Draft documents for the IPY Education Working Group to edit, concerning development of the Polar Resource Book. If you have questions about this project, please contact Karen Edwards ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) ALL DOCUMENTS ARE DRAFT, please do not circulate unless within the Education Working Group, or with their consent. Promotion Resource Book Poster (low res) Contributions Did you develop or adopt a new polar science activity or program for your students or c...

Course Announcement International Polar Year IV: Context and Promise Yukon College and University of the Arctic 2 February to 3 May 2009 Yukon College and University of the Arctic announce the international offering of the online course, International Polar Year IV: Context and Promise. The course will be held from 2 February through 3 May 2009. This second-year-level, multidisciplinary course presents an overview of the historical and scientific context of the fourth International Polar Year 2007-2008 and offers an examination of its development, planning, and execution. The overall orientation of the course is historical and descriptive rather than analytical or theoretical. The course will be of particular interest to individuals workin...

The Arctic Frontiers Conference is underway in Tromsø, Norway and has had a number of interesting presentations. This conference is being broadcast live on the web. We suggest checking it out. In particular, this afternoon [Tuesday, 20 january] we will be involved in a panel discussion on the needs of young researchers in polar science. It would be great if you could all join in watching this broadcast. If you cannot watch it live, it will be archived and you can watch it later. Young science in the North - Panel discussion 15:00 - 17:00 Central Europe Time (1400 UTC) ...

At the end of 2007, teacher Turtle Haste's eighth-grade class at James Monroe Middle School in Albuquerque, New Mexico reported on a project to measure sun shadows all over the world, including at several Antarctic stations. to better understand how the Earth and the Sun interact, and how the seasons progress. The project is going strong, and there is now a call for everyone to join in. There is a new project page up, and also a Google Map that shows recent measurements: ...

The Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) report 'Observing the Arctic' is now ready for distribution. The presented conclusions have developed during a series of workshops involving 350 Arctic researchers, representatives of inter-governmental, national and subnational government agencies, representatives of indigenous peoples organizations, and residents of the Arctic. This process, referred to as the SAON-process, was initiated as a response to the request from Arctic Council ministers at their meeting in Salekhard, Russia in November 2006. The report was drafted by the SAON Initiating Group and is directed to organizations, agencies, governments, networks and programs involved in all aspects of Arctic observing. ...

Having been able to survive in the harsh Arctic climate for millennia, indigenous Northern communities have extensive intimate knowledge about the Arctic ecosystems in which they live. Increasingly, researchers are taking advantage of this wealth of knowledge to help them study the ecosystems of the Far North and how climate change is affecting them. One programme to monitor ice cover being run by the Nunavik Research Centre (NRC), the research arm of Québec's ...

Content: 1. IPY after February 2009 2. Promoting your project in February, 2009 3. Polar Days 4. APECS 5. AGU Report Report no. 21, January 2009 From: IPY International Programme Office To: IPY Project Coordinators cc: IPY Community Google Groups 1. IPY after February 2009 Colleagues and friends regularly ask us what the "IPY plan" is for 2009 and 2010, and "What will happen to the IPO?". The answer for IPY varies by country and project. Some countries will hold closing events in February and March this year. Other national programmes will continue IPY research through Arctic 2009 and Antarctic 2009/2010 seasons and beyond, driven by financial and logist...

Continuing his coverage of the 25th Chinese Antarctic Expedition, science journalist Jean de Pomereu reports on the departure of the Dome Argus (Dome A) traverse team from the Chinese Zhongshang Station in the Antarctic on the International Polar Foundation's SciencePoles website. On 18 December following an official departure ceremony, a team of 28 men left Zhongshang to start the 1,220 km traverse into the interior of Antarctica to Dome A, the highest point on the East Antarc...

British Antarctic Survey, 29th April - 1st May 2009   The first in a series of themed events to be held over the next two years for early career polar researchers, this workshop will combine the themes of polar atmosphere and climate modelling. Career development sessions will be interspersed between lectures, practical sessions and problem solving workshops. Ideas for sessions are listed below - this unique event allows the participants to have a say in the programme to ensure it is as relevant as possible to those present.   All participants are encouraged to present a poster, and will be given the opportunity to help in the organisation of the workshop, such as by chairing sessions   This event is free for all members of the UK Polar Network...

Since the last International Polar Year, circumstances in the eight Arctic nations have changed considerably. Interactions with southern countries have increased, affecting the social dynamic of indigenous communications. This has impacted the diet and nutrition of indigenous communities. Traditionally, many indigenous communities relied on the land for food—coastal communities ate marine mammals whereas inland communities hunted for animals such as reindeer or caribou. This diet was supplemented with other mammals, birds, fish, or plants. Today, store-bought items like white bread, pork chops, and beef ar...