The Indian H’ble Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Prithviraj Chavan, and Norwegian minister of Research and Higher Education Tora Aasland visited Ny-Ålesund on Sunday 06th of June.

They were briefed by Kings Bay AS on the role of Ny-Ålesund as a Research arena. In conjunction with this, the delegations visited the Marine Laboratory to which H’ble Minister Chavan donated a PCR machine, which uses thermal cycling to amplify segments of DNA for use in molecular biology.

The Indian station Himadri, Alfred Wegener Institut, Institut Paul Émile Victor and the Norwegian Mapping Authority gave very informative presentations about their ongoing projects. The ministers also visited the Zeppelin Station by cable car, and this made their stay perfect both in a professional and social way. This visit indicates that India has long term plans with their research programs in Ny-Ålesund.