International Polar Year 2007–2008 - WMO

hours of show time.
BBC science journalist Sue Nelson led
three afternoon science talk shows termed
PolarEXCHANGE, which were all web cast,
with the aim of promoting polar science
to a wider audience than the conference
participants alone.
To meet the public in Oslo the EOCcommittee
developed the concept
PolarFESTIVAL, which took place in front of
the Town Hall over two days. Here seven
Norwegian institutions participated,
together with three research vessels (G.O.
Sars, the Polish research vessel Oceania
and KV Aalesund).
The Joint Committee was responsible
for the plenary which formally closed
IPY on 12 June 2010, the final day of the
conference. This ceremony was opened
by Gerlis Fugmann, President of APECS.
Prof. Jerónimo López-Martínez presented the JC
summary perspective on IPY, and pointed to a
surge in multidisciplinary polar scientific activities,
extensive new circumpolar data baselines and
improved observing systems, enhanced international
collaboration and stronger links between the Arctic
and Antarctic science communities, an enthusiastic
new generation of polar scientists, the active
engagement of Arctic residents in IPY activities, and
the unprecedented involvement of educators and
increased public awareness about polar regions.
“IPY was founded on the ideas and energy of thousands
of scientists, educators, technicians and many
more,” said Elena Manaenkova, Assistant Secretary
General of WMO. “As co-sponsors of IPY, we would like
to express our most sincere thanks to all the participants
and the organisers who have made this venture
one of the biggest internationally coordinated research
programmes ever undertaken.” (Fig. 5.6-7).
Dr. Deliang Chen, Executive Director of ICSU, added,
“IPY has paved the way for a sound understanding
of the polar regions at a critical time for society’s
relationship with the Earth. The collaboration among
many nations and among many scientific disciplines
has been critical to the success of IPY, and it is crucial
that the energy and partnerships that came together
for IPY are sustained in the long-term.”
“I have the honour to officially close the IPY
2007–2008,” announced Dr. Manaenkova, before
López-Martínez, on behalf of the Joint Committee,
handed over the IPY flag to Gerlis Fugmann, as a
symbol that the next generation of researchers must
take responsibility for continuing the momentum of
IPY and polar research. Web casts were made from
21 plenary sessions, and 30 interviews, and edited
versions were quickly available for on-demand
download. Making all presentations available in this
manner was, unfortunately, outside realistic budgets.
From the start of the conference to the end of August
the web cast and the web-TV-page had 13,000 visitors
from 75 countries. With its multitude of presentations
and other activities the Oslo Science Conference was a
fitting tribute to the many people who invested large
portions of their careers in the International Polar Year.
The importance of the IPY Oslo Science Conference
is hard to overestimate. At the first IPY Science
Conference in St. Petersburg, in June 2008 most of
the presentations were based primarily on the results
of the previous polar studies, since by the time of
that Conference the IPY research and observational
phase had been running for only a little more than
a year. At the Oslo Conference in 2010, the majority
of the presentations introduced scientific advances
achieved during the three-year period of IPY 2007–
Fig.5.6-7 Dr. Elena
Manaenkova,
Assistant Secretary
General of WMO,
speaks at the closing
of IPY 2007–2008.
(Photo: Jon-Petter Reinertsen)
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