Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Fostering Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Relationships among the "New Generation" of Polar Researchers Participating in the IPY  (Post-Graduate Collaboration)

Outline
This activity will bring together recent graduates from physical, biological/ecological and social sciences and from a number of participating IPY nations so that they can share ideas, learn necessary skills for research, and network with their peers. Thirty-six students and recent Ph.D. graduates conducting polar research will be competitively selected to participate in a week-long symposium. Several veteran polar researchers, including some who participated in the 1957/58 IGY, will share perspectives and mentor this new generation. Outreach plans will also be discussed. In addition, oral histories will be conducted with the veteran polar researchers and with this new generation, to share their future plans and perspectives. The symposium will be held May 4 - 11, 2008, at the La Foret Conference Center, Colorado Springs, CO. The application deadline is October 15, 2007, and advanced students and Ph.D. graduates conducting polar research during the IPY and who complete their degree between Jan. 1, 2002 - Dec. 31, 2008 are eligible.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project will bring together some of the brightest young minds in the polar sciences and there will be numerous benefits for most of the IPY themes. Our experience is that by bringing together experts in various physical and social fields we will encourage new ways of thinking, which will lead to new ways of solving problems.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
This project aims to bring together top new researchers from many of the participating IPY nations. Thirty six graduate students and recent Ph.D. graduates who will be conducting research during the IPY will be competitively selected by an interdisciplinary committee of polar scholars. Applicants from all IPY countries are eligible.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The workshop likely will be held at the La Foret Conference Center, Colorado Springs, CO.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
None. Facilities support will be provided by the National Academies.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes

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?
New

Although this project could be considered an extension of on-going activities that are somewhat related, such as the Dissertations Initiative for the Advancement of Climate Change Research (DISCCRS), it is being planned as a stand-alone activity.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This project will be organized and managed by three personnel. Sue Weiler is an expert in hosting this type of activity based on here experience with DISCCRS and the Dissertations Initiative for the Advancement of Limnology and Oceanography (DIALOG). Sheldon Drobot is a research scientist at the University of Colorado and will help outline the personnel and activites of the symposium. He will also manage the website. We are in the process of requesting a supplement to bring in Jenny Baeseman, an assistant professor at Kent State University who is working on an electronic network for students and early career scientists interested in polar regions.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The symposium will provide some training in communicating with the public and provide a forum for discussion of possible outreach activities to be conducted by these young researchers.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
A web site has been created to house the project: http://ccar.colorado.edu/ngpr This site will house program information, a registry for research projects to be conducted by students and recent Ph.D. graduates during the IPY, oral histories, and reports from the symposium.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
This project is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation through ARC-0632324 to Whitman College, C.S. Weiler PI and ARC-0632312 to University of Colorado, S. Drobot PI

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
This is also part of the University of the Arctic IPY project.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Sheldon Drobot
Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research - UCB 431
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO
80309-0431
USA

Tel: 303.492.8143
Mobile: no
Fax: 303.492.2825
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation