Independent: A controversial plan to merge two of the UK’s most distinguished scientific institutions, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), may be abandoned following a public outcry. The cost-cutting measure was strongly criticized by UK and international scientists who fear that the organization’s scientific work would be undermined. Since 1962 the BAS has been the UK’s operation in Antarctica, and its scientists discovered the hole in the ozone layer in the mid 1980s. An official decision about the merger is expected on Thursday.