Polar researcher explains who can join Belarus’ Antarctic expeditions

Aleksei Gaidashov, Deputy Head of the National Center for Polar Research and head of all Belarusian Antarctic expeditions, told the Belarus 1 TV channel whether Belarusian women are taken on Antarctic expeditions, BelTA reports.

“There is no taboo on this, this is not off limits. But for some reason we do not see queues of women at the National Center for Polar Research wanting to sign up for an expedition. The first question I ask potential candidates at an interview is the following: “What is your goal, why are you here?” If the answer is: “I want to visit Antarctica,” I say: “Sorry, we are not a travel agency,” said Aleksei Gaidashov.

A participant in the Belarusian Antarctic expeditions, Aleksandr Kalevich, told the TV channel what is the most difficult thing for him during such expeditions: “When I went there for the first time, I thought I would not pull it off, but I did. The hardest part was being on a ship that took us there. My vestibular system is not very good.”