Inauguration of Princess Elisabeth Antarctica
The Princess Elisabeth Station in Antarctica will officially be inaugurated on 15 February 2009 in the presence of an international delegation of journalists and political representatives. The project, initiated by International Polar Foundation, was made possible thanks to the support of various partners, both public and private. The completion of the construction is the result of two years of work. This "zero emission" station is a major accomplishment and sets a new standard for future stations. Moreover, Princess Elisabeth Antarctica is the only station to be entirely built during the International Polar Year.
The inauguration of the Princess Elisabeth Station is a sign of the growing interest in sustainable solutions. The combination of existing technologies such as energy management, passive building, or even construction as such, make the station a pioneering achievement in Antarctica and a milestone of sustainable development.
Besides its scientific mission, the station also has an educational mission and therefore activities at the station will be followed under "Class Zero Emission", a project by the IPF supported by the Dutch- and French-speaking communities of Belgium. This interactive workshop, which opens in March 2009, will try to stimulate thought and action about sustainable development among young people, and will put emphasis on the importance of polar science.
Picture: Inauguration of the Princess Elisabeth Station in Brussels - © International Polar Foundation