News: 2016
![Two women decorating a Christmas gingerbread house.](/site/assets/files/20536/dsc_5432.600x400.jpg)
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas?
Expeditioners at Australia’s Antarctic research stations are guaranteed a white Christmas this year as they celebrate the festive… Read more
![Operations specialist, Anthony Hull, in his office with a map of Antarctica](/site/assets/files/20530/rs48422_dsc_1448.600x400.jpg)
Inching across Antarctica
What’s it like to slowly inch your way across the featureless, white Antarctic icescape at a snail’s pace for more than 30 days? Read more
![Lowering ROV](/site/assets/files/20524/casey-36.600x514.jpg)
Rare glimpse into Antarctic underwater world
An underwater robot has captured a rare glimpse beneath the Antarctic sea… Read more
![Dr Sean Williams](/site/assets/files/20520/rs47935.600x514.jpg)
Aliens in Antarctica
Australian speculative fiction author Dr Sean Williams has been awarded… Read more
![Dr Tas van Ommen](/site/assets/files/20516/dsc_8884.600x514.jpg)
Australia on track to find the world’s oldest Antarctic ice
Australian and international scientists have identified potential sites to… Read more
![Frydenberg opens East Wing](/site/assets/files/20512/ministers-visit-casey-019.600x514.jpg)
New accommodation facility at Casey research station
Australia’s Casey research station will be able to support more scientists… Read more
![Shaun Gillies](/site/assets/files/20507/dsc_8646.600x514.jpg)
Call Antarctica home on the experience of a lifetime
Are you looking to have the experience of a lifetime? Why not apply for a… Read more
![Australia’s new icebreaker](/site/assets/files/20501/loading.600x514.png)
Next generation to name Antarctic ship of the future
Children across the country will get the chance to be part of Australia’s… Read more
![Photo of fuel drop](/site/assets/files/20497/dsc_8032.600x514.jpg)
Deep-field air drop supports Antarctic science
A Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III has successfully… Read more
![An adult grey petrel with its chick on the nest.](/site/assets/files/20494/6_rs26404_richarddakin.600x514.jpg)
Threatened sea-bird travels thousands of kilometres to feed
Scientists on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island have used satellite tags to… Read more
![The Aurora Australis in the pack ice, as viewed from a remotely piloted aircraft, or drone.](/site/assets/files/20490/20161107-0008-pano.600x514.jpg)
Eye in the sky
Remotely piloted aircraft continue to illustrate their usefulness as an… Read more
![Antarctic Krill](/site/assets/files/20485/rs34352_antarctic-krill2-lpr.600x514.jpg)
Krill take to the air for science
The Australian Antarctic Division will attempt to fly thousands of live… Read more
![Dr Sue Cook (right) and two helpers install the GPS and solar panels on the Sørsdal Glacier in 2015–16.](/site/assets/files/20197/gps-installation-on-sorsdal-glacier_bryan-patterson-_helires_-.600x514.jpg)
Sørsdal Glacier dynamics
Follow scientists working to understand what drives ice shelf thinning, in… Read more
![The Governor General (right) and Australian Antarctic Division Director Dr Nick Gales at Wilkins Aerodrome with the C17-A aircraft behind them.](/site/assets/files/20481/gg-and-nick-gales-at-wilkins_sam-groves.600x514.jpg)
Governor General visits Australian Antarctic Territory
The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter… Read more
![Casey research Station Leader Paul Ross.](/site/assets/files/20477/dsc_7950.600x514.jpg)
Australian Antarctic Station Leaders 2016–17
A new leadership team is taking the helm at Australia’s Antarctic research… Read more
![White poo squirting from Shy Albatross rear](/site/assets/files/20473/shyalbatross-scat_jmcinnes.600x514.jpg)
New protocol to collect dietary facts from faeces
New guidelines for collecting scat samples from marine predators have been… Read more
![Adelie penguins walking on ice](/site/assets/files/20470/rs1951_iceburg-ally-7-12-065-scr.600x514.jpg)
Australia welcomes agreement on a new Marine Protected Area in the Southern Ocean
