| Session Details | |
| Section | IWG - Interdisciplinary Working Groups |
| Session Title | IPY 2007-2008 and Asian Contribution |
| Main Convener | Prof. Takashi Yamanouchi (National Institute of Polar Research, Japan) |
| Co-convener(s) | Dr. Sun Bo (Polar Research Institute of China, China) Dr. Yeadong Kim (Korea Polar Research Institute, Korea, South) Dr. Rahul Mohan (National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, India) Dr. Siti Aishah Alias (University Malaya, Malaysia) |
| Session Description | The fourth International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 has been held after 50 years since the International Geophysical Year (IGY). During IGY the basis of National Antarctic Research Expeditions had been established, and after then several Asian countries started their own Antarctic Program. Recently many Asian countries are actively engaged also in the Arctic observations as well as in the Antarctic. In 2004 the Asian Forum for Polar Sciences (AFoPS) was organized having purposes to increase collaboration between Asian scientists and encourage other non-polar Asian countries to be involved in polar research. Currently China, India, Japan, Korea and Malaysia join in the AFoPS and several states participate as observers. During the last two years of IPY from March 2007 to February 2009, a lot of scientific research has been actively conducted in the various fields such as climate change, micro-biology, upper atmosphere, oceanography and geosciences in the Arctic and Antarctic by AFoPS countries. Also, several cooperative projects are ongoing under AFoPS working groups. This special IPY Session aims to exhibit and discuss the results from those studies made under IPY projects and others acquired recently in the Arctic and Antarctic. Also the session will provide an opportunity for seeking future international projects and collaboration in the polar regions. Any scientists who have interest in polar research are welcomed. |