Bulletin 1 to ASPAC Members

July 2006

Welcome

Welcome to the first edition of the ASPAC PROJECT IGLO Bulletin.

IGLO (International action on GLObal warming) is a worldwide initiative of the Association of Science-Technology Centers to raise public awareness of climate change and its impact. ASPAC is partnering with ASTC to support this initiative in association with International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 and has appointed me to represent ASPAC on the IGLO Advisory Group and to coordinate our involvement in this exciting initiative. For more information, go to www.astc.org/iglo

Graham Durant
ASPAC Project IGLO Convenor
ASPAC Executive Council

What is your science centre/museum planning?

At the recent ASPAC Conference in Perth, Australia, there was a great deal of interest in Project IGLO. We would like to find out what your centre/museum is planning to do and to share ideas and opportunities for us to link to network activities within the ASPAC region and beyond. The first task is to develop a list of possible activities that ASPAC member institutions are considering, and to share that list with you and ASTC’s IGLO Advisory Group. We hope the list will be helpful in suggesting further ideas for you to involve your visitors and communities in IPY.

1. What activities are being planned/considered for IPY by your science centre/museum?
2. Is there a coordinated IPY program for your country? If so, do you plan to link your activities to your country’s IPY program?
3. What ideas do you have for cooperative activities across ASPAC science centres and museums?

Please email your responses to gdurant@questacon.edu.au by 4 August 2006.

International Polar Year Website

International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 will be an intense, internationally coordinated campaign of research that will include interdisciplinary research in both polar regions and recognise the strong links these regions have with the rest of the globe. IPY also aims to educate and involve the general public, and to help train the next generation of leaders, scientists and engineers. The IPY website is located at www.ipy.org

IPY will be launched on 1 March 2007. The ‘year’ actually spans two full years, since a typical ‘polar research year’ extends across 18 months. With the overlap of the 18 month northern ‘polar research year’ with the 18 month southern ‘polar research year’, the duration of IPY will be two years! To date, there are 160 scientific research projects planned and 45 education and outreach initiatives, including a Youth Program.