The 30th Spanish Army Antarctic Campaign contingent ready to depart to Antarctica.

The 30th Spanish Army Antarctic Campaign military contingent is ready to depart to the white continent, after its official presentation, on Nov. 21st, at the University of Zaragoza. This event was chaired by the University´s President, José A. Mayoral.

The following attendees were also at the mentioned presentation:  General Fernando G. González-Valerio –Chief of the Spanish Army Operations’ Division−, Sonia Ramos, from the Technical Secretariat of the Spanish Polar Committee (CPE, in Spanish), and Major Daniel Vélez –Chief of the Spanish Antarctic Station ‘Gabriel de Castilla’ which is managed by the Spanish Army−.
Besides the activities that Spain develops in the Antarctic, the jobs planned to be carried out in this 30th Campaign at the “Gabriel de Castilla” Spanish Station were also outlined. Later, the attendees visited a photography and items exhibit related to the Spanish Army Antarctic Campaign.

The Spanish Antarctic Campaign represents a cooperation model between different private and public institutions for R&D&I within the Spanish State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation. The projects coordination that different agencies develop during the Antarctic Campaigns are done through the Spanish Polar Committee. The Spain Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness funds the research projects, contributing with the campaign expenses at the Stations and at the Oceanographic Research Ship “Hespérides” as well as the Program projects that take place in other Satiations or Ship.

Besides the Spanish Army, that manages the Spanish Antarctic Station Gabriel de Castilla (Decepcion Island), the institutions working in these activities are: the CSIC Marine Unit of Technology (CSIC-UTM, in Spanish) that manages the Spanish Antarctic Station, “Juan Carlos” I (Livingston Island) and also coordinates the logistics of the Antarctic Campaign, and the Navy that operates  ship ‘’Hespérides.”