2006 Annual Meeting and Arctic Forum | Abstracts

The International Polar Year 2007-2008 (IPY)

National Science Foundation^1
1Office of Polar Programs, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA, 22230, USA, http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/

The International Polar Year 2007-2008 (IPY) will extend from March 2007 through March 2009. IPY is envisioned as an intense scientific campaign to explore new frontiers in polar science, improve our understanding of the critical role of the polar regions in global processes, and educate the public about the polar regions. Projects are expected to involve a pulse of activity during the IPY period; have multi- and interdisciplinary scopes;leave a legacy of infrastructure and data; expand international cooperation; engage the public in polar discovery; and help attract the next generation of scientists and engineers.

In anticipation of IPY, the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) and the Directorate for Education and Human Resources(EHR)have identified special emphasis areas that will require preparation in advance of IPY. The research emphasis areas are: ice sheet history and dynamics; biological adaptations at the cellular and genomic level to life in extreme cold and prolonged darkness; and the arctic observing network.

The IPY web page maintained by NSF's Office of Polar Programs is located at:
http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/ipy/ipyinfo.jsp