30 March 2026
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) leads critical scientific research in Antarctica, one of the most remote and scientifically valuable regions on Earth. From atmosphere to marine ecosystems, the scientific research generated in Antarctica is vital to understanding and addressing global issues—including climate system and change, ecosystem protection, conservation and management and avoiding or mitigating impacts from past, present and future human activities.
AAD’s connection to the Australian Access Federation (AAF) makes it simple for researchers to share and access the tools, data, and collaboration networks required for this vital research.
The Australian Antarctic Division’s connection to Federation
AAD is part of the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and leads Australia’s Antarctic Program, supporting research into climate systems, ecosystems, glaciology, and more.
The AAD operates three permanent research stations on the Antarctic continent—Casey, Davis, and Mawson—as well as Macquarie Island in the sub-Antarctic. These stations serve as vital hubs for year-round scientific research and international collaboration.
Research is conducted the following key areas:
- Climate system and change
- Biodiversity
- Human Impacts
All of which are enabled by monitoring of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and data and technical innovation.
Antarctic scientific research is inherently collaborative, requiring data, resources and tasks to be shared across organisations. Such projects often involve universities, government agencies, and international partners, bringing together researchers from across Australia and the world.
This is why the Australian Antarctic Division has been connected to the Australian Access Federation since 2013. As more researchers engage with Antarctic science, the AAF supports growth and sharing without compromising on trust or usability, supporting and enabling collaboration at every level.
AAF: Providing Trust and Identity capability to enable Antarctic research
The AAF operates Australia’s national trust and identity federation, providing seamless access to research organisations. This capability is essential for researchers collaborating with the AAD, whose operations span multiple research stations, laboratories, and data systems.
It ensures scientists working with the AAD and its partners can access shared research tools, data repositories, and collaboration platforms with a single login. Wherever a researcher is located, AAF ensures they can share their data easily and connect to the resources they need—from laboratory facilities in Antarctica to AAD’s state-of-the-art labs in Kingston, Tasmania—quickly and securely.
AAF’s CEO, Heath Marks, states, “Our mission is to make trusted access to research infrastructure as seamless as possible. For Antarctic science, that means enabling researchers to share their data, no matter where they’re conducting their valuable research. We’re proud to be able to support such exciting, vital work in this unique and scientifically valuable region.”
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