AWIPEV Base, DE+FR

In Ny-Ålesund, the German Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) and the French Polar Institute (IPEV) jointlyoperate the Arctic research base.

Contact

https://nyalesundresearch.no/about-us/contact/

Location

AWIPEV is located in Ny-Ålesund, the world’s northernmost year-round research station. AWIPEV research base consists of several buildings: the ‘Blue House’ of the former German ‘Koldewey Station’, and the former French ‘Rabot Station’ and ‘Corbel station’ buildings, The AWIPEV atmosphere observatory building and researchers also have access to shared research infrastructure and laboratory services by Kings Bay AS.�

Websites

Stations at Ny-Ålesund do a lot of collaboration, read more from here:
https://eu-polarin.eu/ny-alesund/
https://nyalesundresearch.no
https://eu-interact.org/field-sites/awipev-rabot/

Facilities

AWIPEV research base consists of several buildings: the ‘Blue House’ of the former German ‘Koldewey Station’, and the former French ‘Rabot Station’ and ‘Corbel station’ buildings, which offer accommodation, offices and laboratories for guest scientists. The AWIPEV atmosphere observatory building is dedicated to atmospheric research with remote sensing instruments. Other buildings at the base contain laboratories for physical, biological and chemical analysis. Researchers also have access to shared research infrastructure and laboratory services by Kings Bay AS.�

AWIPEV provides a number of vehicles, snow scooters and motor boats, as well as associated equipment for daily to weekly expeditions to the surrounding area.�

Availability for access

Time frame for access preparation

For AWI:
All projects have to submit a project proposal. Deadline is the 30th of September each year for fieldwork starting from April the following year. All proposals are evaluated for scientific relevance and logistic feasibility.�

For IPEV:
All projects have to submit a project proposal. Deadline is the 15th of July each year for fieldwork starting from January the following year. All proposals are evaluated for scientific relevance and logistical feasibility.�

Once a project has been granted access, every project (both AWI and IPEV) has to provide project documentation (logistic needs, risk assessment, medical approval, personal questionnaire for participants) latest 6 weeks before the start of the fieldwork.��

Permits, licenses and training

Permits and licenses depend on the specific fieldwork and are regulated by the rules and regulations for fieldwork on Svalbard, defined by the Norwegian Government.
All participants need to be trained for their specific type of fieldwork. The station staff is only responsible for a general introduction. Anybody working outside the town-limits of Ny-Alesund is required to carry a rifle and flare gun for polar bear protection.https://www.awipev.eu/practical-info/safety-hse/
Specific fieldwork (drones, diving etc. may require addition permits and certification).

Medical guidelines

For AWI:
All expedition participants have to send a medical questionnaire which will be assessed by AWI medical staff. In case of issues, medical tests can be required. For field stays longer than 4 weeks a medical examination is necessary.�

For IPEV:
All expedition participants must carry out medical examinations in agreement with the TAAF medical service (Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises).��