Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Ice Edge  (Ice Edge)

Outline
Ice Edge is a nationwide schools competition run by Edge, the educational foundation which campaigns for vocational and practical learning. Forty young people from across the UK are to win the journey of a lifetime into the fragile Arctic in a nationwide schools competition run by Edge. Thousands of young people from across the nation are expected to compete in Ice Edge by coming up with ideas for practical solutions for environmental problems to better preserve our planet. Winners of the competition will travel to the Arctic in June 2007, where they will meet scientists, explorers and local people in this vulnerable and extreme environment. Ice Edge will demonstrate to young people the ever-increasing importance of vocational careers to our environment. Ice Edge will start young people thinking about practical solutions to reduce damage to our world, and help them understand how this will add to the excitement of vocational careers that they might consider following in the future. Going to the Arctic will bring to life just what a delicate balance currently exists between a world where we can enjoy our environment, and one in which we will soon start to see undeniable signs that we are destroying it. Ice Edge was launched on Thursday 26 October and follows the hugely successful Edge into Space competition, which took place in 2005-06 and aimed to promote practical learning in science and engineering. Over 4,000 young people entered the competition in 1,000 teams, and the thirty-five winners won an extraordinary trip in summer 2006: working with astronauts, rocket engineers and space scientists at NASA space centres in the USA. Further information can be found at www.iceedge.co.uk EDGE is an independent foundation dedicated to raising the status and desirability of vocational and practical learning among 14-25-year-olds of all levels of ability.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Earlier in 2006 4,000 young people from across the UK entered Edge’s schools competition, Edge into Space. A far higher number were reached through press and PR work, and through packs sent to their schools. Raising awareness of the issues surrounding the Arctic, and other environmental concerns, is a fundamental part of Ice Edge. Helping young people to come up with practical solutions to environmental problems is integral to the project.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Edge is working with Students on Ice to look at ways of working together on their international schools trip to the Arctic in August 2007. Edge may provide the British contingent to the international project.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Young people from schools across the UK will take part in Ice Edge between October 2006 and April 2007. A group of forty young people will then travel to Svalbard in June 2007.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: October 2006 – June 2007 – work with schools      June – July 2007 – arctic journey      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Another national polar operator
National agency
Commercial operator
Own support

Edge is a fully funded foundation, and will not be looking for financial support from any other organisation. It will, however, be seeking practical support from specialist organisations.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No - However it will hopefully be endorsed by the UK IPY National Committee at its meeting in January 2007.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Yes

Ice Edge is a new autonomous project from Edge, the educational foundation which campaigns for practical learning. Ice Edge follows the successful Edge into Space competition, which took place in 2005-06 and aimed to promote practical learning in science and engineering. Over 4,000 young people entered the competition in 1,000 teams, and the 35 winners went on an extraordinary trip in summer 2006: working with astronauts, rocket engineers and space scientists at NASA space centres in the USA. Ice Edge will go on to encourage young people from across the UK to join in the competition by coming up with practical solutions to environmental problems.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Ice Edge will be managed by Edge, the educational foundation, from their London offices. Edge employees will be supported by ISSET (the International Space School Educational Trust), an organisation with specialist knowledge of organising schools trips, and with which Edge worked on Edge into Space.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
This project is inherently education-focused. Its purpose is to encourage young people to come up with practical solutions for environmental problems. Teachers are provided with teaching resources, and young people form teams within their schools. We will be visiting schools across the UK in January 2007, with the key aim of motivating and supporting young people in their work. We will be working with media partners including the BBC, Metro newspaper and other national and specialist education press. The competition will feature on BBC Breakfast for six months in 2007 with regular features and include reports for radio and online.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
A bespoke Ice Edge website has been created to ensure that everyone can see the progress of the project as it gets underway, and eventually, the results of the project will be detailed on this website. A blog is also being established, to ensure that all young people can keep in touch with each other as their work on the project progresses.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
This project is already fully funded by Edge.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Ms Vanessa Miner
Edge
10 Golden Square
London
W1F 9JA
UK

Tel: + 44 20 7734 6434
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation