The Instituto Antarctico Argentino

Abstract

... In view of the number of organizations annually participating in these expeditions, the Argentine Government decided to establish one central organization to be responsible for the scientific work done by Argentina in the Antarctic. In addition, this organization was to be the common repository for information gathered on previous Argentine expeditions, as well as for that of future endeavours. The Instituto Antartico Argentino was therefore established in Buenos Aires. It is a scientific and technical organization whose mission is to study the nature of the antarctic region. From its inception, it has steadily grown to occupy a prominent position in antarctic affairs and become the leading organization influential in all Argentine antarctic problems. By Presidential Order the organization entitled "Instituto Antartico Argentino 'Coronel Hernan Pujato' " was established on 17 April 1951 under the administration of the Minister of Technical Affairs. The name honored Coronel Hernan Pujato, who commanded the first Argentine Army antarctic expedition. He became the Institute's first Director. With the preparations for the International Geophysical Year underway, the Institute's activities expanded and Captain Rodolfo N. Panzarini, now a retired rear admiral, was named Director. He still retains this position and is the main driving force behind the organization (see Fig. 1). At the time of his nomination, the organization officially took the name "Instituto Antartico Argentino" (I.A.A.). The Institute is an in-house polar organization, containing in one building the entire administrative staff, scientists, technicians, laboratories, shops, and equipment storage facilities necessary to carry out scientific investigations in the Antarctic. There is an advantage in keeping under one roof the majority of persons with an active interest in antarctic work so that they can confer easily with one another, exchange data, and have easy access to a polar library. Such a closely knit organization constitutes a potentially powerful voice in antarctic affairs. This voice perhaps is not as great a consideration in the present thinking of other polar organizations as it is with the Argentines, whose interest in Antarctica, and in particular the Palmer Peninsula area, is very strong. ...