The following are IPY-related projects which teachers, classrooms, or students can become actively involved in. There are also numerous resources about the polar regions that can be used for teaching polar science. Several of these are listed on the IPY Education pages.


Students on Ice
Since 1999, Students on Ice (SOI) has been organizing educational expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic for high school students between the ages of 14 to 19. In February 2009, we are launching our first University Antarctic Expedition. Our mandate is to provide students from around the world with inspiring educational opportunities at the ends of the earth, and in doing so, help them foster a new understanding and respect for the planet and for each other.

High-school, College and University students: We are continually accepting applications for our expeditions. Click here for eligibility criteria or download an application form.

Educators: SOI seeks passionate, responsible and caring educators to act as chaperones and assist with the education program. Please visit our site to download an application form.

For more information, visit us at our website or {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="contact us"}.

GLOBAL POP; an investigation of environmental pollutants in fish worldwide.
Open until October 1st, 2008.
The GLOBAL POPproject, held during the IPY, focusses on the fact that many of the toxic chemicals we produce in centralised areas will be transported by wind and sea current to the polar regions. Many of the chemicals, like dioxins, are defined as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). They are fat soluble and bioaccumulate in the food web. Therefore they can be a problem for all living species in polar regions.

In the project the students will play a key role and learn how to do real science together with scientists. Students will catch local fish and send a filet sample to the laboratory in Norway. A detailed description can be found in this POP PDF. We hope you find this project exciting and that you want to participate. Information about the project and a sign-up procedure can be found on the GLOBAL POP website.


PolarTREC
PolarTREC is an educational research experience, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and managed by the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S., in which K-12 teachers participate in polar research, working closely with scientists as a pathway to improving science education. In celebration of the International Polar Year (2007-2009), thirty-six U.S. teachers will spend two to six weeks working with a research team in the Arctic or Antarctic, exploring the environments, cultures, history, and science. PolarTREC teachers will learn about cutting-edge scientific research on topics ranging from atmospheric chemistry to seabird ecology and will share their experiences with scientists, educators, communities, and hundreds of students of all ages across the globe. PolarTREC builds on the past TREC program (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating in the Arctic) to encompass learning experiences in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Learn more on the PolarTREC website.

Seasons & Biomes; Monitoring Seasons Through Global Learning Communities
Through the NSF-funded GLOBE Seasons and Biomes project, pre-college students and teachers from around the world have the opportunity to conduct scientific inquiries on seasonal change in their local environments, and be involved in the International Polar Year (IPY) activities. Why is it important to study seasonal change? Because change in season length is an indicator, as well as an effect, of climate change and reflects the variations that are occurring in the cycling of energy in the global environment. On a more regional scale, seasonal change directly impacts essential human activities such as agriculture and subsistence.

This project contributes critically needed science measurements to validate satellite data used in research on regional climate change, prevention and management of diseases, and understanding of the water and carbon cycles. By monitoring the seasons in your biome, you will learn how interactions within the Earth system affect your local environment and how it in turn affects regional and global environments.

We invite you to check out the Seasons & Biomes web pages for more information about the project, and how you can get involved!


Circumpolar Flaw Lead Study>
Learn more about the IPY-Circumpolar Flaw Lead (CFL) System Study through their Schools on Board Programme. Download more information about CFL in these fact sheets: English French Inuktitut

ANDRILL/ARISE

Join ANDRILL as we travel to the coldest, windiest, driest place on earth to study the amazing geologic stories that Antarctica has to tell. ANDRILL (ANtarctic geological DRILLing) is an international science team working to recover stratigraphic records from the Antarctic region. Educators have the opportunity to follow the research of scientists from Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the United States as they recover and interpret the sediment cores from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. A multi-national ARISE (ANDRILL Research Immersion for Science Educators) team worked with the scientists during the 2006 Antarctic research season and have developed exciting, authentic activities and resources for classroom use. Video journals, photo collections, blogs and other engaging materials are available on the ANDRILL website. Follow the progress of the 2007 ANDRILL science team through the eyes of the eight ARISE educators who will work on the Ice from October-December 2007.

For more information on future field opportunities, visit the ANDRILL website, or contact: {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Louise Huffman"}.