Australia has welcomed the establishment of a new Marine Protected Area in… Read more
![Totten glacier](/site/assets/files/20466/rs380_aad.600x514.jpg)
Impact of East Antarctic glacial melt on sea-level rise
The Australian Antarctic Program will study two glaciers, the Totten and… Read more
![Photo of Cape petrels on iceberg](/site/assets/files/20463/7_rs10998.600x514.jpg)
Australia continues to fly the flag for marine protected areas in East Antarctica
Australia will continue its push for marine protected areas in East… Read more
![Photo of Macquarie island research station](/site/assets/files/20459/rs35049_dsc_0206.600x514.jpg)
Government invests in new station on Macquarie Island
Statement regarding Government investment in a new station on Macquarie… Read more
![Social club president Mel Pike and BreastScreen Tasmania representative Lyn Gibson standing in front of the pink Hägglunds outside of the Antarctic Division in Kingston Tasmania](/site/assets/files/20455/pink-hagglunds.600x514.jpg)
Antarctic snow vehicle goes pink in support of hope
One of Australia’s tracked Antarctic snow vehicles has been painted pink… Read more
![Zac Alderman](/site/assets/files/20452/14480531_10155285386122892_6165054577434103223_o.600x514.jpg)
Expeditioners learn the ropes in pre-departure training
Antarctic expeditioners have been learning the ropes and playing with fire… Read more
![1991 delegation signing](/site/assets/files/20444/rs26054_murray00018.600x514.jpg)
Celebrating 25 years of environmental protection for Antarctica
A quarter of a century after the landmark decision to ban mining in… Read more
![Snow blowers at work on the Wilkins runway](/site/assets/files/20440/dscn0980steve-mcinnerney.600x514.jpg)
Preparing Australia’s Antarctic ice runway
Sub-zero temperatures and snow blowers are the order of the day at… Read more
![The Aurora Australis unloading cargo on the sea ice at Davis.](/site/assets/files/20435/aurora-on-davis-sea-ice_bill-debruyn.600x514.jpg)
Resupply contingency plans for early sea-ice retreat
The Australian Antarctic Division is putting in place contingency plans… Read more
![Macca](/site/assets/files/20431/rs41233richardyoud_aad.600x514.jpg)
Future of Macquarie Island
Statement from Minister for the Environment and Energy The Hon. Josh… Read more
![Macca](/site/assets/files/20427/rs35034barrybecker_aad.600x514.jpg)
Change in operations on Macquarie Island
The Australian Antarctic Division will use a network of field huts to… Read more
![Southern Ocean](/site/assets/files/20424/rs32669_2016-02_k-axis_0474-scr.600x514.jpg)
Scientists study fish on the smaller side of the Southern Ocean ecosystem
Scientists from Australia and the European Union have joined forces to… Read more
![City and mountain](/site/assets/files/20420/rs6634_dsc_3890-lpr.600x514.jpg)
Tasmania to host key Antarctic meetings in 2020
Tasmania will host two major Antarctic meetings in 2020, bringing together… Read more
![Looking at an ice core](/site/assets/files/20415/nerilie-abram-and-mark-curran-with-ice-core-sample_credit-oliver-berlin.600x514.jpg)
Scientists pinpoint beginning of current global warming trend
New research using climate data from ice cores, corals, sediment layers… Read more
![Prydz Bay](/site/assets/files/20410/rs16067_davis-landscape252-scr.600x514.jpg)
Seals help solve Antarctic bottom water mystery
Oceanographic instruments attached to Antarctic elephant seals have helped… Read more
![Jan Strugnell at Carlini base with the ship James Clark Ross in the background.](/site/assets/files/20183/jan-strugnell.600x514.jpg)
Wikibomb celebrates women in Antarctic science
Women in Antarctic research are being celebrated at this year’s meeting of… Read more
![Man posing with remotely operated vehicle.](/site/assets/files/20395/rs4749_04-klaus-with-rov_container-cropped-scr.600x514.jpg)
Tweeting drones, droids and robots for National Science Week
The Australian Antarctic Division invites people to join its popular ‘Icy… Read more
![Plane taking off over flags](/site/assets/files/20392/rs31953_12-agaptwin-otter-over-flags-scr.600x514.jpg)
