International Polar Year 2007–2008 - WMO

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IPY 20 07–20 08
support from Norway, Sweden and the U.S.A. The
concept of regional IPY project offices to enable access
to certain polar areas and to address logistical and
infrastructure issues was supported in principle by the
JC, but a decision on the Eurasian Regional Office was
deferred until the next JC meeting pending additional
information, including its proposed relationship with
the IPO.
After reviewing a number of different designs, the
JC approved an IPY logo developed by its predecessor,
the IPY Planning Group (Chapter 1.3). A new IPY
website was launched shortly afterwards bearing this
logo (www.ipy.org/ipy-v2). 9
At the end of the JC-1 meeting, the overall scope
of IPY was taking a clear shape. The likely large-scale
and internationally-based core scientific activities
had been defined from the EoIs and efforts had
commenced to integrate the many EoIs into these
core projects. 10
On 10 March, immediately after JC-1, the first IPY
2007–2008 Open Consultative Forum (OCF) was held
at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (Fig. 1.5-3). More
than 60 participants attended, including 15 members
of the JC and representatives of 18 National IPY
committees. 11 Participants were given a brief overview
of the IPY planning process, an explanation of how
EoIs were assessed, information on the process for full
Fig. 1.5-3. First Open
Consultative Forum, 10
March 2005. Ian Allison,
Michel Béland, Tillmann
Mohr, and Edith Fanta
represented the Joint
Committee and chaired
the session.
(Photo: Jerónimo López-Martínez)
proposal submission and a report on the outcomes from
JC-1. One major issue for stakeholders was that 30 June
2005 should not be the only deadline for submission
of full proposals, but that there also be subsequent
submission opportunities. The JC also undertook to
arrange a meeting between IPY representatives and
funding agencies and to compile a list of potential IPY
logistic requirements for the Council of Managers of
National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) and the Forum
of Arctic Research Operators (FARO). Representatives
of a number of National Committees, international
polar organisations and programs gave presentations
on their IPY preparations. Overall, the support from
stakeholders for the evolving IPY process was high,
with appreciation that the program was developing
with appropriate community consultation.
Building the IPY Science Program:
March 2005–February 2006
Following the assessment of EoIs, letters co-signed
by JC Co-Chairs Ian Allison and Michel Béland were
sent to all EoI proposers in late March 2005. 12 Three
submission deadlines were eventually established to
give IPY participants time to develop international
links: 30 June 2005, 30 September 2005 and 31 January
2006.
Altogether 422 ‘full proposals’ were eventually