2020 news

Antarctic shipping season arrives with ice-class vessel
Chartered ship arrives for Australian Antarctic summer season Read more

Mission accomplished: Antarctic medevac an outstanding success
International cooperation returns patient to Australia Read more

Fuelling life in Antarctica
All the signs pointed to Brad Collins ending up in Antarctica. Read more

Antarctic ice runways under construction for medevac
Work has begun on constructing two Antarctic ice runways to use in the… Read more

Preparations for Australian Antarctic medevac underway
A team of Australian Antarctic expeditioners will soon start to prepare an… Read more

International effort to medevac Australian expeditioner
An Australian expeditioner is being evacuated from Davis research station… Read more

Alliance partners sought to construct year-round Antarctic runway
The Australian Government is seeking expressions of interest for the… Read more

Rock royalty headlines Antarctic recruitment campaign
Iconic song becomes soundtrack for Antarctic recruitment campaign Read more

Antarctic recruitment opens for 2021–22
Want to be an Antarctic expeditioner? Recruitment opens for 2021–22 season Read more

Australian undersea naming success on the global stage
For the first time in many years a group of Australian-nominated undersea… Read more

Modernisation planning begins for Australia’s Antarctic stations
Master plans for future of Australian Antarctic stations Read more

A well-deserved medal: Alison Dean and leadership in the Antarctic
One of Australia’s most experienced Antarctic station leaders has returned… Read more

Environmental assessment of geotechnical investigations open for public comment
Antarctic field work plans 2021-22 Read more

'Mammatus' cloud show captured by lucky scientists
AAD science records spectacular cloud show Read more

RSV Nuyina embarks on sea trials
RSV Nuyina commences sea trials in North Sea Read more

Antarctic expeditioners train to be icy firefighters
Winter expeditioners complete specialist training to form fire teams on… Read more

Landmark Antarctic research plan for Australia and Switzerland
Australian and Swiss Antarctic scientists are set to work more closely… Read more

New science to improve Antarctic-wide protection
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) announces new program… Read more

First flight opens Australia's Antarctic season
Our 2020-21 Antarctic season commences with the first flights to Wilkins… Read more

"A year like no other": new Station Leader heads south
The 2020-21 Station Leader for Casey research station is Kyle Williams. Read more

“Herculean task”: waking up Wilkins Aerodrome
As the first flight of the new Antarctic season approaches, go behind the… Read more

Isolation chamber ready for COVID-19 defence
The AAD's Polar Medicine Unit undertakes medevac training for this… Read more

Nuyina ready for sea trials
New Antarctic icebreaker RSV Nuyina will shortly be ready for sea trials… Read more

Antarctic expeditioners in Hobart for pre-departure isolation
The first wave of expeditioners heading south for this year’s Australian… Read more

Making water in the Antarctic desert
How do you make freshwater in Antarctica – the driest continent on Earth? Read more

Krill research proposed to improve fishery management
An international team of scientists has identified research priorities for… Read more

Antarctic data management gets Kool
Antarctic data specialist, Dr Johnathan Kool, to Chair international… Read more

Blizzards delay first flights of the Antarctic season
Challenging weather conditions have delayed the first three flights of the… Read more

Cinematic victory for Davis station on world stage
Being asked to pull a short film together from scratch in 48 hours would… Read more

Antarctic icebreaker RSV Nuyina featured in new stamp issue
The 2021 arrival of Australia’s new Antarctic icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, in… Read more

Capturing marine biodiversity with the power of genetics
Scientists at the Australian Antarctic Division are studying small drops… Read more

Coronavirus ‘curveball’ for Australian Antarctic operations
The global coronavirus pandemic will make this year’s Australian Antarctic… Read more

Giant icebreaker pulls into Netherlands for final fit-out
Australia’s new icebreaker RSV Nuyina has arrived in the Netherlands for… Read more

High winds damage building at Macquarie Island
Strong winds at remote Macquarie Island research station have damaged the… Read more

Rediscovering Casey research station through the lens of art
One of Australia’s leading contemporary artists, Janet Laurence, has been… Read more

The power of three – rainfall, ice cores and climate models – in Australian water management
New research involving Antarctic ice cores shows that instrumental… Read more

First Antarctic traverse van complete
A new home away from home for personnel operating a tractor traverse deep… Read more

