New York City will host its third International Polar Weekend at the American Museum of Natural History on Saturday and Sunday 2/7 and 2/8 from noon to 5PM each day. This family style event is a New York celebration of highlights from the International Polar Year (IPY). The weekend will include activities for all ages, including performances; short lectures; film clips with commentary; and an interactive Polar Fair with scientists, explorers, artists, and performers from Greenland, Norway, and Canada, as well as the United States.
Event highlights include:
An interactive Polar Fair for kids and adults, showcasing scientists, artists, and educators who have worked at one or both poles. The fair is designed for family involvement—lots of hands-on activities, discussions with scientists, and opportunities to see equipment, polar gear, and expedition clothing.
Family-focused entertainment, including performances of Canadian Innuit throat singing, Scandinavian joiking with modern instruments, and a spectacular presentation on the myths and modern science behind the Northern Lights.
Film and lecture presentations on climate change and other polar topics, including Polar Palooza multimedia presentations by Richard Alley of Pennsylvania State University, a climate researcher and field scientist, Michael Castellini of University of Alaska, a marine mammal specialist, Mary Albert, of Cold Regions Research & Engineering Lab, an ice specialist and investigator for the US/Norwegian Antarctic Traverse, and Orville Huntington, Alsakan native and biologist. Greenland Elder Angaangaq will present a Fire & Ice Ceremony, Harlem native and septuagenarian Barbara Hillary will share her stories of skiing to the North Pole, and presenters will remember Peary and Henson's 100 year anniversary of their journey to attain the North Pole.
The event is sponsored by AMNH, Columbia University, Barnard College, the Explorers Club, and Wings WorldQuest, with special participation from the Norwegian Consulate, and a partnership with Polar-Palooza. Funding is provided from the National Science Foundation.
