The National Science Foundation (NSF), the lead U.S. federal agency for IPY, has launched an IPY web portal (http://www.us-ipy.gov) with access to news releases, classroom resources, listings of museum and gallery exhibits and catalogues of video and still images.
On 31 January 2006, the Office of Polar Programs at NSF released its International Polar Year (IPY) Program Solicitation. The solicitation is divided into two basic emphasis areas: IPY Research and IPY Education.
Research will address three topics:
(1) ice sheet history and dynamics;
(2) biological adaptations at the cellular and genomic level to life in extreme cold and prolonged darkness; and,
(3) Arctic Observing Network.
Education will involve three topics:
(1) polar formal science education, including teacher professional enhancement, and undergraduate and graduate students;
(2) polar informal science education, e.g., television, radio, film, museums, Worldwide Web, games and other media; and,
(3) coordination and communication.
It is anticipated that $12,000,000 will be available for a total of 20-30 awards. The last day for submission of proposals is 1 May 2006. It is anticipated that there will be a significant response to the NSF solicitation by the faculty of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, including a proposal for the coordination and communication activity.
A week before the NSF announcement, NASA announced Research Opportunities in the Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES 2006).
ROSES 2006 covers all aspects of basic and applied research and technology in space and Earth sciences. Within the Earth Sciences Program description there is specific language about IPY and the scope of NASA’s IPY interests related to (1) inter-disciplinary approaches to the study of polar processes and links between the polar regions and the rest of the Earth System, and (2) the study of the Lunar and Martian polar regions.
It is anticipated that $6,000,000 will be available annually for NASA Earth Science for a total of about 25 awards. Proposals will be accepted between 14 April 2006 and 10 February 2007.
More information:
International Polar Year Website