HR: 10:40h
AN: ED32B-02 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Bridging the Poles: Education Linked with Research
AU: * Pfirman, S
EM: spfirman@barnard.columbia.edu
AF: Barnard College, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 United States
AU: Bell, R E
EM: robinb@ldeo.columbia.edu
AF: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Torrey Cliff, Palisades, NY 10964-8000 United States
AU: Turrin, M
EM: mkt@ldeo.columbia.edu
AF: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Torrey Cliff, Palisades, NY 10964-8000 United States
AU: Maru, P
EM: pm2127@barnard.edu
AF: Barnard College, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 United States
AB: An international group of 65 scientists, educators and media specialists gathered at the "Bridging the Poles" workshop in Washington, DC on June 23-25, to define strategies that will inspire the general public and engage the next generation of polar scientists, engineers and leaders. This NSF-sponsored workshop was the first effort to develop an integrated education and outreach program for the International Polar Year of 2007-2009. Through a series of plenary talks and roundtable discussions, workshop participants focused on: engaging diverse communities, opportunities and needs for different levels, possibilities for thematic areas, and programs to feature nationally and internationally over the next 5 years. To maximize the potential of the International Polar Year, we need to coordinate research, education and outreach efforts, at the international as well as national level, with the goal of building an integrated and exciting public presence during 2007-2009. Successful education and outreach programming requires leveraging existing resources, creating new programs, connecting communities, and developing partnerships between agencies, scientists, educators, and the public. We need to consider the rich heritage of indigenous Arctic peoples, build capacity within communities through targeted efforts, and focus on making the poles relevant to diverse communities by using interdisciplinary approaches, e.g. cultural as well as scientific. A series of education and outreach packages for large-scale science endeavors should be rolled out to the public as major media events. The media -- television, radio and print -- as well as educators, zoos and museums are eager to use timely, accessible, and meaningful content. An Interagency Working Group on IPY Education and Outreach, with a staff and a central office, must be created to coordinate and leverage programs. A sophisticated web portal should be developed to serve content and contacts for researchers, educators, the media, and the public at all levels. Multi-level access to high-quality data and content requires improved high bandwidth communications -- this is an issue that emerged repeatedly as critical to timely and dynamic connections between the poles, the media and other communities. Sustained funding for polar education and outreach programs will be essential. To be ready for the IPY we need to start this effort now: it takes years to develop meaningful education and outreach programs.
DE: 9310 Antarctica
DE: 9315 Arctic region
DE: 0800 EDUCATION
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting