Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

IPY POLAR GATEWAYS: Recognition of Girdwood, Alaska as a Polar Gateway Community  (POLAR GATEWAYS)

Outline
This proposal is offered in response to an invitation from the current Polar Gateway Communities of Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina and Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway to affiliate with them in activities identified in their IPY Project: IPY Polar Gateways (Activity ID No: 453). Recognizing the time constraints resulting from the fact that Girdwood’s affiliation with these two initial Gateway Communities would take place after the March 1, 2007 commencement of IPY, it is deemed expedient for Girdwood’s role in IPY to be assumed by a pre-existing organization. Fortunately, The Girdwood Rotary club is available and able to assume this role. Some of the specific activities identified in the approved IPY POLAR GATEWAYS Project that are most relevant to the Girdwood Community include: • Present the IPY programme and contents in the form of displays and material • Provide local support and a friendly face to the community in the field • Build a network of polar communities • Provide a local space for interviews, meetings, education, information • Inform about the scientific content of IPY • Provide a contact point locally for IPY queries during the relevant field seasons Additionally, it is envisioned that Girdwood could: • Serve to facilitate the activities of the IPY Outreach Office located on the University of Alaska, Fairbanks • Engage Girdwood School students in IPY activities • Extend involvement in IPY activities to other Anchorage area Rotary Clubs.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Working in concert with the two initial polar Gateway Communities, and with the IPY Outreach Office located at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, there are two primary themes that will be facilitated by Girdwood’s designation as a Polar Gateway community: • Providing support for non-Alaskan IPY researchers working in Alaskan locations that are more proximate to Girdwood than to the University of Alaska, Fairbanks campus • Serving as an extension to the Fairbanks IPY Outreach office

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
It is axiomatic that there will be close international collaboration between Girdwood and the two current Polar Gateway communities of Ushuaia and Longyearbyen. Additionally, there will be opportunities for collaboration with the international researchers who avail themselves of our support.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Although it is not anticipated that members of Girdwood Rotary will be actively engaged in field work, it is assumed we may be called upon to support non-Alaskan researchers with Alaskan research locations that are more easily supported from Girdwood than from Fairbanks.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 04/07 – 09/09            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The Girdwood organization will not require any significant logistic support/facilities. Rather, it is anticipated that we may be called upon to assist visiting researchers in locating and procuring the support/facilities (e.g. transportation to remote locations) they require.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
It is not anticipated that Girdwood’s participation will leave a legacy of physical infrastructure, but will leave a legacy in the community of enhanced understanding and appreciation of the IPY goals, and a legacy with visiting researchers of increased appreciation of Alaska’s place in the international polar community .

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Commercial operator
Own support
Other sources of support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes - To date, the “endorsement” of Girdwood’s affiliation with the IPY POLAR GATEWAYS project has been in the form of an invitation from the two current Polar Gateway Communities to explore this possibility of Girdwood joining their project.

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?


This project clearly is a component of the existing IPY project: POLAR GATEWAYS (Activity No: 453)

How will the project be organised and managed?
Since this extension of the already-established POLAR GATEWAYS project will be initiated after the March 1, 2007 commencement of IPY, it was determined that, due to the resulting time constraints, it made sense for an existing organization to assume organizational and managerial responsibilities. Girdwood Rotary has agreed to assume these responsibilities.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
It is envisioned that initial guidance for educational, outreach and communication issues will come from the IPY Outreach Office located at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Initial outreach targets will be the Girdwood school, the community of Girdwood, and other Anchorage area Rotary clubs.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Given the support/outreach nature of this project, data management of the sort typically associated with scientific inquiry will not be an issue.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Given the nature of this project, is not anticipate that funding will be requires beyond that which the Girdwood Rotary club is able to generate through its own funding mechanisms.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Mr Tom Yeager
Girdwood Rotary
P.O. Box 848, Girdwood
Alaska
9587
USA

Tel: (907) 783-2014
Mobile: no
Fax: (907) 783-2428
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation