CZECH ARCTIC RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE “JOSEF SVOBODA STATION” IN SVALBARD

The Centre for Polar ecology aims to promote and facilitate research and education in polar ecological sciences at the Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (USB). CPE operates the Josef Svoboda research infrastructure in Svalbard and represents the scientific community of the Czech Republic in International Arctic Science Committee. Czech Arctic Research Infrastructure „Josef Svoboda Station“ was established on base of previous experiences and research results which were performed in different parts of the Arctic and Antarctic in second half of 20th and beginning of 21th centuries. In 2012 the USB opened a new department Centre for Polar Ecology and, in 2013 this department moved into newly reconstructed and equipped building. In 2013, the Czech research station Julius Payer House has been opened in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. In 2015, field camp Nostoc in Petunia Bay has been opened and research boat (Motor Sailor) Clione has been prepared for regular operation in Svalbard vicinity. In 2015 the project of research infrastructure construction was successfully finished and the Czech Arctic Research Infrastructure “Josef Svoboda Station” was opened for operation. The Infrastructure was named after Czech-Canadian Arctic plant-ecologist, Josef Svoboda, professor emeritus of University of Toronto. Infrastructure is equipped for interdisciplinary research and university education in main polar science research topics and covers in biological science; microbiology – phycology, botany and plant physiology, zoology and parasitology, and in geographical science; climatology – glaciology, geology – geomorphology and hydrology – limnology. These research topics are performed in study area since 2007 or 2010, respectively. The Czech Arctic Research Infrastructure “Josef Svoboda Station” in all its parts offers research collaboration for international arctic research in all branches of polar sciences which were mentioned before. Conditions under which the infrastructure can be used is introduced in technical description of infrastructure