Historical background. Although Poland is not an Arctic country, we have a long tradition in polar research. Its roots lie in the 19th century when Polish scientists started to participate in the research on both polar regions. At that time, Poland did not exist on the maps of Europe. Polish scientists (as political prisoners in Siberia and in far North) explored and studied of unknown areas of the Russian Arctic. Henryk Arctowski and Antoni B. Dobrowolski were the members of scientific group of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition on s/v “Belgica” and wintered there (1897-1899). Poland as an independent country took part in the 2nd International Polar Year initiated by the geophysical expedition wintered on Bear Island, Norwegian Arctic (1932-1933). In the thirties a number of Polish scientific expeditions were organized to Spitsbergen and Greenland. However, Polish scientific activity during the 3rd International Geophysical Year (IGY) was more significant. The Polish Polar Station situated near the shore of Hornsund, Spitsbergen was established in 1957. Its winter crew continuously observed the meteorological conditions and geophysical fields during wintering 1957/1958. The station was working seasonally during next two decades. Since 1978, it has operated on a regular basis (http://hornsund.igf.edu.pl). In the Antarctic, Polish scientists carried the research at the Dobrowolski Station in Bunger Oasis during the IGY (1957/1958). The permanent Polish research station was constructed on King George Island, South Shetland Islands in 1977.
The Arctowski Station has permanently worked since that time (http://sunsite.icm.edu.pl/dab). Research platforms. Nowadays Poland runs two permanent research stations in both polar areas and deploys two research vessels for polar studies (r/y “Oceania” and r/v “Horyzont II”). Smaller research groups seasonally use the cabins and tents lagers in different locations in Svalbard and are active in Iceland and also in Greenland. Moreover, Polish scientists regularly take part in international expeditions to different regions of the Arctic and the Antarctic.
The Polish National IPY Committee is composed of two bodies: the Committee on Polar Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Committee for Preparation of the 4th IPY created by Rectors of Polish universities. The National IPY Committee is chaired by {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Prof. Aleksander Guterch"} from the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw.
IPY projects. Polish research groups are involved in 55 projects endorsed by the IPY Joint Committee (www.ipy.wnoz.us.edu.pl). The projects concern both the Arctic and Antarctic areas with special attention paid to the research comprising the surroundings of the permanent stations. Large international marine expeditions are also planned. Up to 70 scientists and more than 100 technicians and persons responsible for logistic support will be involved in the Polish IPY activity. The main fields of interest include: Earth sciences (geodynamics and geology, geophysics, evolution of glaciers, studies of permafrost, climatology and physics of atmosphere, evolution of polar environment) and biological sciences (marine and terrestrial ecosystems, biodiversity, microbiology, genetics and other). The projects related to outreach,
communication and education have also been prepared. The implementation of the project involving teachers and secondary school students into scientific excursions to Svalbard and real research activity at the Polish Station Hornsund appears as the most advanced one. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education granted the research project focusing on preparation of the 4th IPY international studies (2005- 2006). Special research projects for participation in the international IPY programme have been submitted to the Ministry and three of them have been granted until very recently. A half of dozen more is still under evaluation process. The Ministry is also financing the modernization and current logistic expenses of Polish polar research platforms.
Information. Informational policy of the Polish IPY Committee concentrates on three major subjects of interest: (1) general public by means of the media, (2) decision makers and (3) school pupils and students.
The special attention is paid to explanation of the linkages between current climatic changes observed in the country in their global context and trends emphasizing the importance of environmental processes in polar areas.
For more information on the Polish contribution to the 4th IPY please contact:
{encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Dr. Maciej Burzyk"}, Press Officer of the Polish National IPY Committee
Dr. Piotr Glowacki, National IPY Committee; Manager, the Polish Polar Station Hornsund, Svalbard, Arctic
{encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Dr. Hab. Andrzej Tatur"}, National IPY Committee; Manager, the Henryk Arctowski Station, King George Island, Antarctica
Prof. Jacek A. Jania, National IPY Committee, University of Silesia
National Delegate to the 4th IPY Global Launch Ceremony, Paris, 1 March 2007