The IPY Open Consultative Forum Meeting , Paris, March 10-11

The first meeting of the Open Consultative Forum for IPY 2007-2008 will be held at the Paris office of IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission)on March 10-11, 2005. This meeting has developed out of the highly successful Discussion Forums organised in 2004 by the IPY Planning Group, the predecessor of the IPY Joint Committee. The Forum provides a consultative platform for Polar Year development, facilitating dialogue among the numerous stakeholders, the expression of views on IPY 2007-2008 and a venue for exchange of information with the IPY Joint Committee on IPY 2007-2008 development. The opinions and views expressed by stakeholders at this forum will be considered by the Joint Committee in all aspects of planning, implementation and management of IPY 2007-2008. It is envisaged that the OCF will meet once a year and that it will be an open meeting for representatives of all groups with an interest in the Polar Year.

The International Programme Office is organising the venue and the meeting. As with the Discussion Forums, participants are asked to pay their own travel and subsistence. Anyone interested in attending the meeting should contact Dr Cynan Ellis-Evans (jcel@bas.ac.uk)at the IPY Programme Office. The meeting will be held at IOC, UNESCO Building, 1 rue de Moellis, Paris.

For more information, please contact Cynan Ellis-Evans email jcel@bas.ac.uk .