Here is a list of IPY projects studying Land and Life.
In addition, there are several organisations that have further information and activities.
Land:
Glacier and Permafrost Hazards in Mountains (GAPHAZ)
Antarctic Permafrost and Soils (ANTPAS)
Circumarctic Permafrost and Ground Ice Map
Soil Moisture Measurement and Monitoring
International Permafrost Association
More links at the end of our Permafrost focus page
A permafrost scientist in Alaska who does a lot of education outreach has installed permafrost monitoring systems in schools all over Alaska - in a lot of Native communities. Dr. Kenji Yoshikawa is also working with GLOBE Seasons and Biomes on the Frost Tube protocol, determining depth of freezing in soils using inexpensive tools. Find out more at http://www.uaf.edu/permafrost/
Life:
McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research (Antarctica)
Conservation for Arctic Flora and Fauna
Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program
Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic (EBA)
Unit for Polar Ecology
Carex: Coordination Action for Research Activities on life in Extreme Environments
Investigating Life in Extreme Environments (PDF) issued by the European Science Foundation (2007)
General:
Arctic System Science in the US and Synthesis of Arctic System Science
The Arctic is highly complex, with a tightly coupled system of people, land, ocean, ice, and air that behaves in ways that we do not fully comprehend, and which has demonstrated a capacity for rapid and unpredictable change with global ramifications. The Arctic is pivotal to the dynamics of our planet and it is critical that we better understand this complex and interactive system.
Study of Northern Alaska Coastal Systems (SNACS)
Lying at the intersection of the land, ocean, and atmosphere, and the locus of much human activity, the coast is a critical interface in the arctic system and an ideal test bed for tackling the kinds of complex scientific issues required to develop a true systems approach to the Arctic.
Oceans, Continents and Polar Regions: Browse questions and answers about Oceans, Continents, and Polar Regions
For Students and Educators:
Posters, thanks to Robert Hollister:
As powerpoints: Climate Change Impacts Arctic Adaptations Poster
Weather Underground: Permafrost
Global Warming Summit
This is a link to a number of presentations focusing on climate change in the polar regions and how teachers and students can get involved. Speakers include Jenny Baeseman (APECS) and David Carlson (IPY IPO Director).
Ice Wedges, Polygons, and Pingos in pictures!
Permafrost for Kids!
United States Permafrost Association kids page
MapTEACH
a culturally responsive geoscience education program for middle- and high-school students in Alaska that emphasizes hands-on experience with the geosciences and spatial technology
GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment)
a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based science and education program. GLOBE's vision promotes and supports students, teachers and scientists to collaborate on inquiry-based investigations of the environment and the Earth system working in close partnership with NASA and NSF Earth System Science Projects (ESSPs) in study and research about the dynamics of Earth's environment.
HMS Endurance Tracking Project
This site has up-to-date UK National Curriculum supporting material about Antarctica to cover Key Stages 1,2 and 3.
Discovering Antarctica
Each section features activities, images, video clips and fact sheets, to help you learn about this distant, frozen wilderness.
UAF Permafrost Outreach
Canadian Council for Geographic Education
Various lesson plans available for different age groups including on 'Climate Change and Permafrost' and an 'Arctic Web Quest' where students can learn about the Arctic region and it's living organisms.
LATITUDE 60! (in Portugese)
Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN)
World of Warmth
Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when the surrounding temperature is very different. This process is one aspect of homeostasis: a dynamic state of stability between an animal's internal environment and its external environment. World of Warmth has created a collection of several infrared images and videoclips that include animals, food, clothing, buildings, equipment and people.
An interesting article/image comparing permafrost on Earth to that on Mars (NASA)