Schools on Board is an outreach program of ArcticNet that focuses on Arctic marine science and research. The program is based out of the Faculty of Environment at the University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Canada). It was developed to bridge Arctic research with science education in high schools across Canada; to increase awareness of issues related to climate change in Canada, and to excite young Canadians about the challenges and career opportunities of Arctic research. The main thrust of the program is the Field Program ³on board² the CCGS Amundsen. Schools are given the unique opportunity to send students and teachers to the Arctic, on board the CCGS Amundsen to participate in an educational experience completely integrated into the research activities of the ArcticNet science team.

During IPY, the Schools on Board program offered 2 international field programs with the participation of schools from UK, USA, China, Spain, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Canada. A third program called the Circumpolar Inuit Field Program involved Inuit youth from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut and Nunavik in Canada, as well as Alaska, Greenland and Russia. All field programs were planned in conjunction with the IPY-CFL system study in the Western Canadian High Arctic (http://www.ipy-cfl.ca). Please visit the Expedition Logbook.

Future IPY initiatives and opportunities for students and teachers include:

1. Arctic Climate Change Youth Forum - Quebec City, December 6, 2008. Co-hosted with Le Petit Seminaire de Quebec, and involving the participation of scientists attending the international Arctic Changes 2008 conference . Focus of the forum is the science of Arctic climate change research, the role of science in policy making, and the role of citizens in the adaptation and mitigation of climate change.

2. Next field program available to Canadian high school students and teachers will be in conjunction with the 2009 ArcticNet science expedition - fall of 2009 - accepting applications from Schools in winter of 2009. Interested teachers and students should register their school on the SonB network to receive more information and the 'Call for Applications'.

3. Arctic Climate Change Youth Forum - Winnipeg, Manitoba, February 2010, in conjunction with the IPY-CFL gala event in collaboration with the Winnipeg
Symphony Orchestra and the New Music Festival.

For more information visit our website or contact:

Media contact for Schools on Board
Lucette Barber, Program Coordinator
Schools on Board - CFL
Center for Earth Observation Science
Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CANADA
Tel: (204)272-1542
Fax: (204)272-1532
Email: {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "}
http://www.arcticnet-ulaval.ca

All information on the IPY-CFL research project and these outreach activities are available on the IPY-CFL website