Polar Open Forum for junior and high school children

The International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) are planning an International Polar Year (IPY) in 2007~2008 to mark the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY). A variety of international research organizations have announced their participation and submitted proposals for Arctic and Antarctic research.

During the IPY, the Science Council of Japan and NIPR are planning to hold a Polar Open Forum for junior and high school aged children in order to awaken interest in polar studies in the next generation. The catchphrase of the forum will be “Arctic and Antarctic Proposals from School Children.” NIPR called for polar research proposals from school children and held a meeting to announce the winning proposals. The research in the winning proposal will be carried out by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) and the Arctic Research Group, and the results reported to the school that submitted the proposal.