Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

IPY Student Expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic  (STUDEX)

Outline
STUDEX is proposed by the scientists listed below and endorsed by the German Society of Polar Research. In the summer 2007 and the austral summer 2007/2008 three different student programmes are planned for the Arctic and the Antarctic. In every programme, a group of up to 17 students from different disciplines, guided by an experienced expedition leader, a mountain guide and a medical doctor, will work under expedition conditions. It is planned to set up tent camps in the vicinity of active scientific stations. The scientific work will then be carried out on foot. Areas in the Arctic on Svalbard near Ny ?lesund, in the Antarctic on the Peninsula and also at Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea coast) have been selected as suitable. Each student has to perform one project in cooperation with his colleagues. The project incorporates 4 phases: (1) Call for student proposals for one of the preselected areas and for one of the following disciplines (structural geology, palaeobotany, palaeontology, mapping projects, sedimentology, petrology/mineralogy, remote sensing, meteorology, glaciology, geodesy, biology (zoology and botany), geomorphology, medicine, geophysics permafrost, air chemistry and volcanology). (2) Selection of participants by evaluation of the proposals for quality and practicability. ( 3) Field work. In the Antarctic Peninsula it is planned to work on Livingston and/or Deception Island and in the Ross Sea area around Terra Nova Bay, in cooperation with Italian, Bulgarian, Spanish and Argentinean scientists on their research stations. All activities will be performed by the students based on their proposed scientific plan. (4) Reporting and publication: The scientific output will be documented by the students in the form of a report. These reports will be honoured. All reports will then be published in a joint volume.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The mayor target of a student expedition in the IPY is to encourage young scientists for polar research work. The students have to work under real expedition conditions in the Arctic and Antarctic. They develop their own individual science plan for one of the three locations. Education and training under polar conditions will help to develop a new generation of polar scientists. Sponsoring by Arctic and Antarctic tour operators and national scientific societies as well as individual sponsoring will help to engage the public for the IPY. We hope this will improve the public understanding of the importance of polar research.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
International collaboration will bring together scientists and students from different countries in the proposed research areas. Although not all links are yet established, the cooperation will involve stations, scientists and students from Italy, Bulgaria, Spain and Argentina. All collaborating countries assisting by providing transport and station facilities qualify to contribute to the international group of students. q2_1_Location : The proposed field work will be carried out in three different locations: a) around Koldewey Station (Ny Ǻlesund, Svalbard b) around St. Kliment Ohridsky/Juan Carlos I Stations (Livingston Island) and Gabriel de Castilla/Deception Stations (Deception Island) both South Shetland Islands c) around Gondwana/Zuchelli Stations (Terra Nova Bay)

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The proposed field work will be carried out in three different locations: a) around Koldewey Station (Nyelesund, Svalbard b) around St. Kliment Ohridsky/Juan Carlos I Stations (Livingston Island) and Gabriel de Castilla/Deception Stations

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 07/07 – 08/07            
Antarctic: 12/07 – 01/08      12/07 – 01/08      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Logistic support is required for transportation of about 20 persons to the working areas. As these are near active scientific stations, the transport of equipment and food can be part of the normal station supply activities. Transport to the Arctic location can be by commercial airlines. For the Antarctic locations the intention is to find an agree-ment with commercial tour operators. Sharing of ship transport for other IPY activities is also possible.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Only existing facilities on research stations will be used in this project.

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

The German Gondwana Station is available for the Terra Nova Bay programme. For the other stations support has to be negotiated. Equipment and food are brought in by STUDEX and are not part of the use of “station facilities.”

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project has been endorsed by the German Society of Polar Research and the German IPY committee.

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

The concept of a Student Expedition to the Arctic and Antarctic is specially developed for the IPY as an education and outreach project.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The preparation will be organized by the proposers in close coordination with the German Polar Society. The organization in the field is by experienced polar research scientists in three different areas. Mountain guides and medical doctors cover important safety aspects.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
STUDEX is a special education and outreach project, a media coverage will be invited.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The management of new scientific data is not a major aspect in this student project. If important new data are collected, the field leaders will take responsibility to deliver these to the right channels. Fast presentation of the results is planned in the form of a competitive report submission. All reports will be published in “Polarforschung”, the journal of the German Polar Society

How is it proposed to fund the project?
There will definitely be mixed funding: (a) a proposal to the German Research Foundation (DFG) will be submitted to secure funding for the main proposer during the preparation phase and for safety measures as well as transport, food and other supplies.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Dr Andreas Veit
Department of Geo- and Environmental Sciences
Geological Division
Luisenstr. 3. Munich
80333
Germany

Tel: 0049 89 21806556
Mobile: no
Fax: 0049 89 21806514
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation