Demographics of Antarctica
Antarctica has few permanent residents, and contains research stations and field camps that are staffed seasonally or year-round, and former whaling settlements. The largest station, McMurdo Station, has a summer population of about 1,000 people and a winter population of about 200. Approximately 29 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, send personnel to perform seasonal (summer) or year-round research on the continent and in its surrounding oceans.
British Antarctic Survey
In 2012 the parent body, NERC, proposed merging the BAS with another NERC institute, National Oceanography Centre in Southampton. This proved controversial, and after the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee opposed the move the plan was dropped.The BAS operates five permanent research stations in the British Antarctic Territory:Of these Research Stations, only Rothera and Halley are usually manned throughout the year. Halley VI was closed for the March 2017 winter after relocation due to safety concerns when a previously inactive crack, "Chasm 1", in the Brunt Ice shelf began to expand in the direction of the base. The base was closed again in March 2018 with similar concerns. The remaining bases are manned only during the Antarctic summer.