I have a new job. As an acronym, it is IPYIPOEOCC. International Polar Year, International Programme Office, Education Outreach and Communication Coordinator. I could, just as feasibly, be IPYIPOECOC, which I think I prefer as it expands to IPY International POECOC, which to me sounds a lot like IPY International Peacock. Which actually isn't such a bad description. Once we get the new IPY website up and running, I might make that my blogging nickname.

In a nutshell, IPY is a huge, international, collaborative, collection of simultaneous, interdisciplinary, mainly scientific, research that focusses on polar regions. Oceanography, Space Science, Anthropology, Glaciology, Atmospheric Science, Earth Science, Sociology, Policy Studies, Geology, Linguistics,.. the list goes on. There are something like 50,000 participants from 62 countries and over 220 large, independent, international projects occurring within the IPY umbrella.

There is also a large effort going into compiling the resultant data, and a huge number of IPY related programmes dedicated to education and outreach. These include expeditions, exhibitions, films, books, conferences, and the development of new networks.

My job is to find, promote, and encourage education, outreach, and communication (EOC) activities that are occurring in association with IPY. This involves working both with the outreach and education events I mentioned above, and also with the individual science projects. It would be heart-breaking for educators and science communicators world-wide if the only result of this massive investment of time and money were some fantastic scientific results, a large number of academic papers published within specialist journals four years from now, and a substantial increase in our knowledge base. Though these are, of course, all commendable.

At last, here is an opportunity of following science, in real-time, that will truly capture the imagination. It is not only adventurous and exciting, but also critical for understanding issues such as global change and the concerns of polar communities. During the next couple of years, you will get to hear stories from scientists at the poles, be able to track animals circumnavigating the arctic and antarctic in real time, will learn about the difference between glaciers, ice caps and ice bergs, and be able to enjoy exhibitions, films and books all highlighting the wonderful icy ends of the world.

If you have any stories you would like to share, or events you would like promoted, please drop me an email.