Welcome to IPY

It is envisioned that the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 will be an intense, internationally coordinated campaign of research that will initiate a new era in polar science. IPY 2007-2008 will include research in both polar regions and recognise the strong links these regions have with the rest of the globe. It will involve a wide range of research disciplines, including the social sciences, but the emphasis will be interdisciplinary in its approach and truly international in participation. It aims to educate and involve the public, and to help train the next generation of engineers, scientists, and leaders.

The International Council for Science (ICSU) formally agreed to establish an International Polar Year in 2007-2008 and formed an International Planning Group to direct the development of an IPY programme. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) agreed to co-sponsor the Polar Year with ICSU and contributed to the Planning Group activities in 2003-2004. In September 2004 the Planning Group completed its brief and handed over leadership of the Polar Year planning to the ICSU-WMO Joint Committee.

This website was originally established by the IPY Planning Group to provide a central point of reference for information on its developing plans for the International Polar Year. The site is now supporting the activities of the Joint Committee. The site is already linked to several national IPY websites. It is intended that it will become the hub for a number of web sites associated with the various science projects and outreach/education initiatives comprising what is developing into the largest ever research programme in the Polar Regions.

Dr Ian Allison (Co-Chair of the IPY 2007-2008 Joint Committee)
Dr Michel Beland (Co-Chair of the IPY 2007-2008 Joint Committee)