhD students and Early Career Researchers
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NEWS STORY: New Head of Arctic Office appointed
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NEWS STORY: NERC to invest £16m in Arctic Ocean change research
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NEWS STORY: Live link to the Arctic
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NEWS STORY: Frozen in to the Arctic winter
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NEWS STORY: UK policy document on Arctic
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