Today is officially begun the winter season near the Italian-French Concordia Station, where a group of 13 people will remain in complete isolation up to next November.
The group is composed by French participants: Erick BONDOUX (astronomer), Laurent BONNARDOT (medicine and human Biology), Zalpha CHALLITA (astronomer), Sébastien DENAMUR (garage mechanic), Laurent FROMONT (electrotechnician), Patrick LE ROY (technical manager), Jean François VANACKER (Expedition Leader and telecommunications-computer science); Italian participants: Giorgio DEIDDA (chef), Daniele FROSINI (glaciology), Fabrizio MARTINET (hydraulic and thermodynamic technical), Roberto RAINIS (doctor), Lucia SABBATINI (astronomer), Riccardo SCHIOPPO (astrophysicist).

After 283 days of total isolation the third winter experience of the 14 people, among logistics and scientists, who spent the southern winter in Concordia Station, is concluded. The first group of four people arrived by Twin Otter from Mario Zucchelli Station at 12 o'clock.

2^nd Antarctic Meteorological Observation, Modeling, and Forecasting Workshop
26-28 June 2007, Rome (Italy)

In collaboration with PRNA and the Italian Air Force (IAF) Meteorological Service, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the Antarctic Meteorological Research Center (AMRC) of the University of Wisconsin, and the Byrd Polar Research Center of The Ohio State University cordially invite you to participate in the 2nd Antarctic Meteorological Observation, Modeling, and Forecasting (AMOMF) Workshop. This is graciously being hosted by PRNA and the IAF and will be held in Rome, Italy on 26-28 June 2007. This year the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is providing an opportunity for travel funding for U.S. grad students and early career scientists. This opportunity is described below. Details on workshop topics, logistics, and registration may be found at http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/events/antarctic07/index.php

February 1^st, 2007 - Third winter in Antarctica for the Italian-French CONCORDIA Station

Today is officially begun the winter season near the Italian-French Concordia Station, where a group of 14 people will remain in complete isolation up to next November.
The group is composed by French participants: C. Choley (Engines mechanic), B. Cuisset (Technical Manager), F. Jeanneaux (AstroConcordia), N. Le Parc (Responsible for electrical installations), Y. Levy (Medicine and Human Biology), C. Marsal (Chef), D. Mekarnia (AstroConcordia), J. P. Pillisio; Italian participants: A. Briguglio Runa (Astronomy), M. Busetto (Physics of the atmosphere), A. Jacomino (Glaciology), F. Miliacca (Telecommunications-Computer science), G. Soriani (Doctor) and Pietro Di Felice has been designated Expedition Leader of the next winter season.

Photo by A. Briguglio Runa

The first group of six people arrived by Twin Otter from Mario Zucchelli Station.

April 26^th-28^th, 2006 - Workshop Concordia

Science at Concordia: outstanding issues, current activities and future perspectives.
The overwintering at Concordia allows for new science possibilities. In some cases (e.g. atmospheric measurements) some routine measurements are of interest for people working in different fields, and conversely measurements made to characterize the site for astronomy may be of relevance to atmospheric physicists. In order to optimize the resources and maximize the scientific results a good planning of routine measurements, research activities and co-operation between different research groups is needed.

Today the Summer Campaign ends and the second winter Campaign in the Concordia Station, on the Antarctic plateau, starts. The Italian-French winter group is: Minh-Ly PHAM-MINH - Medical and Station Base Leader Lucia Agnoletto - Polar science Eric Aristidi - Astronomy Omar Cerri - Glaciology Eliseo D'Eramo - Mechanics Shaun Deshommes - Technical manager José Dos Santos - Electrician Michele Impara - Informatics & Telecommunication officer Loic Le Bechec - Cook Miguel Ravoux - Technical hydraulics and thermodynamics

Photo by Eric Aristidi, Universitè de Nice

After 269 days and 12 hours of total isolation the first winter experience of the 13 people, among logistics and scientists, who spent the southern winter in Concordia Station, is concluded. The first group of six people (4 logistics and 2 scientists) arrived by Twin Otter from Mario Zucchelli Station. The two scientists are the psycologists who interview the winterover personnel. During the next days they will be reached by other researchers and technicians to pursue the objectives foreseen in the next summer Campagne 2005-06 that are the finishing in the Concordia Station assembly and the execution of Concordia scientific programmes:

• ASTROPHYSICS: IRAIT, Polarization CBS, Super DARN (in French), Micrometeorites, Astronomy (in French), COCHISE
• ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE: RMO, PBL, BSRN (Baseline Surface Radiation Network), Quantification of Tropospheric Aerosol, Vapepol (in French)
• GLACIOLOGY: GLACIOCLIM-ANTAR
• GEOPHYSICS: Magnetic&Seismology observatory (in French), Magnemetric test (in French)
• BIOMEDICINE: Psycosocial adjustment