For the longest time, it was thought that the waters of the Polar Regions were relatively low in biodiversity. Research that has been conducted over the past few decades has proven otherwise, particularly research that has been conducted in the Southern Ocean. Researchers are only beginning to understand the incredible biodiversity that lies beneath the surface and its importance in local, regional and global ecosystems. Making sure that we don't negatively influence the biodiversity of the very delicate Antarctic ...

Polar bear family feeding on a seal, Northwest Passage, 1999. © Hinrich Bäsemann, www.polarfoto.de In the September issue of Polar Research, the politics of science is one of the themes in an essay by historian Stian Bones, who examines Norway's role in past International Polar Years, starting with the first one in 1882-83. Bones describes the strengths of the scientific traditions of this polar nation, and he examines the varying motivations that have driven Norwegian involvement in International Polar Years. Also in this issue, scientometrician Prabir Dastidar presents the results of his research on sc...

Contents: 1. Report from the JC Meeting 2. IPO announcement 3. International Polar Days 4. Ice Sheet Day: December 13th 2007 5. AGU 6. EGU/SCAR-IASC 7. Call for 2012 Science and Policy Conference Venue From: IPY International Programme Office To: IPY Project Coordinators cc: IPY Community Google Groups 1. Report from Joint Committee Meeting The IPY Joint Committee held its 6th meeting in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, on two days in late October. For most of one afternoon we joined the Canadian National IPY Committee to learn and discuss the many facets of Canada's IPY programme. The JC focussed on IPY legacies, and pa...

The IPY International Programme Office (IPO) has recently received some sponsorship to seed a meeting of the IPY International Youth Steering Committee (IYSC), including the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS). This meeting will occur in Stockholm at the end of September. Below is background material for this meeting. Meeting Details (252 KB DOC) includes participants, overview, agenda, and logistics Planning Information and Summary (128 KB PDF) APEC...

IPY is possibly the largest and most interdisciplinary science project ever conducted. Tens of thousands of investigators from dozens of countries are collecting data in diverse disciplines in physical, life, and social sciences. The data management challenge presented by IPY is huge. The current approach to the challenge is through an informal global partnership of data centers, archives, and networks working to ensure proper stewardship of IPY and related data. This partnership is called the IPY Data and Information Service (IPYDIS) and a new web site, discussion forum, and help desk has been established at http://ipydis.org to help coordinate the effort. The IPYDIS seeks to actively engage and support the IPY community, as such, advice, critique, and suppo...

By Dr. Frank-Oliver Nitsche, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University The Amundsen Sea continental shelf is one of the remotest areas of coastal Antarctica, and was relatively unexplored until the late 1980s. Over the last two decades, increased oceanographic and geological interest has led to several cruises that resulted in sufficient bathymetric data to compile a fairly detailed regional map of the Amundsen continental shelf. We have combined available multibeam and singlebeam bathymetry data from various sources and created a new regional bathymetry of the Amundsen Sea continental shelf and margin. Deep trough systems that dominate the inner shelf are aligned with present glaciers and separated by shallower ridges. Shaped by paleo-ice streams, these featur...

EcoKids is Earth Day Canada’s program for kids who care about the planet. Our website has tons of fun and educational games and activities on a range of environmental topics. Our 2007 theme is ‘Exploring Canada’s North’. We have created a new informational section for this theme along with the following online features: Northern Seasons – A glimpse of the landscape through the four seasons in Canada’s north. Mush Rush – A game that puts you in the driver’s seat of a dogsled team. Canada’s North Quizzes – Three challenging quizzes about the environment, wildlife and people in the north. Eco-Field Guide Northern Organisms – Information about 24 different species of fl...

The Smithsonian Institution announces the release of the Proceedings of the 2007 International Polar Diving Workshop. With major support from the National Science Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, NERC Facility for Scientific Diving, and Diving Unlimited International an interdisciplinary, international polar scientific diving workshop took place at the Artctic Marine Laboratory in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, March 15-21, 2007. Twenty-eight participants from around the world discussed scientific, physiological and operational considerations of working under ice using scuba in polar environments. Sixteen papers, edited discussion sessions and consensus recommendations are presented in this volume, an IPY contribution from the international polar scientific diving community....

Antarctic Ecological Genomics PhD Opportunities 1) Ecological genomics of the invertebrate response to ocean acidification 2) Ecological genomics of the vertebrate/invertebrate response to shifts in food supply We invite applications from highly-motivated molecular biology and/or biochemistry postgraduate candidates to contribute to a project investigating stress effects on the Antarctic marine ecosystem utilizing genomics-based approaches. Two PhD projects are on offer, each contributing to an objective of this FRST-funded International Polar Year Project. The Antarctic marine ecosystem is under threat as a result of global climate change combined with other anthropogenic influences (e.g. fishing, tourism). We need to understand ecosystem...

By Sarah Wilson, Ocean Institute The Ocean Institute (OI) is celebrating its 30th year in providing excellent science and maritime programs to teachers and the community. To honor teachers, launch our new Teacher Club, and celebrate International Polar Year, OI held an Ice Gala on October 5th and welcomed over 500 teachers! The evening included hands-on stations examining the science of the Poles, viewing of southern Ocean invertebrate specimens, ice sculptures to chill the flowing champagne and the opportunity to experience the Antarctic and take a photo with Shackleton’s crew. Teachers won prizes ranging from flat screen TVs, Geek Squad assistance for a year, Wyland artwork, and a week vacation in Washington D.C. ...