With the support of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute APECS Bulgaria organized in Sofia in the last November and December several activities to celebrate for the first time the Antarctica Day.
During the celebration about 200 students were actively involved. Several activities were conducted - lectures in schools, virtual balloon launch, creation of flag designs for Antarctica, interviews in newspapers and radio, photo exhibition etc.
· 20 November - Photo exhibition of Iglika Trifonova entitled “Antarctica – the cold south” in the National Library. Great success with the presence of former Prime Minister Mrs. Reneta Indzhova, former Rector of Sofia University and famous writer prof. Boyan Biolchev, the Director of Bulgarian Antarctic Institute prof. Christo Pimpirev and many guests. The exhibition remains in the National Library till 2 February 2013 and later will tour some of the Bulgarian cultural institutes in Europe.
· 28 November-1 December - Lectures about Antarctic mammals given by the early career scientists Denitsa Apostolova and Iglika Trifonova in schools in 2 Bulgarian towns: Sofia and Svoge. The educators replied questions of children aged between 9 and 11 years and encouraged them to paint flags for "Antarctica Day Flags".
· 12 December – Twenty students from the Eco-Bio Club "Green Clover" of the 1st English School in Sofia made presentations on topics related to the poles. In the official hall of EU Information Centre the children aged between 16 and 18 years old talked about ice melting, penguins, scientific expeditions to the poles, marine world, auroras, polar flora and fauna, polar bears and pinnipeds mammals. Researchers from Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, early career scientists from APECS Bulgaria and students from the same school attended the 90 minutes lectures. It was extraordinary the enthusiasm of students discussing the importance of Polar Regions to conserve the planet and life as we know nowadays.
· Children from several Bulgarian schools took a part with their paintings in the flagship activity "Antarctica Day Flags - From the Classroom to Antarctica.
IIn 2013 APECS Bulgaria continues to follow its long-term educational and outreach program willing to spread its knowledge and polar experiences in Bulgarian schools and Universities around the country.
