IPY Oslo science conference: polar science - global impact

The IPY Oslo Science Conference will demonstrate, strengthen, and extend the International Polar Year's accomplishments in science and outreach. The conference is an essential opportunity to display and explore the full breadth and implications of IPY activities. The international and interdisciplinary science conference will in particular highlight the global impact of the changes that have been observed in the Polar Regions.

Included in the conference are the following themes:

Polar ecosystems and biodiversity (Theme 3):
Polar ecosystems span a vast range of contrasting environments from open ocean to multi-year sea-ice and from dry lakes to glaciers. Most of them represent extreme environments with harsh conditions inhabited by organisms that represent remarkable examples of adaptation, specialisation, and diversity.

Many polar marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems currently undergo substantial changes, but our knowledge about the virgin state of these systems is scarce. In many cases, this IPY provided the first comprehensive and systematic investigations of these biological and ecological systems. Theme 3 includes the full range of microbial, invertebrate, plant, fish, avian and mammalian species interacting with their unique polar environments. Small scale, specific environments are considered as well as interconnections between large ocean and terrestrial systems.

Human dimensions of change: Health, society and resources (Theme 4)
IPY 2007-2008 was the first international polar year with a designated field for the social sciences and the humanities, summarised as “The Human Dimension” in the IPY science program. This Theme presents the rich legacy of the impressive array of research that has been undertaken during IPY across fields such as culture, history, economics, human and social development, governance, heritage, health, community well being, and adaptation to change. The sessions will give evidence of interdisciplinary cooperation and of the participation of Arctic residents, and will demonstrate the growth and vitality of social science and humanities research on both Polar Regions.