Czech Arctic Research Station

The Czech Arctic Research Station operates across three locations: Julius Payer House in town, Field Station Nostoc near the abandoned settlement of Pyramiden, and research vessel RV Clione. Each component supports different types of scientific work spread across the archipelago.

Czech researchers started working in Spitzbergen during the 1980s, initially focusing on areas around Barentsburg and Pyramiden. This small beginning developed into a permanent research presence with organized facilities and year-round operations.

The station represents a meeting point for scientists from different countries working together on Arctic research projects. This international cooperation shows how polar exploration requires shared knowledge and resources across borders.

Access to the station requires flying from Oslo to Longyearbyen, with boat transport available to Field Station Nostoc near Pyramiden. The remote Arctic location and extreme seasonal changes mean visiting conditions vary significantly throughout the year.

The station operates laboratories year-round in extreme Arctic conditions, running studies in glaciology, meteorology, biology, and geology that would be impossible in milder climates. This continuous work in such a harsh environment produces research findings that are simply not obtainable elsewhere.