The University of Oviedo hosted this morning the presentation of the 28th Antarctic Campaign of the Army. The Rector, Vicente Gotor, presided over the act that took place at the Main Hall of the Historical Building accompanied by the Chief General of the Division of Operations of the Army, Brigade General Fernando García González-Valerio. The Manager of the National Program of Polar Research, Antonio Quesada del Corral of the Autonomous University of Madrid and the chief of the Spanish Antarctic Base of the Army "Gabriel de Castilla", Commander José Pablo Sánchez Lacalle will showcase the work that will be conducted during this edition. The act also featured the Delegate of the Government in Asturias, Gabino de Lorenzo, and the General Director of Universities of the Principality, Miriam Cueto.

The Antarctic Campaign of the Army of this year is noteworthy due to the participation of scientists from 12 countries that will collaborate with 15 project, among them the so-called "Pegasus", which will study the interaction between marine organisms and the atmosphere in the formation of clouds.

The Director of the scientific project of the campaign, Antonio Quesada, explained the different marine and land projects that will be developed during the 28th mission in Antarctic territory, whose scientific labor will span more than 100 days. During the campaign, which has the collaboration of the oceanographic research ship Hespérides, will participate 160 people that will be located at the two Spanish bases in Antarctica, "Gabriel de Castilla", in Deception Island, and "Juan Carlos I", in Livingston Island.

In turn, the Chief of the 28th Antarctic Campaign of the Army, Commander José Pablo Sánchez Lacalle, highlighted that the presence of the Army at the South Pole is due to the goal of maintaining a physical presence at Antarctica, maintaining the premises in good shape for employment to facilitate research; collaborate with the Ministry of Economics in scientific research and answer the specific needs of the Army in the frozen continent related to telecommunications and healthcare.

The University of Oviedo has conducted research in different fields related to Antarctica as part of the research promoted by the Cluster of Energy, the Environment and Climate Change of the Campus of International Excellence.