The school hosted a teleconference between MriyDiy Kyiv and Antarctica: live broadcast from the Ukrainian Vernadsky Research Base

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We traveled 15,000 km from Ukraine to the heart of Antarctica, where the 29th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition is working.

Geophysicist Oleksandr Bohomaz gave us an exciting tour of the station and shared what life and work are like at the edge of the world.

We peeked into the offices, meteorologists’ rooms, the radio operator’s cabin, and the biologists’ laboratory, equipped with a microscope for detailed researches. At the station, every little detail matters: even radios must always be at hand to maintain communication.

Chef Nazarii prepares delicious meals for the winterers, and the dining room features a large map of Ukraine, a portrait of Taras Shevchenko, the Ukrainian flag, and paintings of our homeland’s landscapes. Here, in a world of eternal snow, the Ukrainian spirit is felt like nowhere else.

There is even an unusual papier-mâché “penguin,” created by the first Ukrainian winterers.

Penguins, living next to the station, add life to the harsh Antarctic landscape.

The students asked questions that would surely interest many of us:
— What is it like to live among ice and frost?
— How about the penguins?
— Are there rainbows in Antarctica?

The meeting was not only informative but also inspiring: we saw how Ukrainian scientists explore the world while working in the most extreme conditions. A true example of perseverance, curiosity, and love for science!