Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

The Sixth Continent Initiative  (IPY-6CI)

Outline
The aim of the activity is to open up the possibility for researchers from developing countries to research and development activities in the Antarctic. The Antarctic Treaty claimed the continent for all humanity, and yet, 50 years after the IGY 1957, research on this continent remains the domain of the developed World.With the menace of climate change looming over the future of the planet, the importance of the contribution of research carried out in the Polar Regions in the understanding of climate mechanisms should be made apparent to all peoples of this World. The project aims to create a network of interested parties consisting of research institutions, funding agencies, logistics providers, international organisations, NGOs and the SCAR. SCAR scientific fellowships will be provided to facilitate the participation of graduate students/ researchers from developing countries in research activities of the participating institutes. Certain Antarctic bases will allow selected researchers to spend time on the Antarctic continent. Logistics will be provided at favourable rates to the participating scientists, and the need for equipment and supplies for the home universities and the researchers will be funded by capacity building measures from participating international organisations. The activity will benefit from education, communication and outreach support in order to communicate the experiences of the selected researchers to a large target group, so that there is maximum benefit gained from the activity in mobilising decision makers and potential young scientists.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The participation of scientists from countries not normally involved in Polar Research opens up the possibility of having new centres of competence being built up to study the Polar-Global interconnections and the climate system from a new perspective.This initiative also serves as an ideal means of sharing knowledge and benefits with a wider international scientific community, and also for attracting young scientists from other regions of the World to Polar sciences, thus restating the importance of these research activities for a new group.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The SCAR is offering fellowships in the context of the IPY and a number will be reserved for participants in the programme.The Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) has offered to accommodate a number of participants, at the new Belgian station in the Dronning Maud Land, from 2008.SANAE is also interested in offering similar accommodation.UNEP has expressed an interest in the capacity building component of the activity.The IPF will be responsible for outreach and communications.Other institutes and national operators are in the process of being contacted to participate.DROMLAN and ALCI will be asked to participate for the logistics for the exercise.Other DROMLAN members are being approached to participate, and details will be provided at a later date.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The Antarctic Continent – Dronning Maud Land

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: 11/07– 02/08      11/08 – 02/09      

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Logistic support will be in the form of accommodation on Antarctic Research Bases in the Dronning Maud Land, as well as flights to the continent and intra-continental flights with the DROMLAN network. Additional logistics, should they be required will be provided by the participating national operators.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project aims to leave a legacy of enlarged international research collaboration networks and new capacity in the participating institutes/universities of developing countries.

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

Full logistics requirements will become clearer when all participants are known

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project has been validated by the Belgian Science Policy Office, and will be presented for endorsement to the national 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?
yes

The project is a new activity designed to amplify the communications with regard to the aims of the IPY 2007 for a target group which has previously not been informed adequately about research activities in the Polar Regions.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be managed by a Committee, which will oversee the financing and implementation of the activities in collaboration with participating bodies and institutes. The scientific activities will fall under the themes selected by the SCAR Fellowship Programme. The logistics will be provided by the usual means used by participating institutes

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Education and outreach for the project will be ensured by the IPF, and will begin before the IPY with an information drive to identify potential institutes and researchers in developing countries. The selection process, and the beginning of the participation in research can begin from 2006, and will require communications on the progress of the initiative. A short documentary could be envisaged providing a new angle to reporting on the IPY. Other conventional forms of communication (web, print) will also be used.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Data management issues will be the preserve of the participating institutes, but there will be a requirement to share information on the research and observation activities and results with the SCAR and for outreach and communication purposes.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The various participants will provide funding or services in kind for the hosting, travel and accommodation of the researchers selected to benefit from the Programme. SCAR fellowships, national research body funding, international organisations capacity building programmes, etc will contribute.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
This project widens the Polar constituency to groups which have no prior experience in, or exposure to the Polar Regions. It enhances the view of the interconnected World, and is rich in the symbolism lying at the heart of the Antarctic Treaty, which espouses universal values of the common heritage of mankind, scientific cooperation, respect for the environment, and peace among men.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Ms  Nighat Johnson-Amin
International Polar Foundation
120 A rue des Deux Gares
Brussels
1070
Belgium

Tel: +32-2-543.06.98
Mobile: +32-477-251.218
Fax: +32-2-538.83.77
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation