Southernmost settlements
There are many research stations in Antarctica, both permanent and summer only. Many of the stations are staffed all year. McMurdo Station is the largest with an average population of 1200.
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.