Polar Research Institute of China

    Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC) was founded in 1989. The institute coordinates Chinese polar research and makes available to national polar research the important infrastructure, e.g. the research ice breaker “Xuelong” and research stations in the Arctic and Antarctic. It carries out international cooperation and academic exchange activities.

    PRIC is Chinese research center in the field of comprehensive studies of the polar region. The institute is in charge of Key Laboratory of Polar Science of the State Oceanic Administration. Research at the institute focuses on: polar glaciology, polar oceanographic science, polar upper atmospheric physics, polar biological science and polar information platform. The institute has established Polar Snow Ice and Global Change Laboratory, Ionospheric Physics Laboratory, Auroral and Magnetospheric Physics Laboratory, Polar Organism Analytical Laboratory, Microorganism and Molecular Biology Analytical Laboratory, Biochemistry Analytical Laboratory, Polar Microbe Culture Collection and Shipboard Laboratory. National Field Research Stations have been established at Antarctic Great Wall Station and Zhongshan Station, and they are the research bases of Antarctic snow ice and space environment.

    PRIC is the domestic base for Chinese National Arctic/Antarctic Research Expeditions (CHINARE) and is in charge of running and managing the M/V Xuelong, Chinese Antarctic Great Wall Station and Zhongshan Station. It serves the logistic supply for CHINARE.

    PRIC is the polar information center of China. It is responsible for Chinese Polar Science Database, polar information network, National Polar Archives of China, Polar Library, polar sample database, polar science journals, Polar Popular Museum, etc. It provides public services.

    Today, PRIC has 124 staff, 41 of whom are scientists, 26 of whom are logistic staff, 34 of whom are sailors and 23 of whom are managers. The staff is creative and excellent.