Frequently Asked Questions

Please email IPYINPUT@nas.edu with comments and questions concerning the IPY.

"What is the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008?"

At its most fundamental level, IPY 2007-2008 is envisioned to be an intense, coordinated campaign of polar observations, research, and analysis that will be multidisciplinary in scope and international in participation. IPY 2007-2008 will provide a framework and impetus to undertake projects that normally could not be achieved by any single nation. It allows us to think beyond traditional borders – whether national borders or disciplinary constraints – toward a new level of integrated, cooperative science. A coordinated international approach maximizes both impact and cost effectiveness, and the international collaborations started today will build relationships and understanding that will bring long-term benefits. Within this context, IPY will seek to galvanize new and innovative observations and research while at the same time building on and enhancing existing relevant initiatives. IPY will serve as a mechanism to attract and develop a new generation of scientists and engineers with the versatility to tackle complex global issues. In addition, IPY is clearly an opportunity to organize an exciting range of education and outreach activities designed to excite and engage the public, with a presence in classrooms around the world and in the media in varied and innovative formats.

The IPY will use today’s powerful research tools to better understand the key roles of the polar regions in global processes. Automatic observatories, satellite-based remote sensing, autonomous vehicles, Internet, and genomics are just a few of the innovative approaches for studying previously inaccessible realms. IPY 2007-2008 will be fundamentally broader than past international years because it will explicitly incorporate multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary studies, including biological, ecological and social science elements. It will run from March 1, 2007 until March 1, 2009, to allow two field seasons of research in both the Arctic and the Antarctic.

"What will happen during IPY 2007-2008?"

During the window of IPY 2007-2008, scientists from many nations will join together in expeditions and research projects designed to meet the IPY objectives, coordinated at both the national and international levels. They will work both in the Arctic and the Antarctic, and in universities, laboratories, and observatories around the world. The specific research projects have not yet been selected, but we envision teams of researchers collecting coordinated measurements to compile a snapshot of environmental conditions, which can serve as a baseline for understanding future environmental change. There might be an effort to coordinate satellites to gather consistent data on ice extent. Ecologists might mount a massive effort to conduct a census of marine life so that we better understand population trends for important fisheries. Other groups might drill into the ocean floor in search of sediment cores with evidence of past environments. Multidisciplinary teams might document ecosystem changes in far northern communities where traditional subsistence foods are important to the local lifestyle and try to understand how changes are affecting the people of those communities. The next year is very important to IPY planning, because it is time to sort through the many ideas that have been suggested and see which are best to pursue.

"Who’s involved in IPY 2007-2008?"

Enthusiasm for IPY 2007-2008 is strong and growing. In barely more than a year, the science community has progressed from its earliest discussions of possibilities for new international science endeavors to serious planning of what an IPY might accomplish and what resources are needed. More than 25 nations have formally declared the intent to participate and many more have discussions in process. Here in the United States, scientists have been presenting talks and holding open forums at professional meetings and using an interactive website to brainstorm ideas where US leadership might ensure significant contributions. A call to the science community for ideas about what science themes to pursue brought forward hundreds of ideas, and this input has been crucial in the IPY planning.

The U.S. Committee for the International Polar Year 2007-2008 (http://us-ipy.org/usipy.html) was formed by the Polar Research Board of the National Academies (http://www.national-academies.org/prb) to articulate a vision for US participation in IPY 2007-2008 in coordination with and on behalf of our nation’s scientific communities (report summary available at http://us-ipy.org/downlaod/IPY_Summary.pdf). The committee has worked closely with the US science community using a variety of mechanisms and it has worked with our international colleagues, especially the International Council for Science’s IPY 2007-2008 Planning Group, to identify the important science themes and develop the detailed information needed to implement its many contributing activities.

When IPY 2007-2008 gets underway, it will involve far more than scientists. The hope is that many people – scout leaders, teachers, museum directors, filmmakers, journalists, parents, and students of all ages – will be involved. Some of the participation will be hands-on; other involvement will take full advantage of the tremendous opportunities for instantaneous communication offered by modern technologies.

"What will happen during IPY 2007-2008?"

During the window of IPY 2007-2008, scientists from many nations will join together in expeditions and research projects designed to meet the IPY objectives, coordinated at both the national and international levels. They will work both in the Arctic and the Antarctic, and in universities, laboratories, and observatories around the world. The specific research projects have not yet been selected, but we envision teams of researchers collecting coordinated measurements to compile a snapshot of environmental conditions, which can serve as a baseline for understanding future environmental change. There might be an effort to coordinate satellites to gather consistent data on ice extent. Ecologists might mount a massive effort to conduct a census of marine life so that we better understand population trends for important fisheries. Other groups might drill into the ocean floor in search of sediment cores with evidence of past environments. Multidisciplinary teams might document ecosystem changes in far northern communities where traditional subsistence foods are important to the local lifestyle and try to understand how changes are affecting the people of those communities. The next year is very important to IPY planning, because it is time to sort through the many ideas that have been suggested and see which are best to pursue.

"How can I submit a research idea for consideration of part of IPY 2007-2008?"

Specific projects are not yet being endorsed, and funding decisions for U.S. scientists will lie within the normal peer review and grant approval process of major funding agencies. If you and/or a team of researchers is developing a research idea, or has an update on an already-submitted item, please send a short description to the ICSU Planning Group and USNC for IPY (include project name, full contact information for at least one participant, names of participating scientists, and no more than 2 pages of description) to:

J Cynan Ellis-Evans (jcel@bas.ac.uk) at BAS and Leah Goldfarb (leah@icsu.org) at ICSU, with a copy to Chris Rapley (c.rapley@bas.ac.uk), Robin Bell (robinb@ldeo.columbia.edu), and the US National Committee to the IPY (ipyinput@nas.edu).

"Will there be IPY 2007-2008 information at an upcoming scientific conference?"

There will be a variety of IPY-related talks, townhalls, and information sessions at upcoming meetings – see the events page (http://us-ipy.org/events.html) for the latest information.