EPB Welcomes New Appointed Representatives

The European Polar Board (EPB) announces recent updates to its Member Representatives. Following years of dedicated service as alternate representatives, Mr. Markku Heikkilä (Arctic Centre, University of Lapland) and Dr. Atilla Yılmaz (Polar Research Institute – KARE, TÜBİTAK MAM) have now assumed the role of representatives. EPB warmly thanks the outgoing representatives, Dr. Johanna Ikävalko (Arctic Centre, University of Lapland) and Ms. Burcu Özsoy (Polar Research Institute – KARE, TÜBİTAK MAM), for their valuable service and contributions as representatives to the EPB. EPB is also pleased to welcome Dr. Göksu Uslular as the new Alternate Representative for the Polar Research Institute (KARE) – TÜBİTAK MAM.

 M.Sc. Markku Heikkilä, Representative, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland

M.Sc. Markku Heikkilä works since 2010 as the Head of Science Communications in Finland’s leading Arctic institute, the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland. He studied journalism and international politics at the University of Tampere. As a former journalist in newspaper Kaleva in Oulu, he has keenly followed Arctic co-operation from its early stages, and for this work, he got the State Award for Public Information. He has written several books on these topics, together with articles, columns and essays. His work includes popularising Arctic information for various audiences and participating in Arctic-related policy and stakeholder work. The science communication unit of the Arctic Centre was chosen as the Science Communicator of the year 2025 in Finland. He also leads the international biennial Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit conferences, Finland´s leading Arctic events.

Dr. Atilla Yılmaz, Representative, Polar Research Institute (KARE) - TÜBİTAK MAM   

Dr. Atilla Yılmaz serves as a Principal Chief Researcher at the Polar Research Institute of TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center, specializing in polar environmental sciences with a focus on marine pollution and the assessment of anthropogenic impacts in polar regions. His work centers on the coordination and implementation of environmental legislation for Turkish polar research activities, alongside environmental monitoring studies in Antarctica and the Arctic. He has polar field experience, having served in key operational roles such as Deputy Expedition Leader and Environmental Officer in multiple Turkish Polar Expeditions. Dr. Yılmaz represents Türkiye in international polar governance and scientific fora, serving as a delegate to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCM), the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP), the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), and the European Polar Board, where he has been an alternate representative since 2021.

Dr Göksu Uslular, Alternate Representative, Polar Research Institute (KARE) - TÜBİTAK MAM   

Dr Göksu Uslular holds a PhD in volcanology and serves as a chief researcher at the TÜBİTAK Polar Research Institute (KARE). Before joining the polar research community, he contributed to advancing the understanding of volcanism in the Eastern Mediterranean through studies on volcano-tectonic interactions, igneous petrology, and tephrochronology. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, particularly related to scientific matters at TÜBİTAK KARE, his current research interests extend from remote sensing and drone-based surveying of polar regions to the application of machine learning models in various aspects of earth and physical sciences. He is currently the alternate representative of TÜBİTAK KARE to the IASC and the national representative to the SOOS.