Symposium "Antarctica - Environmental Changes and Human Adaptation"

Published on 15 November 2024

On November 28, 2024 (Thursday) at 9:30 AM, the symposium "One Environment - One Health: The Specific Conditions of Antarctica – Environmental Changes and Human Adaptation" will be held at the Boardroom of the National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski".

The forum is organized jointly by the National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski" and the National Center for Polar Research at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".

The symposium is dedicated to December 1 - Antarctica Day. On this day, 65 years ago, the international Antarctic Treaty was signed, officially regulating that the icy continent is an international space, which should only be used for peaceful purposes and scientific research that helps nature and its harmony with people.

The aim of the symposium is to present a new direction in Bulgarian Antarctic science, namely the research on human health and adaptation in the conditions of Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions. These studies are based on the innovative concept of holistic medicine "One Health".

The symposium will present research and scientific achievements of scientists studying environmental changes in Antarctica and the effects of the specific conditions of Antarctica on various aspects of the participants' health in Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions. First results from the project "Changes in Functional Capacity, Hematological and Antioxidant Status of Participants in the Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition", funded by NSA (project CRAS/10/15.02.2024), will also be presented, in line with the Framework Agreement for Scientific Cooperation between the National Sports Academy "Vasil Levski" and the National Center for Polar Research at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".


Program

09:30 - 9:45

Opening: On the long-standing cooperation and the agreement between NSA and the NCPR-SU.

Official persons: Rector

9:45 - 10:00

Introductory Speech: December 1 - Antarctica Day and 65 years since the signing of the Antarctic Treaty - a consensus for peaceful joint international practical and scientific activity.

Prof. Albena Alexandrova (NSA)

10:00 - 10:15

Report: Logistic conditions of the Bulgarian expeditions on Livingstone Island: past and present.

Dragomir Mateev (NCPR)

Plenary Session I

A Specific Environment and Its Impacts - Antarctica and Livingstone

10:15 - 10:30

Report: Where is Antarctica and What is Antarctica?

Prof. Neshcho Chipev

10:30 - 10:45

Report: Origin of the tephroid layers among the Perunika Glacier and their effect on its dynamics.

Assoc. Prof. Stefan Velev (GGF, SU)

10:45 - 11:00

Report: Studies on marine biota in Antarctica: experience from two voyages with the Bulgarian research vessel in the Southern Ocean.

Assoc. Prof. Lyubomir Kenderov (BF, SU)

11:00 - 11:15

Report: Characteristic features and measurements from the main ridge of Tangra Mountain, Livingstone Island, Antarctica.

Assoc. Prof. Doichin Boyanov (NSA)

11:15 - 11:30

Report: An expedition to Antarctica – Nutrition and Health.

Dr. Valentin Andreev

11:30 - 12:00

Coffee Break

Plenary Session II

One Health - How Humans Adapt to Antarctic Conditions

12:00 - 12:15

Report: Psychological issues of isolation - stress factors and coping strategies for participants in Antarctic expeditions and the crew of the research vessel.

Prof. Tatyana Yancheva (NSA)

12:15 - 12:30

Report: Immunological changes and cough threshold under conditions of scarce antigenic irritation in the Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingstone Island.

Prof. Todor Popov

12:30 - 12:45

Report: Health risks and biological age of participants in the 32nd Bulgarian Polar Expedition.

Prof. Albena Alexandrova (NSA)

12:45 - 13:00

Report: Skin in Antarctica - Photoprotection and Prevention.

Corresponding Member Prof. Nikolai Tsankov

13:00 - 13:30

Report: Environment, Genes, Epigenetics.

Prof. Georgi Miloshev (IMB, BAS)

13:30 - 13:45

Report: Changes in Oxidative Status of Participants in the 32nd Bulgarian Polar Expedition.

Mag. Georgi Pramatarov

13:45 - 14:00

Questions and Discussion

14:00

Closing Remarks: The Way Forward

Prof. Albena Alexandrova (NSA)

14:15 - 15:00

Conversations, Memories, and Ideas for Future Projects over a Glass of Wine.