Antarctic research programmes are in limbo as funding repercussions from the United States federal shutdown reach the southernmost continent.
The US National Science Foundation (NSF) announced yesterday that it will recall scientists and staff from Antarctica due to funding lapses resulting from the government shutdown. In a move that could spell the end of this year's Antarctic field season for American researchers, US Antarctic research stations McMurdo, Amundsen-Scott and Palmer will be placed into 'caretaker status', with all but essential maintenance crew to be evacuated and research and field activities suspended. The NSF has warned that even if funding resumes, some activities cannot be restarted once evacuation is complete and seasonal windows for research and operations have passed. The Science Media Centre has rounded up the following reaction from Antarctic experts.
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Peter Barrett, Emeritus Professor, Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington comments:
"The US has now been forced to abandon this year's Antarctic research program on account of the recent funding impasse in Congress. The loss of this season's programs, some planned over many years, is unprecedented and tragic for both the Antarctic community and our understanding of the Antarctic region and its changing environment. "Those of us who have worked in the Antarctic for many years feel deeply for our American colleagues, researchers, students and support staff, whose lives and careers have been either put on hold or derailed by this event. In addition there's the loss of data - ground truth - that only field work can provide. "Almost all Antarctic research today is collaborative, so most national programmes will feel some consequences, but especially those with traditional close links with the US, such as our own. "The Antarctic region may be out of sight for most, but it's a key part of the global climate system. We can only hope that the people and resources the US has wisely committed to its understanding are restored as soon as possible." Dr Charles Lee, Research Fellow, Associate Director - International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, University of Waikato comments: "The International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research (ICTAR) at the University of Waikato currently hosts three Antarctic research projects, facilitated by Antarctica New Zealand. Although there is currently no immediate logistical impact on ICTAR's field expeditions, the disruption of the United States Antarctic Program will have significant and long-lasting impacts on our research. This is due to our close and extensive collaborations with American researchers, including analysis of our samples at the McMurdo Station and deployment of shared instrumentation. "In the medium term, the disruptions will have knock-on effects on future Antarctic seasons, particularly special expeditions to areas beyond the McMurdo Dry Valleys (e.g., Central Transantarctic Mountains) that require multi-year planning and scientific support. These developments highlight the need for politically independent funding sources for scientific research and will hopefully raise the public awareness of such needs." | 
