The Czech Republic is one of the Countries which has historically carried out significant scientific research in Antarctica, enjoyed an international recognition, and since 2006 has had its own research polar station. 
The Research Station Johann Gregor Mendel has been built between 2004 and 2006 at 63°48’16” South, 57°53’08” West on the remote James Ross Island in Antarctica, by the Masaryk University in the years 2005–2006, to serve as a base for the Antarctic research of the Faculty of Science, as well as other national and international academic institutions. The plans for setting up a Czech base in the Antarctic go back to the 1990s, when the necessary legal, logistical and later constructional preparations began. The station was completed on 4 March 2006 and it was commissioned during the following research season on 22 February 2007. It was given the name Mendel Polar Station after Johann Gregor Mendel, whose 200th anniversary of birth is commemorated worldwide this year.
On Jan 2025, a total of twenty-two members, seven women and fifteen men, are participating in the actual Masaryk University expedition to Antarctica. The bulk of the expedition, consisting of fourteen people, did set off on New Year’s Eve. This main group will depart from Vienna Airport for Argentina, from where they will be transferred by a special vehicle of the Argentine Air Force via Marambio Base (WAP ARG-21) on Seymour Island to the station on James Ross Island. This part of the expedition, led by Peter Vácz from the Institute of Geography and the Institute of Experimental Biology of the Faculty of Science of the Masaryk University, consists of scientists of Israeli, Italian and Slovak nationality, among others, not only from Masaryk University, but also from the Czech Technical University in Prague, as well as a doctor and three technicians who ensure the functioning of the infrastructure of this unique, southernmost Czech university workplace.
The second part of the expedition, consisting of eight members, who will then set off on Saturday, January 11, 2025 via Chile to the CZ-ECO Nelson Base on Nelson Island (WAP CZE-Ø1)
TNX and credit to: https://www.em.muni.cz/udalosti/17804-do-antarktidy-opet-miri-dva-tymy-z-masarykovy-univerzity
While CZ-Eco Nelson Base (WAP CZE-Ø1) has been activated in 2004 by OLØANT and from R1ANF/p on 2006, Johann Gregor Mendel i
s a brand “New One”, never activated on HF by Radioamateurs so far.
.
The Worldwide Antarctic Chasers of the Ham Radio community is still hopeful that one day or another some Czech operators can put this rare Base up on the air!
.
WAP … where else, to get connected with Antarctica?