BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DIRECCIÓN NACIONAL DEL ANTÁRTICO -
INSTITUTO ANTÁRTICO ARGENTINO
The Instituto Antártico Argentino was created under the Decree Nº 7338 on
April the 17th 1951. Its founder and first director was the colonel
Hernán Pujato. The goal of this creation was the need of a specialized
organism to orientate, control, address and perform scientific and
technical research and studies concerning this region, in coordination
with the Comisión Nacional del Antártico, an institution depending on
the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Stations set up at Marguerite Bay,
Hope Bay, and Filchner Ice Shelf, and scientific summer seasons were the
support for these goals, including a wide range of earth, sea and air
sciences.
On January the 26th, 1956, the Internal Rules of the Instituto
Antártico Argentino are established. These Rules fix the scientific and
technical nature of the institution. The Instituto Antártico Argentino
becomes a dependency of the Navy Ministry, and doctor Rodolfo N. M.
Panzarini (1956-57)(1958-68), Rear-admiral, Doctor on oceanography and
Professor at Universidad de Buenos Aires, is designed Director. Since
this time, the Instituto Antártico Argentino participated in several
international scientific events, as the International Geophysic Year
(1957-58) and the International Quiet Sun Year (1964-65).
From 1958 to 1963, the Institute managed Ellsworth Station, Weddell Sea, transferred by
USA after the International Geophysic Year. In 1964, Brown base, Paradise
Bay, was incorporated as a permanent scientific station.
In 1970 the
Dirección Nacional del Antártico, a dependency of the Ministry of
Defense, was created. The new institution had administrative and
logistic functions and included the Antarctic Institute as the
scientific organism with three departments: Science, Technique, and
Scientific Exchange. In this time, twenty-one programmes were performed,
including earth sciences, biological sciencies, and atmosphere sciences,
in coordination with other national and international institutions.
During the 80´s, the old shelter located at Potter cove, 25 de Mayo
(King George) island, was incorporated, and became latter Jubany Base,
where Dallmann laboratory operates. Dallmann laboratory is the only one
in Antarctida to be operated in cooperation between two countries: Germany
and Argentina. Research on biological and earth science fields is carried
out at this laboratory.
In 2003, under the Decree Nº 207/2003 issued by
the Executive Power of Argentina, the Dirección Nacional del Antártico
and the Instituto Antártico Argentino became a part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
International Trade and Cult.
Accordingly to the principles of its creation, the
Instituto Antártico Argentino, as a part of Dirección Nacional del Antártico,
participates at present, with its scientific, technical and administrative
staff, in a wide range of national and international programmes for a
better understanding of the Antarctic.
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