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About the Polar Institute
 | Panorama of Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard
Through active participation in national and
international bodies, the Polar Institute is central when it comes to protecting
national interests in matters of research and the environment. Approximately 110
persons are employed at the Institute in Tromsø, Svalbard and Dronning Maud Land.
Long
traditions
The Norwegian Polar Institute has roots
back to 1906 when the first scientific expedition to Svalbard took place. The
Institute is a continuation of Norges Svalbard- og Ishavsundersøkelser (Norway’s
Svalbard and Arctic Ocean Research Survey) which was established in 1928 and had
as its aim the charting of sea and land areas and geological research in the
Arctic. The geographical scope was extended to include Norway’s claims in the
Antarctic in 1948. The area of research was expanded and the name changed
to Norwegian Polar Institute. The Institute is since 1979 a
directorate under the auspices of the
Ministry of the Environment.
Activities at both poles
 | Early investigations at Svalbard
The Institute’s activities are
concentrated on environmental management needs at both poles. Global climate,
long-range transported pollution, the effect of pollutants on the environment,
biodiversity and topographical mapping of the regions are all important tasks,
as is environmental collaboration in the Barents Region. The Institute equips
and organizes expeditions to both poles, owns the research vessel
"Lance" and runs the
Norwegian research stations in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, and Antarctica.
Dissemination of information
The Norwegian Polar Institute
distributes the results of research projects and environmental management
projects to the Norwegian administration and to interested scientists and
managers as well as providing information to the public. Reports, a science
magazine, websites and books are published, of which the "Polar Handbooks"
in particular have obtained a wide readership.
The Institute's library contains
large collecions of scientific and historic polar literature, as well as hunting
and expedition records from as far back as the 16th
century.
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