A national Antarctic program is any government operated or supported program which is mandated with managing the support of

scientific research The scientific method is an empirical method for acquiring knowledge that has characterized the development of science since at least the 17th century (with notable practitioners in previous centuries; see the article history of scientific m ...

and contributing to the governance and protection of the Antarctic environment on behalf of its nation and in the spirit of the

Antarctic Treaty russian: link=no, Договор об Антарктике es, link=no, Tratado Antártico , name = Antarctic Treaty System , image = Flag of the Antarctic Treaty.svgborder , image_width = 180px , caption ...

. The Antarctic Treaty, the international agreement that regulates Antarctic activity, has been signed by 54 countries. Of those, 38 have national Antarctic programs. 31 of these programs have a permanent presence in Antarctica and are members of

Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) is the international association, formed in 1988, which brings together the National Antarctic Programs. National Antarctic Programs are those organizations that have responsibility for ...

(COMNAP). Six countries have no permanent presence in Antarctica, but have programs that are observers to COMNAP. Only one country, Pakistan, maintains a national Antarctic program with no affiliation to COMNAP.

List of programs

References

{{Polar exploration Antarctica-related lists Government research Science and technology in Antarctica Antarctic research Research-related lists