COMNAP is the international association of 34 National Antarctic Programs that develops and promotes best practice to facilitate support of Antarctic research.
Secretariat, Christchurch NZ
Joined March 2020
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1/2 At the Joint COMNAP/NPI/SCAR Mini-Symposium, COMNAP presented "Sustained Investment | New Opportunities | Ensuring Success", exploring how sustained investment in infrastructure and expertise will help enable a successful #IPY5 and strengthen future Antarctic Science.
ALT Michelle Rogan-Finnemore presenting at the Joint COMNAP/NPI/SCAR Mini-Symposium, at the SCAR Open Science Conference 2026, Oslo, Norway.
2/2 The presentation and full paper by Agnieszka Kruszewska, COMNAP Chair | Manager Poland’s National Antarctic Program & Michelle Rogan-Finnemore, COMNAP Executive Secretary can be found here comnap.aq/publications-topic…
In most parts of the world, a search and rescue operation begins with a call to a Rescue Coordination Centre and a response within minutes or hours. In Antarctica, the situation is fundamentally different.
This is the context for the 6th COMNAP Antarctic Search & Rescue Workshop.
ALT 📷 : Ben Clark, BAS
The models require data, the data require surveys, and the surveys require aircraft, logistics and coordination across multiple countries simultaneously. No single nation can accomplish this alone. It is paramount to coordinate national assets together through RINGS.
Between AGM, COMNAP doesn’t stop. The work continues through seven cross-program projects, each one addressing a challenge that no single NAP can solve on its own. What these projects have in common: they require expertise, trust, shared standards. That’s COMNAP in practice.
At the AGM, 7 Expert Groups will run structured topical discussions. These are: Advancing Critical Technologies, Marine Platforms & Air Operations, Education, Outreach & Training, Environmental Protection, Human Biology & Medicine, Safety, Science Facilitation.
📷:M. Figielski
94% of national Antarctic programs share photo and video collections with the public. 91% maintain an active social media presence. 85% contribute to teaching and education programs in their home countries.
📷 : INACH
How can we use existing significant education & outreach infrastructure effectively? With the 5th International Polar Year (IPY-5) on the horizon, the opportunity to grow that audience, and use it purposefully, has never been more timely.
#COMNAPAGM #AntarcticCooperation
At the COMNAP AGM, one of the most practically important sessions is the Regional Breakout Groups where NAPs that work in the same part of the continent sit down together. This coordination reduces duplication, improves safety, and increases efficiency.
🗺️Herried, PGC, 2015
The work of the Regional break-out groups do not stop at the COMNAP AGM but it extends to the work the programs do to enable and support science in Antarctica. December 2025, example of cooperation at its finest between 🇰🇷 and the 🇮🇹 national Antarctic Programs.
📷:Ascione,PNRA
There is exactly only one meeting per year where every national Antarctic program sits is the same room. Not a video call. One in-person meeting, where managers and personnel of all programs operating in Antarctica come together. The COMNAP AGM is that meeting!
📷: K. Durkiewicz.
The 38th COMNAP AGM and the 6th Antarctic Search & Rescue Workshop will take place 4–7 August 2026, hosted by the Norwegian Polar Institute.
COMNAP Membership is thirty-four country programs, representing almost 100% of the science and science support activity in Antarctica.
Over the next month, we’ll be sharing a look inside the meeting and what real-world cooperation between programs looks like in practice. Follow along if you’re curious about how Antarctica actually works. #COMNAPAGM
Artwork credit: Pablo Ruiz
Does Antarctica Matter to You?
The COMNAP Newsletter - Antarctica Matters, is for anyone who wants to stay connected to Antarctica.
Sign up via the COMNAP website.
comnap.aq/
#Antarcticamatters #Antarctica #COMNAP
COMNAP Early-Career Award 2026 applications are closing soon.
If you are an Early-Career Researcher, interested in Antarctica, don't miss this fantastic opportunity.
Applications close 14 June
comnap.aq/early-career-award
#EarlyCareer #Antarctica
📷Instituto Antártico Chileno
⏳ Less than 2 weeks remain to apply for the COMNAP Early-Career Award!
Supporting an early-career Antarctic professional to join a project team in another country, develop new skills, and build lasting international collaborations.
comnap.aq/early-career-award
Apply by 14 June!
COMNAP is delighted to be participating in the Joint CEP/SC-CAMLR Climate Change and Monitoring workshop, held in Hiroshima, Japan, 8-9 May.
The workshop anticipates ATCM48 and CEP28 starting on 11 May.
#Antarctica #ATCM48 #CEP28 #ClimateChange
The COMNAP Secretariat was delighted to meet with Lauren Herrington, Public Engagement Advisor, U.S. Embassy Wellington, to advance discussions on organising and hosting the Antarctic Summer Science Lecture series, jointly with Gateway Antarctica @GatewayAntarct1
Michelle Rogan-Finnemore was the COMNAP delegate as an invited observer to the Association of Antarctica Tour Operators Annual Meeting @iaato_org, 20-23 April, Annapolis, Maryland, USA.
