With very limited means, and above all a great will on the part of the institutions and personnel involved, much has been achieved. Perhaps not as much as one would like, but we can be proud that many countries in the world ponder it and even a few have imitated it. In some cases by far, given that they handle important funds or also because they are countries with more experience and tradition in maintaining identity. With public collections and associations of friends, funds are raised and projects are carried out from the necessary posters so that the places do not disappear and remain in memory to the archaeological and historical salvage and the recovery of shelters and stations such as the refuge of Scott and Port Lockroy Station (owned by UK Heritage).

These countries, in addition to allocating funds, have officials who favor the activity, perhaps because they received a balanced education in which it is common to attend museums from an early age. So they don't get in the way of these tasks, which is very different from what happens with some local officials who do their best not to allow it regardless of the consequences. Many times they understand as a "reserve" or "protected natural area" not doing anything or allowing others to do it, which makes them true destroyers of cultural heritage and memory, that is, deconstructing identity. It is not understood whether they act arrogantly or are ignorant; it would be regrettable if they were both.

But in this compilation of works we will be able to see how much is done and can be done with very little, but with a lot of will from specialists, officials and institutions. Few people know that Argentina has museums in Antarctica and that Antarctic samples, supported by the Argentine Antarctic Institute and the Naval Museum of the Nation, together with the Argentine Navy, make this memory rescue possible. We must be very grateful to these cultural actors; so will future generations.

Lic. Carlos Pedro Vairo
Dir. Museo Marítimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia
Dir. Museo Antártico Ushuaia José María Sobral