Raising the bar for an International Polar Year 2007 – 2008: How much will this IPY raise the bar compared to IGY?

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Science
Degree name
Postgraduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies
Publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
English
Date
2005
Authors
Beetham, Tessa
Jakowetz, Elisabeth
Lo, Simon
Riedel, Katja
Sickinger, David
Abstract

An International Polar Year is planned for 2007 to 2008, this will mark the 50t' anniversary of the Intemational Geophysical Year (ICY). This report sets out to answer the question: How much will the International Polar Year (IPY) raise the bar concerning science, politics and education compared to the IGY? This IPY will occur in a significantly different political, social and scientific setting to that of the IGY. The initially high baseline level of science will make it difficult to raise the bar in the scientific arena. The application of today's advanced technology may be a tool that could enable scientists to raise the bar during this upcoming IPY. The Cold War was the main global problem during the IGY, whereas today the Western-Islamic polarisation, economic imparity between nations, and Global Climate Change are major global political problems. This upcoming IPY cannot transcend political boundaries, as the IGY did. Education may be the one category where the IPY can raise the bar comparatively more than the IGY. The major success will be concerning the issue of Global Climate Change. While the IPY will not be able to match the progress marked by the ICY, nevertheless, it has the potential to be a success. An International Polar Year is planned for 2007 to 2008, this will mark the 50t' anniversary of the Intemational Geophysical Year (ICY). This report sets out to answer the question: How much will the International Polar Year (IPY) raise the bar concerning science, politics and education compared to the IGY? This IPY will occur in a significantly different political, social and scientific setting to that of the IGY. The initially high baseline level of science will make it difficult to raise the bar in the scientific arena. The application of today's advanced technology may be a tool that could enable scientists to raise the bar during this upcoming IPY. The Cold War was the main global problem during the IGY, whereas today the Western-Islamic polarisation, economic imparity between nations, and Global Climate Change are major global political problems. This upcoming IPY cannot transcend political boundaries, as the IGY did. Education may be the one category where the IPY can raise the bar comparatively more than the IGY. The major success will be concerning the issue of Global Climate Change. While the IPY will not be able to match the progress marked by the ICY, nevertheless, it has the potential to be a success.

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