Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

International Polar Year Special Issues of Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research  (AAAR- IPY special issues)

Outline
The international, interdisciplinary journal Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research (AAAR) will publish three special issues dedicated to IPY work over the IPY 2007-2008 period. The topics of these issues will be: 1) IPY history and accomplishments of past IPY and IGY efforts 2) Current understanding of polar environments, history, polar-global interactions, polar perspectives on geophysical phenomena, frontiers of knowledge and circumpolar human societies. 3) Reports from IPY 2007-2008 activities in the six IPY theme areas. Each special issue will consist of invited and volunteered papers, which will undergo the normal review and revision process. Each issue will have a pair of Guest Editors, who will be responsible for soliciting invitations, ensuring disciplinary balance, keeping the manuscripts on schedule, and making decisions about acceptance for the issue. The Editors of AAAR will make the final decisions on manuscripts. We anticipate publishing these special issues in February of 2007, 2008 and 2009. It is possible that the final special issue will be delayed owing to IPY activities continuing into early 2009.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The AAAR special issues are designed to provide an organized collection of scientific writing about the context of IPY and the key advances made in IPY 2007-2008. The special issues will enhance cross-linking between disciplines because each issue will strive to present papers on all IPY themes. These collections should serve as inspiration for new generations of scientists and engineers.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
AAAR is an international journal. Invitations to contribute will be extended with an eye to representing the thematic areas and diverse institutions. We will seek international participation as Guest Editors.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Does not apply.

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

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
None

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No, but this project will leave a legacy perhaps more enduring than infrastructure, a written synthesis of our understanding of polar systems.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This is in the process of being considered by the U.S. National Committee for IPY.

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?
Exp

These special issues of AAAR will be published as regular numbers of the journal. IPY work may be submitted to AAAR at any time, and need not be part of the special issues.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Editors of AAAR will identify Guest Editors for each of the three special issues. These Guest Editors will be responsible for soliciting articles, and overseeing the review and revision of articles. All articles will undergo normal AAAR review processes, and once accepted, will be copy-edited, typeset, and printed in the normal manner of the journal. The Editors of the journal will have final decision on acceptance of manuscripts.

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 about communication, hence addresses the communication issues by its nature. We may coordinate with the international Arctic Workshop during one of the IPY years to provide a forum for presentation of some of the papers in these issues.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
AAAR is not currently able to provide data repository services to authors.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The group or organization sponsoring a special issue normally funds it. For these IPY special issues, the Editors plan to submit a small proposal to the National Science Foundation for the publication costs of these issues.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Suzanne Anderson
INSTAAR and Dept. of Geography
University of Colorado, UCB-450
Boulder, Colorado
80309
USA

Tel: 303-492-7071
Mobile: no
Fax: 303-492-6388
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation