The draft programme is now published on the web (se main menu above - "Programme"). You can also find the names of the members of the six committees ("Organisation" above). The spreadsheet with all themes/sessions and the schedule chart are available under "Downloads/Programme updates".

Timeframes and venues for each session is still to be decided. Depending on the volume of submissions for the individual sessions it is expected that some will extend through the whole IPY-OSC, while others may last for 1-2 days

In some cases the names of conveners are not listed. These are sessions where several proposals have been merged, and where the work of nominating conveners, and possibly refining session titles, has not been finalized.

For some of themes (4 and 6) you will find more details by following the link. The framing of and more information about each individual session will be published/updated as soon as we receive it from committees and conveners.

Chair of the IPY-OSC Steering Committee, Dr. Olav Orheim, expresses hope that most proponents will find their field covered within one or more sessions. - The committee met in Oslo in June and concluded that the venue is well suited to receive a large number of participants from the wider polar science community. Preparations is under way to make the IPY-OSC an attractive arena for publishing science as well as a memorable social gathering. There will be a call for abstracts in October, and I hope that this conference is already in next years calendar.

Dr. Orheim assures that any comments to improve the programme will be very much appreciated. - The Steering Committee and the Science Committees are sure that the programme will mature with the help of the community. The website will be updated with adjustments and more details about each session as we go, says Dr. Orheim.

The Steering Committee has given guiding criteria for the science sessions which have included:

• Keep the number of sessions under each theme as low as possible.
• Integrate and combine as much as possible into broad sessions. Single IPY projects should be avoided as sessions, and IPY project title or acronym should not be in session titles.
• Session titles should be such that it should be readily apparent for the different IPY projects to where they should submit their contributions
• In addition the Steering committee has requested that early career scientists are included as convenors

- We want to thank everyone that demontrated interest in the conference by proposing a session. A large number of proposals were received, and the six committees responsible for the five scientific themes and the EOC programme have worked very hard to sort through these to make a total programme that would fit the available space and time of the conference, says Dr. Orheim.

Photo: Kristen Ulstein
The steering committee on a guided tour at the IPY-OSC venue in Lillestrøm. Here by the entrance to the main hall.

Photo: Kristen Ulstein
It takes a lot of hard work to pull together the polar research community.

Photo: Kristen Ulstein
Contemplating the opportunities. The huge Expo-halls in Lilestrøm can provide maximum flexibility for the conference organisers.