The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). NERC is part of the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI). It has, for over 60 years, undertaken the majority of Britain’s scientific research in and around the Antarctic and Arctic regions, building a reputation as a world-renowned Polar science and logistical centre. BAS undertakes a world-class programme of scientific research, survey and long-term observations addressing key issues of global or fundamental importance that require access to the Polar Regions.
Our scientific research programme, Polar Science for Planet Earth, sets the strategic direction for BAS. The Antarctic operations and science programmes are executed and managed from Cambridge, and rely on a wide-ranging team of professional staff.
We take a multi-disciplinary, collaborative approach to our research, working in interdisciplinary teams from within our organisation, as well as in partnership with leading universities and research organizations from the UK and around the world. These include the Atmosphere, Ice and Climate team, focused on the highly-coupled atmosphere-ocean-sea- ice system, and the Ecosystems team, focused on understanding the combined impacts of global climate-driven change and commercial fishing on polar marine ecosystems.