1998 International Year of the Ocean
Activities & Events - Conferences
Conference Information

1898-1998 "BELGICA" Centennial Symposium

14-16 May 1998, Brussels, Belgium

The Symposium will bring together historians and natural scientists to discuss, during the first two days, the role of the "Belgica" expedition in the geographical discovery and Antarctic science at the end of the 19^th century. More than 30 contributions are expected to address topics such as the historical context in Belgium, the role of the learned societies or the geographical congresses, the remarkable "Men" of the "Belgica" (De Gerlache, Amundsen, Cook, Arctowski, Dobrowolski, Racovitza, Lecointe,...), the scientific achievements and geographical discoveries, and the impact of this expedition with respect to Belgian involvement in Antarctica.

Due to the international character of this first Belgian expedition, an international forum is expected with contributions from Norway, Poland, Romania, and the USA - countries which had representatives in the "Belgica" expedition - as well as from, i. a., France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain and the UK.

The last day of the Symposium will be devoted to present Antarctic research. A number of invited speakers (both national and international) will highlight the most current international developments in some selected research areas with emphasis on related achievements of the Belgian Antarctic Research Programme.

A Scientific Committee will review the proposed contributions and the accepted papers (oral and posters) will be published in a Symposium Proceedings Volume in English to ensure a broad international distribution. During the symposium an exhibition will be held on the "Belgica" expedition, while posters will also display the scientific work carried out by the different teams involved in or related to the Belgian Antarctic Research Programme.

Patronages and Sponsors

The "Belgica" Centennial Symposium is held under the patronage of:

• The Royal Academies of Belgium
• The Royal Academy of Overseas Sciences
• The Royal Marine Academy of Belgium
• The Belgian Navy
• The Belgian Royal Institute of Natural Sciences
• The Royal Georges Lecointe Society
• The "Société Royale Belge de Géographie"
• The City of Antwerp

The Symposium will be sponsored by:

• Solvay
• Compagnie Maritime Beige
• Euroculture
• The Royal Academies of Belgium

Scientific Committee

Prof. Hugo Decleir, Chairman, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Prof. André Berger, Université Catholique de Louvain

Dr. Claude De Broyer, Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique

Prof. Christian Koninckx, President, Royal Marine Academy

Prof. Walter Loy, President, Royal Academy of Overseas Sciences

Prof. Henri Nicolai, President, Société Royale Belge de Geographie

Prof. Roland Souchez, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Prof. Tony Van Autenboer, Limburgs Universiteit Centrum

Prof. Magda Vincx, Universiteit Gent

Scope

The "Belgica" Centennial Symposium will be organized in two sessions:

Session 1: May 14 - 15 (Thu - Fri), 1998

The "Belgica" Antarctic expedition in the age of geographical discovery

This part of the Symposium, for which potential contributors are asked to submit papers (in English, French or Dutch), will focus on geographical discovery and the awakening of Antarctic science at the end of the 19^th century and the role of the "Belgica" expedition herein.

Expected original contributions (20 minutes oral presentations, or posters) might include items such as:

* Historical background:

• the socio-economical and political context at the end of the 19^th century
• the geographical and polar exploration at the end of the 19^th century
• King Leopold II and geographical exploration
• the role of marine forces, learned societies and geographical congresses

* The history and organization of the "Belgica" expedition:

• e.g. history of the preparation, of the ship,
• technical or financial aspects of the preparation,...

* The members of the "Belgica" expedition:

• Amundsen, Arctowski, Cook, Danco, de Gerlache. Dobrowolski, Lecointe, Racovitza, Van Mierlo.

* Scientific achievements:

• Antarctic science at the end of the 19^th century
• changing views on geographical knowledge.
• changing views on Antarctic science.

* Impact of the "Belgica" expedition

• the 1957-1961 Belgian Antarctic Expeditions
• the 1964-1967 Belgian-Dutch Antarctic Expeditions
• 1968-1970 Belgian-South African Antarctic activities
• Belgium and the Antarctic Treaty

Session 2: May 16 (Sat), 1998

Belgium and Antarctic research at the end of 20th century

A few invited speakers (both national and international) will focus on present-day Antarctic research within the fields of Global Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development. A poster session will allow presentation of the scientific work carried out by the different teams involved in or related to the Belgian Antarctic Research Programme.

Poster contributions are expected from:

- all Belgian teams involved in Antarctic research

- international or national Antarctic research teams cooperating with Belgian teams

- other research teams or individuals conducting Antarctic research projects in the framework of SCAR research progammes

The "Belgica Centennial Symposium" will end on the same day with an Academic session during which the "Belgica" Medal will be awarded.

Practical Information

Registration - Participants who have already sent the pre-registration form included in the first circular are kindly requested to confirm their participation by filling in the final registration form and to send, if applicable, the abstract of their communication.

Registration fees -

- Full participant: 2000 BEF (approximately 60 USD) if payment before 1 February 1998 and 2.500 BEF after 1 February.

- Students (and veterans from Exantar Expeditions): 750 BEF before 1 February and 1000 BEF after 1 February 1998.

The registration fee comprises: Symposium documentation, Saturday lunch, coffee and tea, and social activities. The Symposium Proceedings Volume, when published, will be made available to participants at a reduced price.

