The International Polar Year, which will extend from March 2007 through March 2009, is envisioned as an intense scientific campaign to explore new frontiers in polar science, improve our understanding of the critical role of the polar regions in global processes, and educate students, teachers, and the public about the polar regions and their importance to the global system. Projects are expected to involve a pulse of activity during the IPY, have multi- and interdisciplinary scopes, leave a legacy of infrastructure and data, expand international cooperation, engage the public in polar discovery, and help attract the next generation of scientists and engineers.

The President's Office of Science and Technology Policy designated the National Science Foundation (NSF) as the lead Federal agency in organizing U.S.-IPY activities. In 2005 the U.S. National Committee for IPY, formed under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences, published International Polar Year 2007-2008: Report of the Implementation Workshop, which articulates a framework for the science ideas submitted by many individuals and research communities in the United States for the next IPY. A joint committee of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has also published additional planning information. ICSU-WMO is facilitating international cooperation through an international program office in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

This page and the associated pages provide information on current NSF funding opportunities, contact information, and other related information for the U.S. research and education communities. Information on the activities of other Federal agencies and for the public is available through the U.S. Interagency International Polar Year site, which is maintained by NSF's Office of Legislative and Public Affairs.

FISCAL YEAR 2008 NSF BUDGET REQUEST

• NSF International Polar Year (IPY) Fiscal Year 2008 budget summary
• NSF IPY Fiscal Year 2008 budget table

FISCAL YEAR 2007 NSF BUDGET REQUEST

• NSF International Polar Year (IPY) Fiscal Year 2007 budget summary
• NSF IPY Fiscal Year 2007 budget table

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND RELATED INFORMATION

• International Polar Year solicitation, 2007 (NSF 07-536)
• Dear Colleague Letter for the International Polar Year (NSF 07-008)
• International Polar Year solicitation, 2006 (NSF 06-534)
• Additional NSF IPY funding opportunities (Ongoing NSF programs that are accepting IPY proposals)
• NSF IPY Program Contacts (NSF program directors who have been designated as IPY research and education program contacts)
  
  
• List of NSF IPY awards made in 2006

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL WEB SITES

• U.S. Interagency International Polar Year web site
• U.S. Committee to the International Polar Year, 2007-2008 (U.S. National Committee site, maintained by the Polar Research Board of the National Academy of Science)
• International Scientific Council (ICSU) International Polar Year Planning Committee (International IPY Programme Office, established by the ICSU-WMO Joint Committee on the International Polar Year)

IPY REPORTS

• The International Polar Years 2007-2009: Report on U.S. Federal Agencies’ Planning
• A Vision for the International Polar Year, 2007-2008, U.S. National Committee for the International Polar Year, Polar Research Board, National Academy of Sciences