Facing the challenge of winter in Antarctica
Surviving the depths of winter on the world’s most inhospitable continent… Read more
![Three of the minicosms used in the marine microbial experiment, housed in a shipping container at Davis](/site/assets/files/20386/11-minicosms_andrew-davidson-copy.600x514.jpg)
Antarctic phytoplankton impacted by increasing carbon dioxide
Scientists have found that an acidifying ocean could have a significant… Read more
![Rescue](/site/assets/files/20382/11_eliseroberts.600x514.jpg)
Antarctic-bound doctors practise extreme medicine
Fresh snow and freezing temperatures in Tasmania’s Central Highlands have… Read more
![Collecting samples](/site/assets/files/20376/ice-station.600x514.jpg)
Potent mercury toxin found in Antarctic sea ice
Australian researchers have found a potent mercury neurotoxin in Antarctic… Read more
![Close up of bubbles trapped in Antarctic ice core](/site/assets/files/20372/rs3843_bubblestasvanommen.600x514.jpg)
Antarctic ice cores provide clues to carbon uptake during Little Ice Age
New research published today in the prestigious Nature Geoscience has… Read more
![Expeditioner in Antarctica](/site/assets/files/20367/rs35923_5_-first-stop-in-the-three-hour-trip-the-antarctic-circle-latitude-6633s_ali-dean-copy1-scr.600x514.jpg)
Students invited to chat ‘live’ with Antarctic expeditioners
Are you curious about what it is like living on the highest, driest… Read more
![Wilkins Aerodrome](/site/assets/files/20358/rs2285gordontait_aad.600x514.jpg)
New names on the Antarctic map
You wouldn’t expect to find a crocodile or rhino in Antarctica but thanks… Read more
![sunrise from whoop whoop](/site/assets/files/20353/chrisburns.600x514.jpg)
Here comes the sun
While the sun has officially returned to the skies above Davis research… Read more
![Expeditioners at Davis research station standing in line to vote at an election polling station on the sea ice.](/site/assets/files/20350/1_davisvotingaaronstanley_aad.600x514.jpg)
Polar polling
Australia’s remotest and coldest voting will occur at Australian Antarctic… Read more
![Australia’s Mawson station](/site/assets/files/20346/ia35017.600x514.jpg)
Leadership and learning on ice
An extraordinary group of people lead expeditioners at the Australian… Read more
![Professor Patrick (Pat) Quilty AM](/site/assets/files/20342/pat-quilty-2.600x514.jpg)
2016 Phillip Law Medal
The Australian Antarctic Division’s former Chief Scientist, Professor… Read more
![Dr John Cadden in Antarctica](/site/assets/files/20334/1_johncadden_aad.600x514.jpg)
2016 Australian Antarctic Medal
Long-time Antarctic expeditioners from three diverse careers have been… Read more
![Expeditioners use a chainsaw to cut into the sea ice at Mawson station in preparation for their midwinter swim](/site/assets/files/20330/2_prep_shaneness_aad.600x514.jpg)
Icy celebration of winter solstice
A swift swim in icy waters marked the passage of midwinter for… Read more
![Photo of Dr Nick Gales.](/site/assets/files/20338/01-director_drnickgales_media.600x514.jpg)
Dr Nick Gales appointed Australia’s Commissioner to the IWC
The Government has appointed Dr Nick Gales as Australia’s new Commissioner… Read more
![Susie Calderan deploys a sonobuoy off the deck of the New Zealand ship Tangaroa.](/site/assets/files/20178/02b-blue-whale-deploying-sonobuoy_daveallen_niwa.600x514.jpg)
World Oceans Day
On this year’s World Oceans Day, people all over our blue planet are… Read more
![Cargo inside C-17A ready to be dropped.](/site/assets/files/20326/2_cargodrop1_chadgriffiths_raaf.600x514.jpg)
First midwinter airdrop to Australian Antarctic station
In complete darkness and with temperatures below minus 30 degrees… Read more
![Three blue whales breaching in the Southern Ocean.](/site/assets/files/20173/blue-whalespaulaolson.600x514.jpg)
World Environment Day
Today’s World Environment Day ‘Go wild for wildlife’ theme encourages us… Read more
![Emperor Penguins](/site/assets/files/20321/rs244_img_1903.600x514.jpg)
