The National Maritime Museum celebrates International Polar Year 2007 with this series of talks by explorers, artists, historians and scientists. Covering environmental, cultural, social and historical responses to the polar regions, the talks aim to uncover and examine this fast-disappearing place on Earth. Each week they will be explored from a different perspective: cultural commentators and ecologists will engage with the burning issue of climate change; historians will discuss empire-building and notions of heroism through the characters of Scott, Franklin and Shackleton; anthropologists will highlight the culture and contemporary concerns of indigenous communities and explorers will discuss their experiences. 5-week course

Portugal has been very active since the beginning of International Polar Year. The Portuguese IPY launch was on the 28th February 2007 in Lisbon, at the Knowleddge Pavillion Ciencia Viva, a major science centre. This day had the presence of the Minister of Science Mariano Gago, the President of the Foundation of Science and Technology Joao Sentieiro and two international guest speakers from United States (Prof. James Brockheim, University of Wisconsin) and United Kingdom (Dr. Inigo Everson; Anglia Polytechnic University). Several talks took place in relation to the history of the IPY (from the president of IPY-Portugal Prof. Luis Mendes-Victor), to the science strategy of Portugal in IPY (by Dr. Jose Xavier) and the educational programme LATITUDE60! (by the Portugues...