The first Dutch laboratory on Antarctica

28-01-2013  On 27 January, the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) opened the first Dutch laboratory on Antarctica. The Dirck Gerritsz Laboratory consists of four ship containers that have been converted into laboratories and placed in a docking station. These laboratories have been developed by NIOZ, which will use them for carrying out research into areas such as algae and traces of iron in the Antarctic Ocean with its rising water temperature.

Dutch scientists used to rely on the facilities at bases of other countries for their research on and around Antarctica. The Dirck Gerritsz Laboratory is situated on the British basis Rothera, but it may be moved to a different location in the future. This helps to save on setting up a Dutch basis and infrastructure and it minimizes the damage inflicted on the environment on Antarctica. The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science have together invested 8.5 million euros in research on Antarctica.

Opening
The opening of the Dirck Gerritsz Laboratory was on Sunday 27 January, two days later than planned because of bad weather conditions. The laboratory was opened by Leo le Duc on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Crown Prince Willem-Alexander was unable to be present, but he addressed the party in a video message. NIOZ scientist Hein de Baar was present at the opening ceremony.

Dirck Gerritsz
The laboratory at Rothera is called the Dirck Gerritsz Laboratory, and the four separate lab containers are called Geloof, Hoop, Liefde and Blijde Boodschap (Faith, Hope, Love, and Good Tiding). In 1598, a convoy of ships left Rotterdam in search of a trade route to Asia via the southern tip of South America. The ships were called Faith, Hope, Love, Good Tiding and Fidelity. In the Strait of Magellan, the ships was scattered by severe weather conditions. One of the ships, the Good Tiding under the command of Dirck Gerritsz, was blown far to the south. There, Gerritsz saw a 'very high, mountainous country, full of snow, just like the country of Norway'. This was probably the first time anyone saw Antarctica.

As the lab containers should be able to resist extreme weather conditions, they were built and equipped on the basis of NIOZ expertise. Each container is fitted out with equipment for a specific type of research. The design consisting of a docking station and separate containers means that in the future the containers can be replaced with other containers fitted out with different equipment, if other forms of research should require this.

There are currently two NIOZ research projects on Antarctica. Dr Corina Brussaard is working with Tristan Biggs (PhD student) and Zoi Farenzena (student) to study algae in the changing circumstances on Antarctica and their role in the food chain. Prof. Hein de Baar is working with Johann Bown (postdoc) and Patrick Laan (technician) to study iron and other trace elements in sea water.

Polar Research
The investment in research laboratories and research on Antarctica is part of the Dutch Polar Programme. This programme finances Dutch scientific research into and in the polar regions. The Netherlands is a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty and as such is obliged to invest in research on Antarctica. Antarctica is rapidly getting warmer. Changes in the polar regions can be felt all over the world because of the global circulation systems (atmosphere, oceans). First-rate research can provide insight into these changes, which is important to the Netherlands.