An unexpected and busy winter in Antarctica
A five month stint in Antarctica has turned into 17 months for two… Read more

DNA unravels tangled food web of Southern Ocean predators
Vertebrate ecologist and postdoctoral researcher with the Institute of… Read more

Australia’s new icebreaker on the move
Australia’s new icebreaker RSV Nuyina is bound for final commissioning and… Read more

Environmental assessment of Antarctic aviation open for public comment
The Australian Antarctic Program’s Proposed Aviation Operations for… Read more

Antarctic research unlocks mysteries of the upper atmosphere
A long-term study in Antarctica of the upper atmosphere in the coldest… Read more

Science under COVID-19
The Australian Antarctic Division is finding ways to maintain critical… Read more

Saving lives at sea
A medical facility in a shipping container will provide a life saving… Read more

New research defines ‘wilderness’ on the icy continent
Australian-led research published in the prestigious journal Nature will… Read more

Antarctic marine invertebrates could act as sentinels of environmental change
20 million nematodes and 900,000 copepods per square metre! Marine… Read more

Seeking Chair of Australian Antarctic Science Council
The Minister for the Environment is seeking to appoint a new Chair of the… Read more

Remote tech helps monitor icebreaker tests during pandemic
A critical test of icebreaker RSV Nuyina’s weight and stability was… Read more

High-tech homes for million-year ice core mission
If you were travelling in a tractor convoy deep into the Antarctic… Read more

Changes for Australian Antarctic Program to keep the icy continent free of COVID-19
The Australian Antarctic Program is taking steps to keep Antarctica… Read more

Antarctic expeditioners mark midwinter with subzero swim
After weeks of living without the sun, expeditioners at Australia’s… Read more

Australian Antarctic Medals honour unsung heroes of the south
A diverse group of unsung heroes has been awarded prestigious Australian… Read more

Submarine shows cold salty water slows Sørsdal shelf melt
The first use of an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle beneath the Sørsdal ice… Read more

Improving Gender Equality in the Australian Antarctic Program
The Australian Antarctic Division’s (AAD) We are equal video showcases the… Read more

Testing times for new ice drill
The first tests of a drill designed to extract an Antarctic ice core with… Read more

The sky is no limit for the future of Antarctic science
Scientists across Australia have outlined the benefits for Antarctic… Read more

National Reconciliation Week
The name of Australia’s new Antarctic icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, recognises… Read more

Mawson weathers wild Antarctic storm
Australia’s expeditioner’s at Mawson research station in East Antarctica… Read more

Antarctic resupply gets truckin’
Two big yellow tip trucks have joined the Australian Antarctic fleet, to… Read more

Next steps for proposed Antarctic aerodrome decided
The Australian Antarctic Division has announced its procurement approach… Read more

Macquarie Island albatrosses breed easier after rabbit eradication
Rabbit eradication on Macquarie Island helps secure the future of the… Read more

Antarctic ice cores could assist Australian drought management
Ice cores from East Antarctica could be used to improve water security… Read more

Mother’s Day 2020
Thanks to mums everywhere, from the Australian Antarctic Program. Read more

Migration mysteries of Antarctic frequent flyers
South Polar Skuas are talented survivors that venture where others dare… Read more

Antarctic clothing to help ease cold for Hobart homeless
The Australian Antarctic Division is donating surplus extreme-cold weather… Read more

Helping hand
Scientists from the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) have turned spare… Read more

World Day for Safety & Health at Work
Four small teams of expeditioners, totalling 89 people, that currently… Read more

Strategic plan charts course for Antarctic science
Ground-breaking climate research of million-year old ice and studies into… Read more

Antarctic Anzac Day 2020
Our Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research stations observed ANZAC Day in… Read more

Call for community comment on Mawson Station heritage management plan
The Australian Antarctic Division is inviting comment on the Heritage… Read more

Top tips: isolate like an Antarctican
For people living in isolation to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the… Read more

Impacts of COVID-19 on the Australian Antarctic Program
The coronavirus pandemic is having a significant impact on all aspects of… Read more

First Antarctic heatwave recorded at Casey research station
The first reported heatwave event at Casey research station was recorded… Read more

New plan for Australian Antarctic shipping
The Australian Antarctic Division will use the icebreaker MPV Everest to… Read more

