site.btaScientists Present Their Projects at University of Patagonia

Bulgarian scientists from the 34th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition presented their scientific projects at the National University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco in the Argentine city of Comodoro Rivadavia on Wednesday. The presentations were part of a meeting aimed at expanding international scientific exchange.

Guests of the event were welcomed by the Faculty of Natural Sciences Dean at the University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Dr Barbara Lisa Rueter; by the Commanding Officer of the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii, Commander Radko Muevski; by the Vice-Dean of Sustainability, Empowerment, and Engagement at Sofia University's Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Assoc. Prof. Marina Stefanova; as well as by the Chair of the Cyril and Methodius Bulgarian Society in Comodoro Rivadavia, Tsenka Genova.

National University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco Rector, Dr Ruben Gustavo Fleitas, also welcomed the guests, and Muevski presented him with calendars from the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna. BTA presented copies of LIK magazine dedicated to the scientific research of Antarctica conducted by the 32nd Bulgarian Antarctic expedition.

Journalist Maria Cherneva's film Polar Explorers was screened at the event.

Dermatologist Prof. Razvigor Darlenski gave a presentation on the adaptation of human skin in Antarctica and explained the changes that occur in human skin during a stay at Bulgaria’s St Kliment Ohridski Base on Livingston Island. Geophysicist Kiril Velkovski and physicist Oleg Vasilev presented their project for precision mapping of Antarctica.

Seismologist Gergana Georgieva gave a presentation on seismic activity in the South Shetland Islands and the activity and movement of glaciers. Engineer Ivaylo Nachev spoke about the impact of solar activity on the ionosphere above Antarctica and the Bulgarian base's amateur radio connections.

Stefanova presented a concept of building awareness of being a "good steward" of the planet.

Scientific teams from other countries participating in the Bulgarian Antarctic expedition also presented their projects. Emil Stanev and Michel Albinos talked about their research on ocean currents. Aleksandar Joksimovic and Vesna Macic presented their project on microplastics in the Antarctic waters. Oceanographers Dionysia Rigatou and Eleni Kytinou talked about their project to study phytoplankton and marine food webs in Antarctica.

Colombian artists Ernesto Bautista and Daniela Medina also presented their projects, carried out during the 34th Bulgarian Antarctic expedition.

Scientists from the University of Patagonia presented their projects to their Bulgarian colleagues.