The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat ( Swedish: ''Polarforskningssekretariatet'') is a government agency in charge of coordinating and promoting Swedish polar research activities. It is located in

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

, has more than 30 employees, and serves under the Ministry of Education and Research.

Research platforms and activities

The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat does not conduct research itself, but provides support to researchers - typically at universities - by organizing expeditions to polar regions, operating research stations, and providing an overall research infrastructure (logistics etc.). It also promotes polar research that does not require field work, and takes an active role in the dissemination of research results. As part of this effort, teachers and artists are routinely part of Swedish research expeditions. In 1987-1988, the Secretariat set up its first research station in Antarctica, Svea. The next year, the

Wasa Research Station The Wasa Research Station is a Swedish research facility in Antarctica, established in 1988/1989. It is situated next to the Finnish Aboa Research Station on the ''Basen'' nunatak in the Kraul Mountains in Queen Maud Land. The two stations c ...

was opened. As of 2010, the Secretariat is also in charge of the Abisko Scientific Research Station in sub-arctic Sweden. In (northern) summer, it charters the icebreaker Oden from the

Swedish Maritime Administration The Swedish Maritime Administration () is the government agency in Sweden which provides services to the transport sector by keeping the sea lanes open and safe. The agency is to a certain degree financed through fees levied on commercial shippin ...

for research expeditions to the

Arctic Ocean The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five oceanic divisions. It spans an area of approximately and is the coldest of the world's oceans. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) recognizes it as an ocean, ...

. The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat represents Sweden (or supports the government) in international negotiations and cooperations pertaining to polar issues. It actively pursues environmental protection of the polar regions. It also issues permits to Swedish citizens to conduct research in Antarctica, under the Swedish Antarctic Act (2006:924).

History

As Swedish polar research advanced in the early 1980s, there was a growing need for more funding, coordination and logistic support. The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat started in 1984 with a budget of 4 million SEK. That same year, Sweden became an associated member of the

Antarctic Treaty System The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earth's only continent without a native human population. It was the first arms ...

, followed by full membership in 1988. In order to achieve full membership, Sweden had to operate a research station in Antarctica, and the 12 m² Svea station was rapidly set up in 1987-1988. The next year, the bigger Swea station opened. A few years later, the Oden became yet another research platform, and in 1991, Oden and the German Polarstern became the first conventional vessels to reach the North Pole.

Directors-General

* Anders Karlqvist (1984–1993, 1995–2009) * Olle Melander (1993–1995) * Björn Dahlbäck (2010-2017) * Katarina Gårdfeldt (2018-)

External links

Official website of the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat

Official Twitter-feed

Official YouTube channel of the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat

References

''This article is based on information from the Swedish Wikipedia-article about the same subject, and o
information obtained from the official site of the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat
(both in March 2015). {{authority control Government agencies of Sweden Sweden and the Antarctic Arctic research Science and technology in Sweden Antarctic research