IPY Joint Committee Summary | Arctic Portal

The International Polar Year (IPY) 2007–2008, co-sponsored by ICSU and WMO, became the largest coordinated research program in the Earth’s polar regions, following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the first and second International Polar Years in 1881-1883 and 1932-1933 and the International Geophysical Year 1957–1958.

An estimated 50,000 researchers, local observers, educators, students, and support personnel from more than 60 nations were involved in the 228 international IPY projects (170 in science, 1 in data management, and 57 in education and outreach) and related national efforts. IPY generated intensive research and observations in the Arctic and Antarctica over a two-year period, 1 March 2007–1 March 2009, with many activities continuing beyond that date.

The summary "Understanding Earth's Polar Challenges: International Polar Year 2007-2008" captures the context, motivations, initiation, planning, implementation and the outcomes of the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007–2008, as well as the lessons derived from this key undertaking.

IPY invigorated polar science, led to an unprecedented level of action, and attracted global attention to the polar regions at a critical moment in the changing relation between humanity and the environment.

To read the entire report in a flash based reader, please click here.

To dowload the report in 7 different sections in a PDF format, please follow the links provided here below:

• Executive Summary, Table of Contents and Acknowledgements

• Part 2: IPY Science Program - chapters 1-5
• Part 2 : IPY Science Program - chapters 6-11
• Part 3: IPY Observing Systems, Their Legacy and Data Management
• Part 4: IPY Public programs; Publishing and Archiving IPY; New Generation of Polar Scientists
• Part 5: The Legacies of IPY 2007-2008 and Future of Polar Research

• Appendices

The form should be faxed to + (780) 492 1153 or e-mailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (cindy.mason(at)ualberta.ca) at the Canadian Circumpolar Institute at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada