Rothera Research Station Archives - British Antarctic Survey

Cloud scientists take to the skies to solve climate uncertainty

26 November, 2024

A project looking at how clouds affect climate change in Antarctica starts its second year of field research this month. The Southern Ocean Clouds (SOC) project, which is part of …

A sunset over the snow with a blue building on the left

October 2024: Postcard from Rothera Research Station

9 November, 2024

Welcome to our second Postcard from Rothera Research Station, giving you an update on progress as we modernise our largest station in Antarctica. Start of Summer The recent arrival …

A large blue building with a snow covered mountain in the background

New construction season drives Antarctic modernisation forward

4 November, 2024

A new season of construction is underway in Antarctica for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Specialist teams are arriving at Rothera, the UK’s largest research station and gateway for international …

BAS wins national award for runway resurfacing project

25 October, 2024

British Antarctic Survey has won the Gold Award at the National Building and Construction Awards 2024 for ‘The Project of the Year (£10 million to £25 million)’. Oliver Darke, Director …

A new Antarctic season begins for 2024/25

24 October, 2024

The Antarctic field season is now underway, marked by the arrival of the first aircraft at Rothera Research Station. And with a new season brings a new roster of innovative …

A man sitting in a boat on a body of water

Eliot’s reflections on working at Rothera Research Station

22 July, 2024 Eliot Perez

For some people, working in Antarctica is a lifelong dream. For others, like Eliot Perez, Assistant Project Manager for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme, that dream became a reality nine …

Aerial view of runway and large blue building and blue sea in background

Katie’s Journey to Antarctica

2 April, 2024 Katie Handford

As the Antarctic winter season fast approaches, we’ll be following the journey of one of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme’s (AIMP) Assistant Project Managers, Katie Handford as she gears up to spend winter at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica.

view of a runway from the air with icy waters and snowy mountain surrounding the runway.

Antarctic Runway is upgraded to support UK hub for polar science

4 March, 2024

As part of the British Antarctic Survey’s Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP), the runway at Rothera research station has successfully been resurfaced by construction company BAM and the design completed by Ramboll. The station is a major hub for international science in Antarctica, and this significant achievement is a pivotal moment for BAS and the UK’s future polar research capabilities.

A yellow construction crane in front of a new blue building with blue sky above

Modernising our stations: news from Rothera

29 February, 2024

We’ve been modernising our Antarctic infrastructure for future generations of polar scientists. Construction in the Antarctic is challenging and the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP) has made great progress at …

Two people standing in front of an icy lake with snow covered mountains behind

Love on Ice: Engineers’ Antarctic Engagement Sparks Warmth

21 February, 2024

Engineers Tania Alvarez and Jose Valverde have celebrated their engagement at one of the world’s southmost locations, British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic peninsula.

A plane sitting on top of a snow covered mountain

Pilotless plane test crew arrives in Antarctica

3 February, 2024

A team have arrived at Rothera Research Station, ready to start testing the new Windracers ULTRA autonomous drone in Antarctica. If successful, the new drone platform could represent a major …

A blue building with a control tower on the roof and white snowy mountains in the background with a blue sky above

Construction first for British Antarctic Survey as specialist team fit-out new building over the Antarctic winter

27 November, 2023

Construction has begun in Antarctica for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) with specialists arriving at Rothera Research Station to progress several projects to secure the future of polar operations and …

Cleaning the All-Sky Camera portal on top of the optical caboose at Rothera Research Station

2023-2024 field season begins for British Antarctic Survey

19 October, 2023

The Antarctic field season has started, with over 600 people beginning the journey South to work on over 60 projects on station and in the field. The season of work …

A man standing on top of a snow covered mountain

Feeling the heat in Antarctica: the urgency of sea ice research

30 August, 2023 Emily Newton

Dr Robbie Mallett is a sea ice scientist, currently over-wintering at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica as part of an eight-month research campaign for the NERC DEFIANT project. Robbie explains the …

Connie Pang working in the construction site at Rothera Research Station

Life as a structural engineer in Antarctica

19 May, 2023 Connie Pang

Connie Pang is a Senior Structural Engineer at Ramboll and travelled to Antarctica this year to work as the Site Supervisor for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme. Here she looks …

Construction team standing on top of operations tower of a new building in Antarctica

Update on construction season in Antarctica

12 May, 2023

Modernising Antarctic Infrastructure for Future Generations of Polar Scientists Specialist construction teams are travelling home to the UK after five months of work in Antarctica to modernise British Antarctic Survey …

A person standing in front of a building in the snow

Polar Passover

5 April, 2023 Alysa Fisher

Alysa Hulbert, is an Information Officer at British Antarctic Survey. She spent several months last year working in Antarctica, which coincided with the Jewish festival of Passover or Pesach פֶּסַח. …

Exterior complete for new Antarctic science and operations facility

3 April, 2023

A new scientific and operational support facility at Rothera Research Station for British Antarctic Survey has been made weathertight, with the cladding complete and an operations tower installed.

Here we go again…

14 March, 2023 Christopher Robert Lloyd

Christopher Robert Lloyd, Associate Project Manager at Ramboll is currently working at Rothera Research Station on the construction of the Discovery Building for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP). In …

First journey to Rothera

1 February, 2023 Kathleen Maclean

Simeon Anastasov, Principal Fire Engineer at OFR Consultants, is currently working at Rothera Research Station providing site supervision as part of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP). In this blog …

Rothera Marine Team – Overcoming challenges

3 January, 2023 Aurelia Reichardt

Working in Antarctica often means making the best out of what you got. For the Rothera 2022 wintering team, this meant spending a winter without diving, which had to be …

A boat is docked next to a body of water

From Inverness to Antarctica: meeting (supply chain) milestones

27 January, 2022 Joseph Stebbing

Joe Stebbing, Assistant Project Manager, AIMP at British Antarctic Survey on how we are meeting our (supply chain) milestones. January has marked a momentous milestone for the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation …

UK takes vaccines to Antarctica

12 October, 2021

A consignment of AstraZeneca vaccines has been received by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Rothera Research Station in Antarctica – the furthest south any British Covid-19 vaccine has yet travelled. …

Solitude and Survival in the South

27 April, 2021 James Bowyer

Doctor James Bowyer has just returned to the UK after providing medical cover for Rothera Research Station staff from 2019 – 2021. James shares his experiences of life and work …

RRS James Clark Ross departs Antarctica for the final time

23 February, 2021

On Friday 19 February 2021 the RRS James Clark Ross made her final call to Rothera Research Station. After 30 years of service, the JCR will be sold at the end of the …

Life in Antarctica

15 February, 2021 Livia Oldland

Billy Thursfield, Sub-Agent for BAM, is currently working on the construction of the new science and operations facility at Rothera Research Station, the Discovery Building. Here he reflects on working …

New building at Rothera breaks ground

30 January, 2020

In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the first sighting of Antarctica by the British naval officer Edward Bransfield on this date in 1820, a new building to facilitate the …

Digging begins in construction of new Antarctic wharf

14 January, 2019

First digging has begun to deconstruct the old wharf at Rothera Research Station as part of modernisation work to transform the way British Antarctic Survey delivers frontier science

Living my dream of working in Antarctica

9 November, 2018 Matthew Southworth

Plant operator and enthusiastic environmentalist Matt Southworth finds his dream of working in Antarctica coming true!

Medical Evacuation Successfully Completed

1 October, 2018

A medical evacuation from the British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station was successfully completed this weekend. The evacuation was a precautionary measure in order for the patient to be …

Practice makes perfect

26 September, 2018