What is IPY?

International Polar Year (IPY) is a special international research program on the Earth's polar regions. It covers both the Arctic and Antarctica, takes place from 2007-2009, and includes many science and humanities disciplines.

Researchers have formed themselves into multidisciplinary, international teams to consider pressing questions. Their work will leave a legacy of new infrastructure and data.

Research will focus on the following six themes:

1. To determine the present environmental status of the polar regions by quantifying their spatial and temporal variability.
   
   
2. To quantify, and understand, past and present environmental and human change in the polar regions in order to improve predictions.
   
   
3. To advance our understanding of polar - global interactions by studying teleconnections on all scales.
   
   
4. To investigate the unknowns at the frontiers of science in the polar regions.
   
   
5. To use the unique vantage point of the polar regions to develop and enhance observatories studying the Earth's inner core, the Earth's magnetic field, geospace, the Sun and beyond.
   
   
6. To investigate the cultural, historical, and social processes that shape the resilience and sustainability of circumpolar human societies, and to identify their unique contributions to global cultural diversity and citizenship.

IPY will also reach out and educate the world's peoples about the importance of polar region.

This IPY is the fourth one: the first one was in 1881-84 and the second one was in 1932-33. The third, in 1957-58, was also designated an International Geophysical Year (IGY).