- How to pay ?: by Eurocheques in Belgian Francs to CNBRA - BNCAO (please do not forget to indicate your bank card number), enclosed with the registration form, or by credit cards (Visa, American Express)

Venue - The Symposium will be held in the historical buildings of the "Palais des Académies" in the center of Brussels.

Social Activities - Apart from the reception which closes the academic session and the symposium, an "ice breaker party" will be held on the first day evening and a social activity on the night of the second day.

Accommodation - The Symposium secretariat will take care of the accommodation of the foreign participants. Participants who wish to make hotel reservation are requested to fill in the appropriate form

Languages - The first session on Thursday and Friday and the Academic session on Saturday afternoon will be held in English, French and Dutch. English is recommended. The second session, on Saturday morning, will be held in English. Simultaneous translation will be available. Poster contributions and manuscripts for the Proceedings can be submitted in the three symposium languages, but preferably in English.

Deadlines

15 November 1997 - Offer for Contribution and abstract submission,

registration for contributors

1^st February 1998 - Registration, fee payment, accommodation reservation

30 March 1998 - Late registration and fee payment (without accommodation request)

March/April 1998 - Final circular

Address for enquiries

Conveners:

Prof. H. Decleir, Geografisch Instituut, Vrije

Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B - 1050 Brussel, Belgium

Tel: (32 2) 629 33 83; Fax: (32 2) 629 33 78; E-mail: hdecleir@vub.ac.be

 

Dr. Cl. De Broyer, Institut royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique,

Rue Vautier 29, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Tel: (32 2) 627 41 27; Fax (32 2) 627 42 77; E-mail: debroyer@kbinirsnb.be

 

Up to date information will be available at the following web sites:

http://www.vub.ac.be/DGGF/announce/belgica.html

http://www.belspo.be/antar/

 

The "Belgica" Expedition

On 16 August 1897, captain Adrien de Gerlache left Antwerp for the Antarctic on a robust three-master which he named "Belgica". Several years of perseverance were needed to fund and organize his expedition.

The "Belgica" was originally a Norwegian whaling boat, the "Patria" built in 1884. She was reinforced and converted into a scientific ship for the needs of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897-1899. She was 34 meters long and 7,5 meters wide; her displacement was 338 m³ and she was equipped with an auxiliary steam engine of 35 horse power.

The crew included 9 Belgians (among which for the staff: Adrien de Gerlache, captain, Georges Lecointe, first mate, Emile Danco, in charge of geophysics, Jules Melaerts, third officer), 6 Norwegians (among which Roald Amundsen, as second officer), 2 Poles (Henryk Arctowski, geologist, oceanologist and meteorologist, and Antoine Dobrowolski, assistant meteorologist), 1 Romanian (the naturalist Emile Racovitza) and 1 American (the surgeon-anthropologist Dr Frederick Cook).

Besides this innovative multinational composition, the "Belgica" expedition was the first Antarctic expedition of a purely scientific nature and it was also the first to overwinter in the austral polar night, achieving in this way a complete annual cycle of observations.

The French explorer Charcot didn’t hesitate to say: "The South Pole was conquered because de Gerlache, the first, dared to face an Antarctic wintering" .

Upon leaving "Tierra del Fuego" on 14 January 1898, the "Belgica" was, from that moment, completely isolated from the world. BetweenJanuary 23^rd and February 12^th , new territories were discovered among which a 170 kilometres long strait west of Graham Land, which was charted in detail and later called "Gerlache Strait". Twenty landings where made on lands and islands around the strait. They bear today the names of Danco Land, Brabant Island, Liege Island, Antwerp Island, Mount Solvay, Mount Osterrieth, Cape Errera, etc...

Entering then the Pacific Ocean, the "Belgica" sailed along the pack ice to enter resolutely on 28 February 1898 in the ice fields to gain a high southern latitude. The season being advanced, the pack ice closed on 10 March 1898. For twelve months, the icebound ship was threatened to be destroyed several times and drifted over 3200 kilometres. It was only after great efforts, by sawing a channel towards the open water, that the "Belgica" was released from the ice on 14 March 1899.

The expedition lost two men who would never return home: the sailor August Wiencke and lieutenant Emile Danco. The Belgian Antarctic Expedition 1897-1899 returned with an important scientific harvest: bathymetrical and hydrological soundings, numerous botanical and zoological samples, a large amount of oceanographical, meteorological, geomagnetical, glaciological and geological observations which resulted in a great number of renowned scientific publications, evidence of its success. Coming back in Antwerp on 5 November 1899, the "Belgica" was received in triumph."

The "Belgica" Celebration

The years 1997, 1998 and 1999 will be the years of the centennial of this memorable expedition. In addition to the "Belgica" Centennial Symposium, several other commemorative activities are being organized a.o. a commemorative visit of the Polish Navy ship "Arctowski" to Antwerp, a six- months general public exhibition on "The Last Continent" in the "Cinquantenaire" museums c.omplex in Brussels, a two - months exhibition on Polar Navigation in the "Abbaye de Dieleghem", Jette, Brussels, a new permanent exhibition in the Museum of Natural History, several publications and TV films and a special commemorative stamp issue. In addition, the USA, Poland and Romania will organize Symposia dedicated to the "Belgica" Centennial.