Recently, the 31st Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition began its work at Akademik Vernadsky Station. The team has replaced the members of the 30th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition and will spend a year at the station. The position of system administrator is held by Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute graduate Oleksandr Matsibura. This will be his second wintering at the station.
“This year, we marked an anniversary in the history of independent Ukraine’s presence in Antarctica: 30 years since Britain handed over its Antarctic station to us, allowing us to begin writing our own chapter in the history of polar science. But in reality, our work there has a much broader dimension. Geographically, Antarctica is a region where we ‘take the pulse’ of the entire planet; in terms of time, we are continuing some of the longest-running Antarctic observation series, many of which go back far more than 30 years. It is extremely important that, even amid the full-scale war, we are maintaining the continuity of uninterrupted research while also developing new areas of study,” said Yevhen Dykyi, Director of the National Antarctic Scientific Center, as he saw off the expedition team.
We should recall that our newspaper has previously covered the contribution of Kyiv Polytechnic researchers to the work of Akademik Vernadsky Station. In issue No. 43–44 of 2025, we wrote: “Soon, inviting Kyiv Polytechnic graduates to serve as wintering system administrators will become a tradition.” What do you think—does three consecutive years already qualify as a tradition? Once again, the role of “commander, nanny, computer shaman, and keeper of information” at the station has been taken on by an Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute graduate: Oleksandr Matsibura, who graduated from the Faculty of Chemical Technology in 2017.
We met with Oleksandr shortly before his departure. He was tired and busy, but very positive and attentive. We began our conversation about his work, travels, and life today with Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. According to the graduate, the way the educational process was organized at what was then the Department of Cybernetics of Chemical Engineering Processes encouraged senior students to apply the knowledge they had acquired in practice. Thus, in his fifth year, he began working as a cable systems installer for a video surveillance company and later became a connectivity engineer at an internet service provider. After gaining practical experience, he took a position as a system administrator at the O. Dovzhenko Film Studios, and later worked as a network administrator at an internet company. There is no doubt that he learned to work both with his hands and with his head—thoughtfully, systematically, independently, and effectively, whether working alone or as part of a team, generating ideas, putting them into practice, and solving day-to-day challenges. And everyone knows from personal experience just how unpredictable and treacherous the twists and turns of the digital world can be.
“My journey to Antarctica,” Oleksandr recalls, “began back in 2019. I applied for the competitive selection process, but unfortunately, I did not make it through because I objectively lacked sufficient experience. My next attempt, in 2024, was successful, and I joined the team of the 29th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition.” He speaks about his work at the station in a matter-of-fact way: “Working as a communications systems administrator at Akademik Vernadsky Station is an experience that is difficult to compare with anything else. For most of the year, the station and its team are completely isolated from the outside world—roughly seven or eight months. So you can rely only on your own skills and those of your colleagues, as well as your professionalism. In other words, you cannot simply go to a shop or meet other people (he smiles). If you forgot to bring something, you have to accept it or find an alternative solution. Creativity helps enormously. It is also worth mentioning that a system administrator at the station has no days off: you work seven days a week, in addition to taking on a lot of station-wide duties.”
When asked the traditional question, “Why did you apply for another expedition, given that the working conditions are extremely challenging?” his answer was concise: “Antarctica either captivates you or it doesn’t. It captivated me, especially because of its nature.” A minute later, as he reflected on something of his own, he added: “And it is also an opportunity to make my contribution to Ukrainian science.” Indeed, no matter the circumstances, “we have our work to do.”
Oleksandr is also an experienced traveler. He has always been interested in discovering something new—something that others had not done before. “While studying at Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute, I went on my first hiking trip and visited the mountains, which I really loved. Then came a second hike, a third—and I was hooked… First the Carpathians, then Türkiye, Georgia, and many other countries. I believe that my experience of hiking in the mountains taught me how to overcome myself, remain resilient under stress, and maintain emotional balance. These qualities are extremely helpful in my work at Akademik Vernadsky Station and, more generally, in life,” the researcher reflects.
The conversation then returned once again to Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute. “I am grateful to Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute for the experience, knowledge, and friends I gained there. The university helped me understand what I like and what I do not, and determine the direction in which I want to develop. It also taught me how to find the information I need and discover new things,” Oleksandr Matsibura shared. He added: “I would advise students not to be afraid of challenging paths and to develop in all areas. And, of course, try to put the theoretical knowledge you acquire into practice.”
We wish Oleksandr inspiration, productive work, and that he will remain connected with Igor Sikorsky Polytechnic Institute, because young people need moral and professional role models.