Willem Barentsz Polar Institute

The Willem Barentsz Polar Institute wants to join institutes that actively participate in Dutch polar research in the polar areas. WBPI is an institute of researchers specially for researchers. The research in polar areas are overwhelmed by a wide interest from politics, policy, research, education and general public. The Netherlands take actively part in research in Polar areas for years. However the Dutch polar research is strongly fragmented in bodies and groups, while it requires funding and a critical mass of staff and logistics that far surpasse the level of an average research group. Continuity and a time horizon of funding that surpasses the length of individual research projects is therefore of avail to polar research. Besides that there is an international need of a clear identity and contact point of Dutch research in polar areas. Therefore it was decided to establish the Willem Barentsz Polar Institute. This joint venture wants to give a positive boost to new initiatives from the Netherlands in the polar areas. See also: L. Hacquebord (director) (Expert)