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The International Polar Year 2007-2008 has generated an amazing volume of polar related materials of all kinds.
In particular educational resources abound!
The Polar Palooza is a multimedia initiative supported by both NSF and NASA - involving researchers, Alaskan natives, in-person presentations at science centers and natural history museums, video and audio podcasts, and more.
Another web site that is a portal to a wide range of resources is the International Polar Year 2007-2008 Program Office.
The International Polar Year is a large scientific programme focused on the Arctic and the Antarctic from March 2007 to March 2009. IPY, organized through the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), is actually the fourth polar year, following those in 1882-3, 1932-3, and 1957-8. In order to have full and equal coverage of both the Arctic and the Antarctic, IPY 2007-8 covers two full annual cycles from March 2007 to March 2009 and will involve over 200 projects, with thousands of scientists from over 60 nations examining a wide range of physical, biological and social research topics. It is also an unprecedented opportunity to demonstrate, follow, and get involved with, cutting edge science in real-time.
Education and Outreach are integral to the International Polar Year 2007-8. Teachers and students have the opportunity to experience authentic science in real time. We encourage everyone to get involved in this huge, exciting scientific collaboration by visiting exhibitions, teaching and learning about the polar regions, watching films and documentaries, reading books, going on expeditions, and contacting scientists while in the field.
QUICK LINKS
International Polar Days: lots of resources and multi-lingual activities around a polar theme. Get Involved!
Polar Classroom Activities
Videos of IPY Presentations
Polar Books
Classroom Posters
Opportunities for Teachers and Students
IPY honeycomb chart
USGS Polar Science Educational Resources
IPY Discussion Groups
IPY Blogs by Polar Teachers
US International Polar Year 2007 -2008 Portal - Thanks to advances in global telecommunications technologies, people worldwide have a rare opportunity to follow, and sometimes even participate in, Arctic and Antarctic research and exploration as part of the International Polar Year (IPY), a global scientific campaign which began in March 2007. IPY promises to advance our understanding of how the Earth's remote polar regions affect global climate systems, to bring about fundamental advances in many areas of science, and to fire the enthusiasm of young men and women for careers in science and engineering.
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Science & Nature - Animals & environment
- People & Culture - Life at the poles
- Explore & Learn - For students & teachers
- Multimedia - Images, video, audio
- News & Events - Press releases, speeches, meetings, & more
US Antarctic Program - Funded by the U.S. Government's National Science Foundation (NSF) , the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) supports scientific research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The USAP carries forward the Nation's goal of supporting the Antarctic Treaty, fostering cooperative research with other nations, protecting the Antarctic environment, and conserving living resources. The NSF manages the program under guidance of a Presidential memorandum that directs an "active and influential presence in Antarctica designed to support the range of U.S. Antarctic interests." Since 1956 Americans have been studying Antarctica and its interactions with the rest of the planet. Research disciplines include glaciology, biology and medicine, geology and geophysics, oceanography, climate studies, astronomy, and astrophysics. Contractors and units of the military provide operational support.
POLAR TREC - Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating
PolarTREC expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctica are underway! Be sure to check out the Virtual Base Camp to follow teachers and researchers!
PolarTREC is an educational research experience, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and managed by the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S., in which K-12 teachers participate in polar research, working closely with scientists as a pathway to improving science education.
In celebration of the International Polar Year (2007-2009), a global scientific campaign to advance our understanding of the polar regions, thirty-six U.S. teachers will spend two to six weeks working with a research team in the Arctic or Antarctic, exploring the environments, cultures, history, and science. PolarTREC teachers will learn about cutting-edge scientific research on topics ranging from atmospheric chemistry to seabird ecology and will share their experiences with scientists, educators, communities, and hundreds of students of all ages across the globe.
PolarTREC builds on the past TREC program (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating in the Arctic) to encompass learning experiences in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Visit the TREC website for more information about the 2004-2006 TREC expeditions.