celebrating the launch of IPY at Sanae station, AntarcticaInternational Celebration
On February 25th, 2009, as the formal observational period of IPY draws to a close, the IPY Joint Committee will issue a report on the State of Polar Research. In conjunction with this release, IPY sponsors ICSU and WMO are pleased to announce an IPY Celebration, including a press conference and presentation, in Geneva, Switzerland. The State of Polar Research report will present an overview of the collective impact of international and interdisciplinary research that has been achieved through the International Polar Year 2007-8, and will outline the future for polar research.
Contact: {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Rhian Salmon"}
National Celebrations
Canada
The Canadian Secretariat and National Committee will be winding down their activities over the next few months, but intend to support a number IPY celebrations in Canada in February and March 2009. Please contact David Hik ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Ian Church ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) for more information.
March 5, 2009 12:00-2:00pm Whitehorse, Yukon – The Yukon Coordinating Office in conjunction with the Yukon Northern Contaminants Program and local Indian and Northern Affairs communications staff are hosting an event to highlight Yukon IPY projects. The event will be held at Yukon College at the distance learning facilities and community campuses. Contact Bob Van Dijken ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) for more details.
Celebrations in other Northern communities will also take place throughout February and March, check the Canadian IPY Secretariat website for updates.
Germany
The IPY Closing Celebration will be held on 27 February 2009 in the "Klimahaus" in Bremerhaven.
More information (in German)
Contact: {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Martina Kunz-Pirrung"}
The Opening Event Neumayer Station III will take place at 20 February 2009 in the "Museum für Naturkunde" in Berlin and, at the same time in Antarctica, Ekström Ice Shelf.
Contact: {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Margarete Pauls"}
Germany's IPY website has a page outlining final reports by a number of IPY projects with German involvement.
Denmark and Greenland
Denmark will officially close the IPY on March 1, 2010, since many IPY projects will still be in the field during the summer of 2009 in Greenland.
March 1 2010 will be celebrated with a big national symposium including presentations of the IPY results so far. In addition, the National Committee will publish a popular science book on IPY in Denmark and Greenland.
IPY Activities in Denmark & Greenland (PDF)
Contact: {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Henning Thing"}
Netherlands
There will be celebrations on March 6 and 7 in Middelburg, Netherlands, on the theme 'Polar Experience': poolbelevenis
For more information, please visit www.poolbelevenis.nl
Norway
Norway is planning several IPY-related activities throughout 2009 and 2010. These include:
Arctic Frontiers Conference focussing on 'The Age of the Arctic, Jan 18- 23rd, 2009, Tromsø, Norway.
Media focus on arrival of US-Norway traverse at Troll Station, Antarctica, Feb 2009.
Oslo 2010 Conference, 8 - 12th June, 2010.
Contact: {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Kristen Ulstein"}
Portugal
Portugal is planning IPY celebrations during March-April 2009 with a workshop that will focus on the first results during IPY, plans for the future of polar research, and the official signing of the AntarcticTreaty by Portugal (the latter is still to be confirmed although it has been already ratified by the National Parliament). This gathering of polar scientists, politicians, and the general public therefire occurs at a special time period for Portugal, and the world's, polar research.
Contact: {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Goncalo Vieira"}
Sweden
On March 11, a large IPY seminar will occur in the Swedish parliament. The seminar will raise questions of the necessity of a common policy in the Arctic region and the importance of coordinated polar research. Members of the government and ministers are invited to speak along with scientists and representatives of the population, samis as long as other habitats in the north.
The programme will also present swedish photographers work from the Arctic.
The seminar is open to the public, politicians, and all people involved with polar research.
Contact: {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Hanna Zetterberg Struwe"} +46 8 546 442 39
United Kingdom
Plans are being developed for a UK celebration of IPY early in 2010, focussed on a 1-2 day conference to showcase UK contributions to both the IPY and the developing IPY legacy.
Contact: {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Cynan Ellis-Evans"}, UK-IPY National Committee, T: +44-(0)1223-221555
USA
Several events and activities for the public, decision makers, and the media, will occur in April 2009 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic treaty in Washington, and the occurrence of meetings of both the Arctic Council and Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in the USA.
Contact: {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Peter West"}
Regional Celebrations
Seattle, Washington, USA
On February 26 at the University of Washington, Lawson W. Brigham, deputy director of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission and chair of the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment, will speak on "Globalization and Climate Change: Challenges in the new Maritime Arctic". The talk is free and open to the public.
On February 26 through March 1, 2009, the Polar Science Center at the University of Washington, Seattle, is hosting the fourth annual Polar Science Weekend at Seattle's Pacific Science Center.
This four-day event will feature live demonstrations, activities, and hands-on exhibits about the polar regions and current polar research.
For more information, please visit http://psc.apl.washington.edu/psw/
Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it