Wedoany.com Report on Feb 9th, Mexico's first Antarctic research program has officially launched, marking the country's entry into the polar frontier through scientific diplomacy. This program, named CAMEX-1, is being conducted in collaboration with Ukraine, which provides logistical support for Mexican researchers and grants them access to the Vernadsky Antarctic Station. Last month, the two countries signed a five-year Antarctic cooperation agreement, with partners including Mexico's Jalisco Center for Research and Assistance in Technology and Design (CIATEJ), the Mexican Antarctic Research Agency (AMEA), and Ukraine's National Antarctic Scientific Center.
On January 31st, eight Mexican researchers boarded the Ukrainian research icebreaker "Noosfera" in Punta Arenas, Chile, to begin their Antarctic journey. They will be stationed at Ukraine's Vernadsky Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula for a several-week expedition.
CIATEJ's General Director, Lorena Amaya Delgado, stated: "This expedition will generate crucial knowledge for understanding life in extreme conditions and addressing global environmental challenges." AMEA President Patricia Valdespino added that Antarctic climate change could impact Mexico's coastlines, making participation in polar research essential. Studies indicate that deep-water areas in the Gulf of Mexico receive ocean currents originating from Antarctica.
Since 2020, the unusual northward migration of Southern Elephant Seals from Antarctica to Baja California, Mexico, has piqued the interest of Mexican researchers. Despite a geographical distance exceeding 13,000 kilometers, environmental connections are becoming increasingly evident.
Historically, Mexico's Antarctic research lacked organization and was primarily driven by individual scientists participating in other countries' projects. The cooperation agreement with Ukraine provides an institutional structure for Mexico's Antarctic research program, signaling a shift towards a national polar research policy. The launch of Mexico's first Antarctic research program aims to deepen international cooperation through scientific diplomacy to address global environmental challenges.