Declaration marking 25th Anniversary of Madrid Protocol
Antarctic countries have released a Declaration to mark the 25th… Read more
![Timelapse photo of midnight sun skimming across horizon](/site/assets/files/20547/midsummer-sun-szworak--eric.600x514.png)
Sleep in support of Mars
A number of our wintering expeditioners are participating in a research… Read more
![Dr Ian Allison](/site/assets/files/20317/allison_photo.600x514.jpg)
Dr Ian Allison receives top scientific honour
Former Australian Antarctic Division climate scientist, Dr Ian Allison… Read more
![The calving front of the Totten Glacier ice shelf](/site/assets/files/20313/rs34225.600x514.jpg)
Nature paper predicts extensive ice loss from Antarctic glacier
Research published in the prestigious journal Nature has revealed the… Read more
![Image of new icebreaker](/site/assets/files/20307/rs24328_loading-scr.600x514.jpg)
Antarctic budget investment
A new era of Antarctic engagement sees the Government investing new… Read more
![Hägglunds on fast ice near Mawson 2013](/site/assets/files/20294/rs1970_justinchambers.600x514.jpg)
A new era of Antarctic endeavour
A new era of Antarctic engagement was announced today with the launch of… Read more
![Photo of marine debris](/site/assets/files/20290/6813.600x514.jpg)
Australian scientists to join international colleagues for Antarctic circumnavigation voyage
Scientists from the Australian Antarctic Division will investigate the… Read more
![Three blue whales breaching in the Southern Ocean.](/site/assets/files/20165/blue-whalespaulaolson.600x514.jpg)
DNA reveals three populations of Antarctic blue whales
Genetic analysis of Antarctic blue whales has identified three distinct… Read more
![Cloud formations above Macquarie Island.](/site/assets/files/20158/5_maccarobbie-kilpatrick.600x514.jpg)
Eyes on the sky above Macquarie Island
An array of atmospheric instruments will be deployed on Macquarie Island… Read more
![Photo of Chief Investigator](/site/assets/files/20285/1_marinesciencenickroden.600x514.jpg)
Rare krill ‘super-swarm’ a voyage highlight
More than 100 humpback whales feeding on a rare super-swarm of krill was a… Read more
![Helicopter being loaded on to C17 at Wilkins Aerodrome.](/site/assets/files/20281/c17-helicopter-retereival-march-2016-don-hud-020-2.600x514.jpg)
Air Force proves its capability in Antarctica again
A C-17A Globemaster III has touched down at Wilkins Aerodrome for the… Read more
![The Aurora Australis arriving in Fremantle](/site/assets/files/20274/image3.600x514.jpg)
Aurora Australis arrives in Fremantle
The Aurora Australis has arrived in Fremantle after completing a 10-day… Read more
![Expeditioners from Davis with an LC130 plane at McMurdo](/site/assets/files/20270/daviscrew28feb16.600x514.jpg)
Australian Government thanks Antarctic community for support
The Environment Minister has thanked the international Antarctic community… Read more
![The Japanese icebreaker, Shirase.](/site/assets/files/20267/shirase_1national-institute-of-polar-research.600x514.jpg)
Mawson expeditioners on board Shirase
The Japanese icebreaker Shirase has collected 66 expeditioners from Mawson… Read more
![Scientists at work in the glow of a solar halo at Law Dome.](/site/assets/files/20264/rs845_gordontait.600x514.jpg)
In search of Earth’s oldest ice: Hobart plays host to international ice core scientists
More than 200 climate scientists from around the world are gathering in… Read more
![The Japanese icebreaker, Shirase, in the ice.](/site/assets/files/20261/shirase_2national-institute-of-polar-research.600x514.jpg)
Japanese icebreaker to transfer expeditioners to Casey station
The Japanese icebreaker, Shirase, will pick up expeditioners from Mawson… Read more
![Photo of the Aurora Australis](/site/assets/files/20258/rs23259_jd-10-04-2007-7-49-24-am_0006-scr.600x514.jpg)
Aurora Australis en route to Australia
The Aurora Australis has been deemed seaworthy and will depart Mawson… Read more
![Charlton Clark hands over the flagpole to David Jensen](/site/assets/files/20255/wendy_flag-pole-5.600x514.jpg)
