Czechs establish polar research institute

Brno, Nov 6 (CTK) - Czech research in the Arctic and Antarctic regions will
be coordinated by the National Centre of Polar Regions Research that was
established in Brno Thursday.

It was created by seven institutions whose representatives work in the
sphere of polar regions.

The Czech Republic has the Mendel Polar Base in the Antarctic, while
another base is being established in the northern Svalbard.

Czech polar research has a tradition that should be developed by the
Centre, Masaryk University rector Petr Fiala said.

The Centre will coordinate the work of research teams in the poles and
represent Czech polar explorers abroad.

The researchers hope that its establishment will contribute to the research
receiving more funds on research as well as maintenance of both polar bases.

The founders include Masaryk University, that administers the Mendel Base,
and South Bohemian University that is creating the base at Svalbard.

Besides, research in the regions is also conducted by the Geological
Service of the Czech Republic, various institutes of the Czech Academy of
Sciences and the society Comenium.

When signing the agreement on the centre, rector of South Bohemian
University Vaclav Buzek stressed that Czech science was important, but
small.

Cooperation of all institutions will make it possible for scientists to
complement one another in their activities, Buze said.

"The creation of a national centre is a vital step. Every country working
in polar regions has it," Pavel Prosek from the Faculty of Science of
Masaryk University told CTK.