Today we close the International Programme Office for IPY.  I thank Chris for his vote of confidence.  I thank Ian, Michel and Jeronimo and friends at BAS for enduring support.  I thank Cynan and Odd for guidance.  I thank Amber and Jenny and Hugues

 

Visit the Polar Information Commons at the Oslo Science Conference! 

The Polar Information Commons (PIC) creates a fast and easy-to-use open data resource accessible through normal search and browse tools.  Using PIC tools, investigators quickly expose their data to the world and share them, thereby contributing to a repository for scientific data and information about the polar regions and participating in an innovative community-based infrastructure.  The PIC goal is to rapidly enhance international and interdisciplinary research, education, planning, and management for the polar regions.

In Oslo, a PIC information area will demonstrate the PIC tools, highlight recent data advances and data services from many polar data centres (and PIC partners), and present an array of fresh and free polar information, from IPY IPO, UNEP, University of the Arctic, and others.  Visit PIC to receive your complimentary copy of the new IPY book Polar Science and Global Climate - An International Resource for Education and Outreach.

For more information about PIC, follow this link to the Polar Information Commons website.

Canadian IPY researchers gathered in Ottawa, Canada, to report their IPY activities and to share initial results and highlights.

More than 250 people gathered in Ottawa, Canada, for an IPY Early Results Workshop.  Stimulated and organized by the Government of Canada Program for IPY, the workshop allowed leaders of more than 50 Canadian-led IPY projects to report their activities and share their initial results and highlights.   One could hear the latest research news in sea ice, ocean circulation, atmospheric transport of contaminants, marine ecosystems, freshwater ecosystems, hydrology, butterflies, permafrost, caribou, vegetation, sea birds, and northern health - fresh views of the many facets of Arctic systems.  Although focused within the broad Arctic expanses of Canada, most of these projects had extensive international connections and partnerships.  One heard many references to activities and presentations planned for the Oslo Science Conference in June 2010, as well as growing interest and an emerging vision for the Canada 2012 IPY conference planned for April 2012 in Montreal.

An IPY Project, Polar View (Polar View of Ice, project 372), has recieved renewal and extension funding for three years.

The UK Polar Network (UKPN), British branch of the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) organizes a series of workshops for early career scientists. The 2nd workshop will take place in Plymouth, UK, 12-13 October 2009. It will focus on Arctic Marine Sciences and is aimed at young researchers at various career stages (from undergraduate to early faculty) who are going to be mentored by experienced researchers in the field.

 

A Vision for Earth System Research: Have Your Say

IPY Poster for Education Conference in Brazil

We know that many partners represent IPY in events around the world. Our partner, Miriam Almeida, produced an informative poster for an education conference in Brazil. Even if you don't read Portuguese, you will get a sense of the activities and energy and you can enjoy the pictures. Download the poster, below.

For the past three weeks, a group of undergraduates from 11 countries has heard lectures, collected terrestrial and marine samples, climbed the steep slopes beneath bird colonies, and watched huge male walruses at arms length from small boats. I heard that on their 'rest' day they took an 11-hour hike. I know that a few of them (mostly the Norwegians, I hear) took a very short swim. In the most recent 48 hours they have sorted their samples, identified their organisms, explored and analyzed their data, and produced a presentation and a poster. Along the way they confronted every incompatibility among operating systems, software versions, and analysis and visualization tools, worked long hours, and met deadlines. Then they impressed two Svalbard journalists with their...

The third day of the IPY field school kicked off with another brisk stroll down to UNIS. Weather conditions were much clearer and warmer; the sun even popped its head out every now and again to see how the IPY students were getting along. The first lecture of the day was given by Prof. Hanne Christiansen, giving a thorough background on the Geology of Svalbard. Following Prof. Hanne Christiansen was a series of lectures given by PhD student Monica Sund covering glaciology and in particular the amazing glaciers covering the Svalbard landscape. It is very interesting to learn of the vast historical record that the geology of the region contains and the picturesque landscape made the task even better. Following the lectures and a brief lunch, the students met up at Nybyen for the geomo...