To most people, the Antarctic is a dream place to go and see. Yet for three graduates in University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), their dreams came true recently.
With the hope and encouragement from chief leaders of USTC on the afternoon of November 23, master graduate LE Fange, PhD students WU Libin and GAO Yuesong, would depart for the Antarctic, as members of China’s 34th Antarctic Expedition.
XU Wu, party chief of USTC, encouraged the team members that the polar research, initiated by Prof SUN Liguang, is a feature of USTC. He hoped that the younger generation would live up to expectations to make greater progress and wished the expedition a full success.
BAO Xinhe, president of USTC, asked their expedition plans, accommodation arrangements and exhorted them to pay enough attention to safety.
"I understand the polar laboratory research well. I hope all of you will make great contribution to China’s polar research work", added PAN Jianwei, chief vice president of USTC. The three chief leaders of USTC then signed their names on the red flag of Antarctic expedition of USTC with pleasure.
China's 34th Antarctic Scientific Expedition Plan, a journey about 164-day and 37,000-kilometer, will carry out scientific investigation in the China's four Antarctic research stations, Ross Sea and other places. A new station named Engelsborg Island Station is expected to be constructed, which will be China’s fifth Antarctic research station with the highest latitude following Great Wall Station, Zhongshan Station, Kunlun Station, Taishan Station. China is planning to designate an international Adelie-penguin Special Protection Area (ASPA). It is the first time for China to put forward a plan for protection of penguins in the world.
PhD student GAO Yuesong, reported to the school leaders on their scientific research tasks, preparation and work plans undertaken in the scientific investigation. GAO takes charge of investigation and study on the distribution pattern and historical evolution of local penguin communities. The samples, data and the research results will provide basis for ASPA designation.
On behalf of the expedition team, XIE Zhouqing, a professor at the Polar Environment Research Institute, thanked the school leaders for their kind consideration. The three students said they would keep in mind the spirit of the Antarctic, which is daring to struggle and explore, strive to win glory for USTC and China’s Antarctic expedition.
The Polar Environment Laboratory of USTC has continued to participate in scientific expeditions since 1998, when prof SUN Liguang and XIE Zhouqing attended the 15th Antarctic Expedition for the first time. More than 50 people have attended scientific expeditions to the South and North pole with a series of innovative scientific research achievements such as articles published in Nature, Nature Geoscience, Nature Communications. The laboratory is an important base for polar research and talent training in China. Co-sponsored by USTC and Science and Technology Department of Anhui Province in 2017, the laboratory will be the first key provincial and ministerial laboratory in China to mainly conduct research on the South and North Pole.
（SONG Yahui, USTC News Center)
