# Presentation: 022769

## A Vision for

**Polar Research Board**
- www.nas.edu/prb

**A Vision for**
**International Polar Year 2007-08**

**Chris Elfring, Director**
**Polar Research Board**
**The National Academies**
**www.us-ipy.org**

## History of the “International Year” Concept

**1882-1883: 1****st**** International Polar Year **
**    ****11 nations, moving beyond exploration to science, first coordinated international science**
**1932-1933: 2****nd**** International Polar Year**
**    ****40 nations, meteorology, magnetism, radio science**
**1957-1958: International Geophysical Year**
**    ****67 nations, global focus on geosciences and**
**     ****applying WWII technologies**
**2007-2007: 3****rd**** International Polar Year**
**    ****Broad interdisciplinary focus, with emphasis on  environmental change, including human dimensions**

## Evolution of IPY 2007-2008

**Early discussions and PRB Forum - 2002**
**USA-UK IPY discussions - early 2003**
**ICSU forms IPY Planning Group - March 2003**
**Invites nations to participate**
**Outlines IPY concept **
**Drafts and circulates outline science plan**
**Delivers “Framework” report to ICSU**
**US National Committee - Aug 2003**
**Encourages community input at conferences & web**
**Nurtures agency involvement**
**Articulates overarching IPY science issues in *****A Vision for the IPY 2007-8 *****(NRC 2004)**
**Hosts Interagency IPY Implementation Workshop in July 2004 and produces workshop report**
**Continues role in coordination and communication**

## IPY Concept

**An intense, internationally coordinated campaign of polar observations, research and analysis that will further our understanding of physical and social processes in polar regions, examine their globally-connected role in the climate system, and establish research infrastructure for the future. **
**The IPY will galvanize new and innovative observations and research while building on and enhancing existing relevant initiatives.**
**Timeframe:    1 March 2007 – 1 March 2009**

## Why International?

**The polar regions play key roles in global processes that affect all nations**
**The science challenges exceed the capability of any one nation**
**A coordinated approach maximizes outcomes**
**International collaboration shares the benefits and builds common understanding**

## Why a “Year”?

** ****Intensive burst of effort will accelerate progress and initiate activities that couldn’t be done otherwise**
**Intensive investigations will lay groundwork for sustained assessments of environmental change and variability**
**Provides opportunity for observations at both polar regions over all seasons**
**Resulting enhanced infrastructure and observing systems will provide improved foundation for ongoing science**

## Why 2007-2008?

**Pressing need to understand change in the polar regions**
**Anniversary of past IPYs and IGY provides a firm deadline**
**Planning horizon is challenging but feasible**
**New advances in technology and logistics provide ways to address new issues and access new areas**

## ICSU Leads First International Planning

**Open process**
**30+ countries involved to date**
**Over 20 National Committees formed**
**450+ research ideas**
**Individuals**
**National committees**
**International organizations**
**Social Science - Physical Science Dialog**
**Produces Outline Science Plan and IPY Framework Document**

## Participating Nations(as of late 2004)

**Argentina **
**Australia**
**Austria**
**Belgium**
**Canada**
**Chile**
**China**
**Denmark**
**Finland**
**France**
**Germany**
**India**

**Ireland**
**Italy**
**Japan**
**Russia**
**South Africa**
**Sweden**
**Switzerland**
**Netherlands**
**New Zealand**
**Norway**
**United Kingdom**
**United States of America**

## ICSU Framework for IPY

**ICSU Framework Report includes:**
**Science themes (6)**
**Observational initiatives (6)**
**Data management **
**Education, outreach and communication**
**Organizational structure**
**IPY Criteria**
**Suggested implementation process**
**New Joint Committee of ICSU-WMO now formed to continue international planning (March 7-11, 2005 in Paris)**

## ICSU IPY Themes

- Determine _environmental status_ of polar regions by quantifying spatial and temporal variability.
- Quantify past and present _environmental and human change_ in the polar regions
- Advance understanding of _polar - global teleconnections_ on all scales and processes controlling these interactions
- Investigate the _unknowns at the frontiers_ of science in the polar regions.
- Use the _unique vantage point_ of the polar regions to develop and enhance observations on Earth and beyond (Earth's inner core, magnetic field, the Sun and beyond)
- Investigate _cultural, historical, and social processes_ that shape the resilience and sustainability of circumpolar human societies and identify their contributions to global cultural diversity and citizenship.

## ICSU Observational Initiatives

- Produce synoptic set of multidisciplinary observations to establish the _status_ of the polar environment in 2007-2008
- Acquire key data sets necessary to understand _factors controlling_ _change_ in the polar environment
- Establish a _legacy of multidisciplinary observational networks_
- Serve as launch of internationally coordinated, multidisciplinary _expeditions into new scientific frontiers_
- Help implement polar observatories to study important facets of* *_Planet Earth and beyond_
- Create datasets on the _changing conditions of circumpolar human societies_ from the First IPY 1882-83 to the present

## ICSU IPY Criteria

- Makes significant advances within one or more IPY themes
- Involves at least one polar region and takes place in timeframe
- Contributes to international collaboration
- A viable management plan and organisational structure
- A viable approach for securing funding
- A viable plan for securing appropriate logistical support
- Agrees to the principles of IPY data management and proposes a viable data management plan
- A viable plan or approach for education, outreach and communication activities
- Foster the next generation of polar researchers
- Provides opportunity for a legacy (observation sites, facilities, systems)
- Builds on existing plans and initiatives or at least does not conflict
- Has interdisciplinary elements (team, project etc.)
- Is “endorsed” by one or more National Committees

## Why The National Academies?

**President Lincoln established the National Academy of Sciences as an independent scientific advisor to the nation. The NAS is the adhering US organization to ICSU. **