Rare artefacts from Antarctica go on public display
The first flagpole to fly the Australian flag in the Antarctic and parts… Read more
![View of Mawson station.](/site/assets/files/20251/mawson-station_chris-wilson.600x514.jpg)
Assessment of Aurora Australis continues
The Aurora Australis remains in the vicinity of Mawson research station as… Read more
![Dr Nick Gales with a Chinese representative at the joint Australia-China Committee meeting.](/site/assets/files/20248/joint-china-meeting_thumb_glenn-jacobson.600x514.jpg)
Australia hosts Antarctic talks with China
Australian and Chinese officials met yesterday in Hobart, Tasmania, for… Read more
![Aurora Australis leaving Horseshoe Harbour](/site/assets/files/20245/1_aa_27_02_2016.600x514.jpg)
Aurora Australis successfully refloated
The Aurora Australis has been successfully refloated and has made its way… Read more
![The Aurora Australis grounded in Horseshoe Harbour, from Mawson research station](/site/assets/files/20242/5_auroraaustralis_26_02_16_tonyharris.600x514.jpg)
5:15 pm update: Attempt to refloat Aurora Australis as weather conditions ease
Improved weather conditions have allowed the transfer of expeditioners… Read more
![Blizzard view from Mawson red shed](/site/assets/files/20239/anim-mawson-bliz.600x514.gif)
Air option activated as Aurora Australis remains aground
The Australian Antarctic Division is receiving assistance from the US… Read more
![](/site/assets/files/49392/frozen-bubbles-greyscale.600x514.jpg)
Aurora Australis remains aground at Mawson research station
The Aurora Australis remains aground at Mawson research station, with… Read more
![](/site/assets/files/49392/frozen-bubbles-greyscale.600x514.jpg)
Aurora Australis aground at Mawson station
The Australian Antarctic Division is responding to an incident involving… Read more
![Photo of C-17A at Wilkins](/site/assets/files/20229/rs28386_239-lpr.600x514.jpg)
C-17A Antarctic flights prove a huge success
The Royal Australian Air Force has successfully flown the final flight… Read more
![Pulling the Rectangular Midwater Trawl net in behind the ship](/site/assets/files/20225/trawl-net.600x514.jpg)
K-Axis voyage reaches half-way point
Krill are spawning and the ocean is teeming with life as the Kerguelen… Read more
![Dr Bruce Deagle in his laboratory.](/site/assets/files/20540/03-bruce-deagle_glenn-jacobson.600x514.jpg)
Barcoding plankton
Genetic technologies pioneered by the Human Genome Project are opening up… Read more
![Photo of catch from mid water trawl net](/site/assets/files/20221/mid-water-travel-net-haul.600x514.jpg)
Science underway on the Kerguelen Axis Marine Science Voyage
The Aurora Australis has arrived at its first marine science station in… Read more
![Flags at half mast](/site/assets/files/20218/img_7313.600x514.jpg)
Body of Antarctic helicopter pilot back in Australia
The body of David Wood, the helicopter pilot who died after an incident on… Read more
![Flags at half mast](/site/assets/files/20215/img_7313.600x514.jpg)
Family statement: David Wood
A statement from the Wood and Macdonald families. Read more
![Flags at half mast](/site/assets/files/20211/img_7313.600x514.jpg)
Injured Antarctic helicopter pilot dies
The helicopter pilot injured in an incident on a remote ice shelf near… Read more
![Aerial view of Australia’s Davis station, Antarctica.](/site/assets/files/20208/davis-station_glenn-jacobson.600x514.jpg)
Injured Antarctic helicopter pilot remains in critical condition
The helicopter pilot injured in an incident on a remote ice shelf near… Read more
![Davis station from the air](/site/assets/files/20205/rs1096_davis20aerial202014014-3.600x514.jpg)
Helicopter pilot in a critical condition after being rescued from an Antarctic crevasse
An emergency response team from the Australian Antarctic Division has… Read more
![Photo of the Aurora Australis](/site/assets/files/20202/rs27565_jessicafitzpatrick.600x514.jpg)
Sailing south to study key biological hotspots along the Kerguelen Axis
A team of Australia’s leading Antarctic marine scientists will depart… Read more