The subjects of their joint research could be the study of paleoclimate and the history of the geological development of the Earth, as well as environmental monitoring of the fragile ecosystem of Antarctica.
On Thursday, April 20, a working meeting was held between scientists of St. Petersburg Mining University and representatives of the Uruguayan Antarctic Institute (IAU). Its staff are engaged in strategic management of research, technological and logistical activities of Montevideo on the Sixth Continent.
Uruguay has two research stations there. The first, Artigas, was founded back in 1984. It is located not on the mainland itself, but on King George Island, which is part of the South Shetland Islands. The second is located on the Antarctic Peninsula and is named after Lieutenant Ruperto Elichiribeheti of the country's Navy; until 1997, it belonged to the British Government.
At present, there are studies related to the Collins Glacier melting process, creation of geodetic information systems, sea level monitoring in the Fildes Peninsula area, assessment of environmental pollution by microplastic wastes. Of course, all the work goes on the coast of Antarctica, so the development of inland research at the expense of cooperation with Russian partners is one of the potentially interesting topics for Latin Americans.
"We are open to cooperation, we are really interested in it. Now we have the closest cooperation with scientists from neighboring states - Brazil, Argentina, Chile. But we also hosted guests from Germany, France and a number of other countries. We would be glad to see the Russians among them, the main thing is to identify areas where joint work will be mutually beneficial", - said Director of the General Secretariat of the Antarctic Institute of Uruguay Angela Cuartarolo.
As explained by the head of the scientific party of the St. Petersburg Mining University in Antarctica Alexey Bolshunov, the number of promising joint projects may include studying paleoclimate and environmental monitoring of the ecosystem of the continent. However, it is still premature to talk about anything specific at this stage. The main purpose of the last teleconference was to get acquainted and find common scientific interests. Nevertheless, more detailed agreements between the oldest technical university of our country and the IAU can be reached in the foreseeable future.
Note that the meeting between the Russian and Uruguayan sides was organized by Valeria Quiroz, a representative of the St. Petersburg Mining University in Latin America.