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International Polar Year 2007–2008 - WMO

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128<br />

IPY 20 07–20 08<br />

not sufficient time or proper mechanisms to develop<br />

accessible transnational funding opportunities.<br />

Logistics<br />

Logistics and Infrastructure requirements had to be<br />

identified during the planning stages, which meant<br />

that owners of specific platforms (research stations,<br />

research vessels, aircraft, satellites, etc.) needed to become<br />

fully involved with researchers and funders. In<br />

Antarctica, logistics are operated by national Antarctic<br />

programs who are members of COMNAP (Council of<br />

Managers of National Antarctic Programs, www.comnap.aq).<br />

COMNAP was established in 1988 and is an<br />

organization with experience in consulting and coordinating<br />

international logistics. Its Arctic counterpart,<br />

the Forum of Arctic Research Operators (FARO, www.<br />

faro-arctic.org) was created in 1998 to play a similar<br />

role. However, Arctic logistics and opportunities are<br />

quite different because transport solutions and infrastructure<br />

are generally more accessible and can include<br />

‘self-service’ solutions including commercial airline<br />

transport and renting of local transport. Enhanced national<br />

funding for logistics and access to infrastructure<br />

was essential for the success of many IPY programs.<br />

Two examples of efforts to facilitate<br />

coordination of national IPY activities<br />

Building the Framework for Global Cooperation: A<br />

meeting of Funding and Mission Agencies towards implementation<br />

and Coordination during the <strong>International</strong><br />

<strong>Polar</strong> <strong>Year</strong> 2007-2008. The European <strong>Polar</strong> Consortium<br />

(EPC) and the European <strong>Polar</strong> Board (EPB) invited national<br />

funding and mission agencies to a meeting in<br />

Copenhagen prior to the ICARP II conference in November<br />

2005 to discuss opportunities and improve<br />

cooperation. Sessions at the meeting addressed aspects<br />

of coordination and communication between<br />

funding and mission agencies; funding (national and<br />

supranational); public and political visibility of IPY; IPY<br />

legacy; and contributions to building a framework for<br />

international cooperation and partnership.<br />

EASO: The IPY Eurasian Sub-Office By special<br />

arrangement (Chapter 1.6), the IPY Eurasian Sub-<br />

Office (EASO) was created at the Arctic and Antarctic<br />

Research Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia. The EASO<br />

office and the web site (http://www.ipyeaso.aari.ru/)<br />

was very valuable for IPY scientists working in the<br />

Russian Arctic by providing information about Russian<br />

IPY activities and assisting with admission procedures<br />

for conducting research in Russia.<br />

Heads of Arctic and Antarctic IPY<br />

Secretariats (HAIS)<br />

Recognizing that better communication was<br />

required among the operational agencies of IPY, the<br />

Heads of Arctic and Antarctic IPY Secretariats (HAIS)<br />

group was established in 2006. HAIS members were<br />

the national representatives active in the planning<br />

and implementation of IPY programs within their<br />

own nation. All IPY National Committees and<br />

Secretariats were invited to join. Northern hemisphere<br />

countries were most active in the HAIS group, but<br />

most of these countries supported both Arctic and<br />

Antarctic activities during IPY. Several international<br />

organisations including AOSB (Arctic Ocean Sciences<br />

Board), EPB (European <strong>Polar</strong> Board), FARO (Forum of<br />

Arctic Research Operators), IASC (<strong>International</strong> Arctic<br />

Science Committee), SCAR (Scientific Committee on<br />

Antarctic Research) and IASSA (<strong>International</strong> Arctic<br />

Social Sciences Association) were invited as observers.<br />

Between 2006 to 2009, seven HAIS meetings were<br />

held. A final meeting was held at the IPY Oslo Science<br />

Conference in June 2010. All HAIS agendas, meeting<br />

papers and minutes have been archived at: http://<br />

classic.ipy.org/national<br />

The objectives of HAIS were to establish a working<br />

platform that would provide support and enhance<br />

capacity amongst national Secretariats, develop and<br />

facilitate collaboration among IPY countries, discuss<br />

common/practical challenges with the view to<br />

achieving and facilitating resolution, develop advice<br />

for consideration and implementation by the IPY<br />

<strong>International</strong> Program Office and Joint Committee,<br />

share information about international, national, and<br />

regional IPY programs and initiatives and assist each<br />

other in meeting common objectives. In the first year<br />

members of HAIS used the forum primarily to discuss<br />

issues related to the implementation of IPY activities.<br />

Later, issues related to IPY legacies and international<br />

cooperation, including access to transnational funding<br />

opportunities, were high on the agenda.

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