 |
Bridging the Poles: Education Linked with Research |
|
|
Introduction |
|
The goals of the "Bridging the Poles"
workshop of June 23-25, 2004 were to define strategies to engage the
next generation of polar scientists, engineers and leaders, and inspire
and educate the general public. The timeframe considered was the next
five years, including maximizing the educational impact of the International
Polar Year (IPY) in 2007-2009. The ca. 65 participants included K-12
educators, undergraduate professors, Arctic and Antarctic research
scientists, Alaskan natives and residents, museum curators, representatives
from agencies, the media and international programs.
The workshop focused on
four major themes: The 22 roundtable discussions on these topics resulted in numerous recommendations to engage both future scientists and the general public. This report synthesizes opportunities for polar education and outreach identified at the workshop, recommends ways to maximize the impact of the IPY, and proposes "Next Steps" to develop polar education and outreach over the next five years. A Vision for the International Polar Year 2007-2008 (2004)
Environmental changes currently witnessed in the polar regions are vivid and in many cases greater than changes observed in the midlatitudes or tropics. The Arctic ice cover is decreasing in extent and area; some ice shelves in Antarctica are retreating and thinning; glaciers across the globe are shrinking; ecosystems are changing; Alaskan villages are being moved to higher ground in response to rising sea levels; and permafrost is causing the collapse of roads and buildings. We must understand these changes in the context of past changes in order to make decisions for the future. Yet we do not understand how or why many of the changes are occurring ... IPY 2007-2008 [later extended to 2009] is envisioned to be an intense, coordinated campaign of polar observations, research and analysis that will be multidisciplinary in scope and international in participation. ... It will be a watershed event and will use today’s powerful research tools to better understand the key roles of the polar regions in global processes. Automated observatories, satellite-based remote sensing, autonomous vehicles, the Internet, and genomics are just a few of the innovative approaches for studying previously inaccessible realms. ... Such a program will not only add to our scientific understanding, but also it will result in a world community with shared ownership in the results. ... It will serve as a mechanism to attract and develop a new generation of scientists and engineers with the versatility to tackle complex global issues. In addition, there clearly is an opportunity to organize an exciting range of educational and outreach activities designed to excite and engage the public, with a presence in classrooms around the world and in the media in varied and innovative formats.
|
