Invitation to a press conference:

On September 3, 2007, The Federal Minister of Education and Research, Dr Annette Schavan, will inspect the new Antarctic station Neumayer III, as well as the new research aircraft Polar 5, in Bremerhaven.

Dear Sir or Madam, dear colleagues,

The new German Antarctic station Neumayer III is currently under construction in Bremerhaven. It is scheduled to replace the present station in 2009. Neumayer III has been designed and will be constructed by the two Bremerhaven companies JH Kramer and Kaefer Isoliertechnik (Kaefer Technology) by order of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research. In order to assure subsequent trouble-free assembly on the ice, a large section of the building will be test-constructed in Bremerhaven. The Federal Minister of Education and Research, Dr Annette Schavan, will use this opportunity and view the station before the construction components will be shipped to the Antarctic at the end of the year.

In contrast to previous stations, Neumayer III uses a system of hydraulic stilts to remain permanently above the snow surface. This way, the station provides ideal conditions for life and work in the Antarctic, as well as a significantly extended life span of up to 30 years.

In addition, the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research will commission the new research aircraft Polar 5. The aircraft of type Basler BT67 was designed specifically to meet the demands of polar research, and will take up operations in October. With a range of 2900 kilometres, Polar 5 exceeds the scope of previous models considerably. Scientific instruments aboard will enable measurements of ice thickness, surface topography and atmospheric parameters. Furthermore, Polar 5 will be used for transport of personnel and supply of expedition camps.

Polar 5 and Neumayer III will enrich the contingent of large-scale research facilities owned by the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres.

The Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, are inviting you to a press conference on:

Monday, September 3, 2007 at 14:30h
on the JH Kramer company premises
Labradorstr. 5, 27572 Bremerhaven

Participants of the press conference include:

The Federal Minister of Education and Research, Dr Annette Schavan
Prof J