Australia’s icebreaker arrives in Hobart after final Antarctic voyage
Australia’s icebreaker RSV Aurora Australis has arrived into its homeport… Read more

Tasmanian company to build Antarctic sleds
A Tasmanian engineering company has been awarded a multi-million dollar… Read more

Antarctic marine predators tracked to Areas of Ecological Significance
New ecologically important areas around Antarctica have been identified… Read more

International Antarctic conferences cancelled due to coronavirus
Two major international Antarctic meetings due to be held in Hobart in… Read more

National radio broadcast of symphony for Aurora Australis
A new symphony composed while travelling to Antarctica on the RSV Aurora… Read more

Australian Antarctic Division site closures
The Australian Antarctic Division has closed its offices to the general… Read more

Australia conducts Treaty inspections of six Antarctic stations
A high-level team has successfully completed Australia’s most extensive… Read more

Australian medevac of Antarctic expeditioner
In a 3500 kilometre mercy dash from Hobart, the Australian Antarctic… Read more

Proposed Davis aerodrome subject to further environmental assessment
The proposed Davis aerodrome will be subject to further scrutiny under… Read more

Final voyage of icebreaker Aurora Australis departs
The final voyage of Australia’s Antarctic icebreaker RSV Aurora Australis… Read more

Gender equality central to Antarctic endeavours
The central role played by women in the success of the Australian… Read more

New symphony celebrates a life of icy service
The world premiere of a symphony celebrating Australia’s Antarctic… Read more

Nuyina delayed arrival into Hobart
The arrival of Australia’s new icebreaker RSV Nuyina to its homeport of… Read more

First Hercules flight from Australia to our Antarctic ice runway
A newly modified Hercules aircraft has landed at Australia’s glacial… Read more

Fuel munching microbes clean up Antarctica
Australian scientists have designed and built a luxury dirt ‘hotel’ in… Read more

Seeking artistic inspiration from the deep south
A rare opportunity for artists to travel to Antarctica and the Southern… Read more

Weather window opens for Wilkins ice runway
Australia’s Antarctic ice runway at Wilkins Aerodrome will re-open for… Read more

Science at the speed of light
Deep ocean systems on board Australia’s new icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, will… Read more

Model project to improve sea level rise projections
New research will help improve predictions of future sea level rise by… Read more

Wilkins runway delayed opening
Flights to Australia’s Antarctic ice runway have been postponed or… Read more

Nuclear watchdog ‘sniffs’ the wind at Mawson
An ordinary-looking shipping container at Australia’s Mawson research… Read more

Biodiversity hotspots revealed by remote-controlled mini-sub
Marine biologists are flying a bespoke mini-submarine under the sea ice to… Read more

Layered lakes in the Vestfold Hills
Complex lake systems around the proposed site of the Davis aerodrome are… Read more

Looking for tiny plants in a salty desert
Ecologists are searching for cryptic plant life near Davis research… Read more

Cultured worms used to assess contamination in Antarctic sites
Thousands of microscopic Antarctic worms have been grown in the laboratory… Read more

Selecting a suitable site
An ice free site in the Vestfold Hills near Davis research station has… Read more

New icebreaker propels to life
The propulsion system of Australia’s icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, has heaved to… Read more

Precautionary measures against novel coronavirus
The Australian Antarctic Program is taking precautionary measures to… Read more

Shining a light on deep sea cables
A deep-water laser for testing fibre optic cables on the icebreaker RSV… Read more

Getting personal with the penguins
A summer of seabird research on a remote island off the coast of… Read more

Australia lands precision Antarctic airdrop
For the first time, two new parachute systems have been successfully used… Read more

Australia’s proposed Antarctic aerodrome open for comment
A proposal for a new aerodrome, with a paved runway, near Australia’s… Read more

The coolest way to become an Aussie
An Irish-born carpenter has taken his Australian Citizenship Pledge at the… Read more

Antarctic neighbours meet for science symposium
Expeditioners from four nations with neighbouring stations in East… Read more

Sealers’ ships immortalised on remote Heard Island
Ships carrying 19th century sealers to the remote Australian Territory of… Read more

NASA’s icy mission
An intrepid robot designed to search for signs of alien life in our solar… Read more