Education and Outreach for the International Polar Year

• Main Authors: Pfirman, Stephanie L., Bell, Robin E., Turrin, Margaret J., Maru, Poonam
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Geology; Climatic changes; Science > Study and teaching; Arctic; International Polar Year; IPY
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.7916/D8SJ1W7Z

If the 65 educators, scientists, and media specialists who gathered at the "Bridging the Poles" workshop in Washington, D.C. last June have their way a semitrailer truck labeled "Got Snow?" would traverse the country during the International Polar Year (IPY) of 2007-2009 loaded with polar gear, interactive activities, and a snowmaker. We would significantly increase the number of Arctic residents—especially indigenous Alaskans—with Ph.D.s. We would build exchange programs between inner city youths and polar residents. Polar exhibitions would open at natural history and art museums and zoos. And polar postage stamps, interactive polar computer games, national polar book-of-the-month recommendations, made-for-TV polar documentaries, and a polar youth forum would bring the poles front and center to the public's attention.