To: ICSU/WMO IPY Project Leaders

REF: The SCAR/IASC International Scientific Organizing Committee request input from ICSU/WMO IPY science program leaders regarding the content of the science program.

From 8-11 July, 2008; the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) will jointly sponsor the third “Open Science Conference in St. Petersburg, Russia. The SCAR Open Science Conference is rapidly becoming a marquee event for the presentation and exchange of the latest developments in polar science. The previous two Conferences included on average 1000 participants and ~600 oral and poster presentations. Numerous workshops, meetings, planning efforts, and events occur in the margins of the meetings.

In 2008, to celebrate SCARs 50th Anniversary and progress during the International Polar Year 2007-2008, the OSC focus is a bipolar theme: “Polar Research Arctic and Antarctic Perspectives in the International Polar Year. This is the first joint bipolar Conference by IASC and SCAR and this unique partnering allows for a greater emphasis on the human dimensions of the Polar Regions embracing the spirit of the IPY. The OSC will be one of the first major international IPY events and as such will be organized around the six (6) IPY themes abbreviated as: status, links, change, frontiers, observations and societies as laid out in IPY planning documents. We are anticipating that the OSC will include a series of interdisciplinary keynote presentations, 40 or more parallel oral presentation sessions (~300 presentations), and poster sessions. We ask that you bring this conference to the attention of your partners.

We encourage the submission of abstracts for oral sessions reporting scientific progress by ICSU/WMO IPY programs but discourage the oral presentation of planned or future activities as we wish to concentrate the meeting on the latest developments in polar science rather than planned activities. IPY planning activities or progress reports might be considered for poster presentations. Details about the abstract submission process will be widely circulated in the coming months.

To develop a scientific program that represents the latest, most exciting and cutting-edge polar science, the International Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC) requests your assistance in identifying themes, speakers and session Chairs for the OSC program. The SOC is to provide a draft OSC program by June 1, 2007 for consideration by the SCAR and IASC Executive Committees so your input is needed by May 15, 2007. We encourage the reporting of scientific progress by official IPY programs but discourage the presentation of planned or future activities as we wish to concentrate the meeting on the latest developments in polar science rather than planned activities. The SOC has developed a draft OSC Science Program that is attached. As this event is sponsored by and conducted for the polar science community, your input and perspective is critical to making this one of the best and most comprehensive polar science meetings in recent history. Specifically the SOC asks that you:

1) Review the Draft Session sub-themes under the 6 IPY themes for completeness, inclusion, relevance to the SCAR/IASC science agenda and the IPY, and timeliness
2) Suggest potential Chairpersons for the Oral Sessions
3) Suggest invited speakers and topics for sub-themes
4) Suggest potential keynote speakers and topics (titles)

Your input and advice is valued and needed. If you have already made your views known through other channels we ask that you ignore this request. Please respond to this request by May 15, 2007 by replying to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The International Steering Committee thanks you in advance for taking the time to consider this request Sincerely, Chuck Kennicutt and Louwrens Hacquebord, SCAR/IASC OSC SOC co-Chairs

The Draft OSC Science Programme is available here.