COMNAP Awards

Scientist and former COMNAP MNAP, United States of America, from 2011 to 2021, and COMNAP Chair from 2018 to 2021. Professor Antonio Quesada (MNAP Spain and COMNAP Chair 2021–2025) made the Award to Kelly in recognition of her oustanding contribution to COMNAP. “Kelly was instrumental in leading COMNAP during the global COVID-19 pandemic. She established the COVID-19 ad hoc Steering Committee which was key to ensuring that, as an organization, COMNAP understood the global situation at that time and was in a position to navigate the situation to ensure safety of human life for all those in Antarctica.”

Scientist & COMNAP MNAP, for the Bulgarian Antarctic Program, from 1993 to present, and COMNAP Vice Chair from 2006 to 2009. Professor Antonio Quesada (MNAP Spain and COMNAP Chair 2021–2025) made the Award to Christo in recognition of his oustanding contribution to COMNAP as “Delegate to thirty-one COMNAP AGMs, from 1994 to present, COMNAP Vice Chair from 2006 to 2009, and Christo led the COMNAP delegation to the ACTM XXX / CEP XX Meetings, 2007, New Delhi, India. Christo was a member of COMNAP TANGO. In 2019, Christo was the host of COMNAP AGM XXXI, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.”

Scientist, Specialist on logistics & research platforms, COMNAP MNAP, for the Alfred Wegener Institute from 2016 to present, and COMNAP Vice Chair from 2006 to 2009. Professor Antonio Quesada (MNAP Spain and COMNAP Chair 2021–2025) made the Award to Uwe in recognition of his oustanding contribution to COMNAP as “Delegate to twenty-one COMNAP AGMs, from 2004 to present, convenor of the COMNAP Symposium 18 “Facilitation of Internationally Collaborative Antarctic Science”, member of the COMNAP Symposium 2008 Review Committee, and the current Chair of the Dronning Maud Land Regional Break-out Group. Uwe was the host of COMNAP AGM XXX (2018) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and led the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of COMNAP.”

Former MNAP Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE), with a 27-year history of service as Head of RAE from 1991 to 2018, Deputy Director of AARI from 2002 to 2018. Deputy Head of the ATCM Russian delegation to nine meetings. Dr Kelly K. Falkner (MNAP USAP & COMNAP Chair 2017–2021) made the Award to Valery in recognition of his outstanding contributions as “… COMNAP Electronic Information Working Group Member (ELINF), 1998–1999, served from 2004 to 2008 on the COMNAP IPY Co-ordinating Group (IPYCG), Project Leader for the Antarctic Glossary, 2009–2013. Participated in twenty-four COMNAP AGMs, from 1993 to 2017, hosted in St. Petersburg the COMNAP AGM 2008 which was the 20th anniversary of COMNAP.”

Former MNAP, Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), with a 27-year history of service within the AWI as an academic, geophysicist, researcher, section head, manager, Chair of the Scientific Council, Deputy Director, and as Chair of the Scientific Technical Council of Polarstern II. The Award was made to Heinz by Dr Kelly K. Falkner (MNAP USAP & COMNAP Chair 2017–2021) in recognition of his outstanding contributions as “Delegate to nineteen COMNAP AGMs, from 1998 to 2018, Leader EPICA, COMNAP Chair (2011–2014), Chair of the COMNAP Environmental Coordinating Group (ECG) (1999–2002), Chair of the Steering Committee for the Antarctic Master Directory (SCAMD) (2005–2006), and the inaugural Leader of the COMNAP Science Expert Group (2009–2011).”

Former DMNAP, France’s IPEV, with a 37-year career in Polar international co-operation. Also recipient of the French Chevalier de l'Ordre du Mérite National (1997) and the Cristal du CNRS (1999), for his repeated successes in the field of heavy land crossings on snow/ice, and in the construction of buildings in extreme environments. The COMNAP Award 2017 was made to Patrice by COMNAP Chair Professor Kazuyuki Shiraishi (NIPR MNAP & COMNAP Chair 2014–2017) for “…contributions to COMNAP related to energy, engineering and technology especially through the Standing Committee for Antarctic Logistics and Operations (SCALOP), and, in particular, contribution of expertise related to the development of logistics traverse capabilities.”

Former MNAP, South African National Antarctic Program (SANAP), with a 35-year history of service within SANAP as an academic, researcher, administrator and manager and a delegate on the South African ATCM delegation for ten years. The COMNAP Award 2017 was made to Henry by COMNAP Chair Professor Kazuyuki Shiraishi (NIPR MNAP & COMNAP Chair 2014–2017) in recognition of his outstanding contributions as “COMNAP Annual General Meeting delegate 1997, 2001–2013, COMNAP MNAP Representative on the Executive Committee 2004–2007, Member COMNAP IPY Co-ordination Group 2004–2008, Host of the COMNAP Icebreaker Workshop, SA Agulhas II, Capetown, South Africa 2013.”