## US National Committee for IPY2003-2005

**Mary Albert, ***Chair, *ERDC CRREL
**Cecilia Bitz, **Washington
**John Kelley, **Alaska-Fairbanks
**Douglas Wiens, **Washington at St. Louis** **
**Igor Krupnik, **Smithsonian Institution** **
**Louis Lanzerotti, **Bell Labs/Lucent Technologies
**Philip Smith, **McGeary & Smith
**Jerry Bowen, **CBS News** **
**Richard Glenn, **Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
**George Somero, **Stanford
**Cristina Takacs-Vesbach, **New Mexico

**Robert Bindschadler, **NASA - GSFC** **
**David Bromwich, **Ohio State
**Gunter Weller, **Alaska-Fairbanks
**Jacqueline Grebmeier, **Tennessee
**Peter Schlosser, **Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
**Chuck Kennicutt (Ex-officio) **Texas A&M
**Terry Wilson (Ex-officio) **Ohio State
**Patrick Webber (Ex-officio) **Michigan State
**Robin Bell (Ex-officio) **Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

## US National CommitteeGuides US Planning

-  Outreach to science communities
-  Outreach to agencies
-  Strong influence on international planning
-  Open and inclusive planning process
-  Delivery of “Vision Report”
-  Organization of agency implementation workshop and delivery of workshop report
-  Continued activities to engage people and ensure that IPY is a success

## Vision Report Available

-    Free PDF copies of the Vision report and Workshop report are available at:
-         _[www.us-ipy.org](http://www.us-ipy.org/)_ or
- http://www.nap.edu

## US Goals During IPYFrom “A Vision for the IPY 2007-2008”

**Assess large-scale environmental change**
**Explore scientific frontiers in the polar regions**
**Develop observing networks **
**Understand human-environment dynamics**
**Create new connections between science and the public**

## 
Provide a comprehensive assessment of polar environmental changes 
Encourage interdisciplinary studies and the development of models

**Provide a comprehensive assessment of polar environmental changes **
**Encourage interdisciplinary studies and the development of models**

***NRC report recommendation 1:*****Initiate a sustained effort to assess large-scale environmental change and variability in the polar regions**

## NRC report recommendation 2:Include studies of coupled human-natural systems critical to societal, economic, and strategic interests

**Examine role of the polar regions in globally linked systems**
**Investigate physical-chemical-biological interactions**
**Examine the effects of polar environmental change on the human-built environment**

## NRC report recommendation 3:Explore new scientific frontiers from the molecular to the planetary scale

**Involve multidisciplinary studies of biological communities; oceanographic processes; the Earth’s deep interior; and sun-earth connections**
**Apply new knowledge gained from exploration to questions of societal importance**
**Invest in new capabilities essential to support interdisciplinary exploration at the poles**

## NRC report recommendation 4:Design multidisciplinary polar observing networks that provide a long-term perspective

**Establish integrated multidisciplinary observing networks that employ new sensing technologies and data assimilation **
**Conduct an internationally coordinated “snapshot” of the polar regions using all available satellite sensors**

## NRC report recommendation 5:Invest in critical infrastructure and technology to guarantee enduring benefits 

**Ensure the long-term availability of assets necessary to support science in the polar regions**
**Encourage development of innovative technologies (UAVs, AUVs, etc.)**
**Develop advanced communications systems**
**Establish international data standards, policies, and procedures**
**Train the next generation of scientists, engineers, and leaders**

##  Develop programs in education and outreach that build on the inherent public interest 
Create opportunities for education, training, and outreach for all age groups and build on successful existing models

**Create opportunities for education, training, and outreach for all age groups and build on successful existing models**

***NRC report recommendation 6:*****Create new connections between science**** and the public**

## NRC report recommendation 7:Participate as leaders in International Polar Year 2007-2008

**Use the IPY to build long-lasting partnerships across national borders**
**Capitalize on existing agency missions and create new opportunities**
**Provide mechanisms for individuals, early-career researchers, and small teams to contribute to IPY**

## The Avalanche Model:Success Requires Broad Participation

- Scientists and Engineers
- Universities
- Agencies
- US National Committee
- ICSU-WMO Joint Planning Committee

-  Foundations
-  Educators
-  Media
-  Private sector
-  Scouting groups
-  Communities

***Early recognition – there is no one “lead” on IPY, but many equally important parts***

## NAS Hosts Federal AgencyWorkshop & Info Sessions

**NSF *****(designated by the White House as the lead federal agency)***
**NOAA**
**NASA**
**USGS**
**NIH**
**EPA**

**DoD**
**DoI**
**DoE**
**State Dept**
**OSTP**
**Smithsonian**
**DHS-USCG**

**...****to inform and engage agencies so they find ways for IPY to serve their needs while meeting IPY goals. Participants so far have included:**

## What Can You Do?

**Find ways to get all the necessary “avalanche” participants engaged asap**
**Work with colleagues in science and agencies to plan activities, increase awareness and move toward implementation **
**Form international partnerships and help nurture national and international funding sources and logistics coordination**
**Follow guidance from ICSU-WMO Joint Committee (preliminary Expression of Interest) at   **_[www.ipy.org](http://www.ipy.org/)_
**Check **_[www.us-ipy.org](http://www.us-ipy.org/)_**  for US IPY information**
**Commit to making something happen!**

## For More Information

**www.us-ipy.org**
**www.ipy.org**
**www.national-academies.org/prb**
**Chris Elfring  c/o  **_[prb@nas.edu](mailto:prb@nas.edu)_
- Chris Elfring, Polar Research Board
- The National Academies
- 500 Fifth Street NW
- Washington DC 20001
- 202 334 3479