International Polar Year: update on Youth involvement

David HikExecutive DirectorCanadian IPY Secretariat

An international program of coordinated, interdisciplinary, scientific research and observations in the Earth’s Polar

regions

$6 M to support Canadian IPY projects

One-time funding opportunity for natural sciences or engineering research projects

Focus is on first five IPY themes

10 to 15 high-quality research projects, each for up to three years' duration.

Researcher teams can request a maximum of $500,000/year for three years, but it is expected that the majority of funded projects will receive support in the range of $100,000 to $200,000/year.

$150 M in new funding for Canadian IPY ProgramFocus on science and research contributions in two areas:

1. Climate change impacts and adaptations;

2. Health and well-being of northern communities

Website

www.ipy-api.ca

Posters

Newsletters

Communications & OutreachCommunications & Outreach

CANIPY IMS

www.ualberta.ca/~ipy/

Youth Steering CommitteeYouth Steering Committee

Co-chairs: Amber Church & Tyler Kuhn

In the process of forming steering committee

Proposed Activities:

Outreach, Education and MentorshipInternational Youth Conference on IPYBuild an IPY legacyResearch on Youth issues in polar regionsIGY interviews projectTales from the Wonder Zone project

The International Polar Year Youth Steering Committee (YSC)

The International Polar Year Youth Steering Committee (YSC)

Amber Church and Tyler KuhnAmber Church and Tyler Kuhn

MandateMandate

• The Youth Steering Committee (YSC) was proposed to address the need for the inclusion of youth in the International Polar Year (IPY)

• Includes youth from diverse backgrounds (science, social science, arts, indigenous groups), locations (both polar and non-polar nations) and ages (high school through post-doc)

• The Youth Steering Committee (YSC) was proposed to address the need for the inclusion of youth in the International Polar Year (IPY)

• Includes youth from diverse backgrounds (science, social science, arts, indigenous groups), locations (both polar and non-polar nations) and ages (high school through post-doc)

FormationFormation

• The Canadian IPY Steering Committee approved the Canadian YSC (June 28)

• The International YSC first announced at “Poles Together: Coordinating IPY Outreach and Education” Workshop (July 20-22)

• Full IPY proposal for the YSC was submitted on September 30 (Proposal ID # 168)

• The Canadian IPY Steering Committee approved the Canadian YSC (June 28)

• The International YSC first announced at “Poles Together: Coordinating IPY Outreach and Education” Workshop (July 20-22)

• Full IPY proposal for the YSC was submitted on September 30 (Proposal ID # 168)

StructureStructure

• Regional representatives for countries from around the world (no max number)

• Regional representatives will be responsible for being the direct link between their national YSC’s and the international group

• Executive of 7 (2 co-chairs, a treasurer, a secretary, and 3 directors)

• Regional representatives for countries from around the world (no max number)

• Regional representatives will be responsible for being the direct link between their national YSC’s and the international group

• Executive of 7 (2 co-chairs, a treasurer, a secretary, and 3 directors)

MembershipMembership

• Canada, New Zealand, the United States, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Russia, UK, Germany and RAIPON

• Expected to join soon: Denmark, France, Mongolia, Wales, Ukraine and Argentina as well as several Arctic Indigenous groups including the Sámi, Gwich’in and Inuit

• Canada, New Zealand, the United States, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Russia, UK, Germany and RAIPON

• Expected to join soon: Denmark, France, Mongolia, Wales, Ukraine and Argentina as well as several Arctic Indigenous groups including the Sámi, Gwich’in and Inuit

Projects: IYCPProjects: IYCP

• International Youth Conference on the Poles• Late April, 2008, location TBA• Presentations of youth IPY research, roundtables for

youth to put forward policies on polar issues, polar fair, presentations of high school year long IPY projects

• Confirmed keynotes: Wade Davis, Shelia Watt-Cloutier and Geoff Green

• International Youth Conference on the Poles• Late April, 2008, location TBA• Presentations of youth IPY research, roundtables for

youth to put forward policies on polar issues, polar fair, presentations of high school year long IPY projects

• Confirmed keynotes: Wade Davis, Shelia Watt-Cloutier and Geoff Green

Projects: WebsiteProjects: Website

• A portal for youth involvement in IPY• Opportunities for youth involvement in IPY• Education centre about polar issues with

downloadable materials for youth to educate their peers and communities

• Online mentorship program (Youth Science Foundation Canada)

• Funding recently secured from Gordon Foundation

• A portal for youth involvement in IPY• Opportunities for youth involvement in IPY• Education centre about polar issues with

downloadable materials for youth to educate their peers and communities

• Online mentorship program (Youth Science Foundation Canada)

• Funding recently secured from Gordon Foundation

Projects: IGY revisitedProjects: IGY revisited

• Connecting youth to participants of the International Geophysical Year (IGY)

• Informal interview setting• Opportunity for IGY participants to share their

experiences/ideas with the next generation of polar researchers and leaders

• Developed into a book and/or documentary (Students on Ice) at the close of IPY

• Connecting youth to participants of the International Geophysical Year (IGY)

• Informal interview setting• Opportunity for IGY participants to share their

experiences/ideas with the next generation of polar researchers and leaders

• Developed into a book and/or documentary (Students on Ice) at the close of IPY

Projects: Legacy focusProjects: Legacy focus• What do the world’s youth feel that the outcomes and

legacies of IPY should be?• Compile into a policy document • Use to assess the progress of IPY during 2007-2009

and after the close of IPY use to assess how successful the program has been

• Solicit input through YSC website

• What do the world’s youth feel that the outcomes and legacies of IPY should be?

• Compile into a policy document • Use to assess the progress of IPY during 2007-2009

and after the close of IPY use to assess how successful the program has been

• Solicit input through YSC website

Projects: Other ExamplesProjects: Other Examples

• Students on Ice-YSC Expeditions• Polar School’s Pack• Katimavik• Training Programs• Tales of the Wonder Zone

• Students on Ice-YSC Expeditions• Polar School’s Pack• Katimavik• Training Programs• Tales of the Wonder Zone

CollaborationCollaboration• UNESCO/IOC• Canadian Polar Commission• the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of Roshydromet• International Arctic Social Sciences Association• Inuit Circumpolar Youth Council• Permafrost Young Researchers Network• Katimavik• Arctic Council Youth Network• ArcticNet Student’s Association• Youth Science Foundation Canada• Students on Ice• 2007 Canada Winter Games Host Committee• Northern Strategy’s Youth Strategy

• UNESCO/IOC• Canadian Polar Commission• the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of Roshydromet• International Arctic Social Sciences Association• Inuit Circumpolar Youth Council• Permafrost Young Researchers Network• Katimavik• Arctic Council Youth Network• ArcticNet Student’s Association• Youth Science Foundation Canada• Students on Ice• 2007 Canada Winter Games Host Committee• Northern Strategy’s Youth Strategy

Other EoI’sOther EoI’s

• Hudson Bay Summit Project• Polar Partnership Program• Students Partners Program• Circumpolar Indigenous Youth Conservation

Network• Youth Links Students Symposium• IPY Snowflake Program

• Hudson Bay Summit Project• Polar Partnership Program• Students Partners Program• Circumpolar Indigenous Youth Conservation

Network• Youth Links Students Symposium• IPY Snowflake Program

Legacies of YSCLegacies of YSC

• The YSC will leave a network of motivated youth that will ensure that attention of and research on the Polar Regions will not lapse at the close of IPY.

• The YSC will leave a network of motivated youth that will ensure that attention of and research on the Polar Regions will not lapse at the close of IPY.