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Programme of 39 sessions
An ambitious science programme will be offered to participants at the IPY Oslo Science Conference. - The Polar Regions are the origin of surprising findings that inspire unconventional thinking, says Dr. Mahlon Kennicutt. He is chairing one of the six conference themes `New frontiers, data practices and directions in polar research´.
- We will highlight the global impact of polar science, interdisciplinary and multinational initiatives in the Arctic and Antarctic, as well as efforts to communicate science to the public, says Chair of the Steering Committee Dr. Olav Orheim.
The Steering Committee for IPY-OSC 2010 met on 17th September and approved the complete session programme for the IPY-OSC. This now consists of altogether 39 sessions. - The lengths of sessions can be anything from half a day to several days, and will depend upon number of approved submissions, says Dr. Orheim. He envisions up to 15 parallel sessions.
- The committees have considered the breadth in disciplines, the diversity in participation in IPY, as well as the urgency of the research questions that has been addressed through IPY. We anticipate that the attention to the changes taking place in the Polar Regions, and the global impacts of those changes, will not diminish over the coming months. We therefore foresee a wide interest for particular aspects of climate change and, not least, the linkages between various phenomena, says Steering Committee Chair.
Around 120 conveners
A poster with the full programme of session can now be downloaded from the website. A 2nd Circular will come in couple weeks time. At the same time the website will be open for registrations and submissions. Deadline for abstract submissions is 20th January 2010.
Over the recent days invitations have gone out to the altogether 120 conveners and co-conveners for the 39 sessions included in the IPY-OSC programme. - All replies so far have been positive, says Dr Orheim. - The committees and the secretariat are now greatly looking forward to working with all of these dedicated persons.
- The sessions are based on proposals from the community. We are impressed by the hugh participation in the development of the programme and the interest in polar research that this reflects. We are now in the process of reporting back to all proponents.
Science that challenges current thinking
- The Polar Regions evoke a sense of discovery as locations of unexplored places and the origin of surprising findings that inspire unconventional thinking, says Dr. Mahlon Kennicutt, President of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and member of the overarching science committee for the conference to "IASC PROGRESS".
Kennicutt is chairing one of the six conference themes `New frontiers, data practices and directions in polar research´, a theme, that according to its chair, highlights research at the frontiers of science.
- Polar research often cross-cuts disciplines catalyzing new scientific directions and challenges current thinking, says Kennicutt.
The IPY Oslo Science Conference will be the celebration of a period that represents an ambitious international collaboration in globally urgent science. IPY 2007-2008 attracted more than 50,000 participants from different backgrounds and disciplines, ranging from students to renowned scientists, from artists to politicians and from journalists to technicians. Through international partnerships the IPY set new standards for technical achievement, data access and visualization, recruitment of new polar researchers, and education and outreach.
Last updated: 09.11.2009
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