Call for IPY-5 National Committees

Photo: Andre Moreau

IPY-5 will be a large-scale multilateral coordinated action to address urgent global challenges by advancing polar research. Its success will depend on strong national contributions linked together through international cooperation.

Local and national contributions will be coordinated by IPY-5 National Committees that any country interested in contributing to the IPY-5 can set up from October 2025. The committees should be active through the IPY-5 in 2032-33 until at least one year past the conclusion of IPY-5. 

As a multilateral, coordinated action, the 5th International Polar Year (IPY-5) in 2032-33 will be built largely on national contributions. These national contributions will be critical for supporting and implementing the internationally coordinated planning, delivery and evaluation processes for IPY-5. 

IPY-5 National Committees may be formed by any country wanting to contribute to the IPY-5 with national activities.

 

Role of IPY-5 National Committees

The functional responsibilities of IPY-5 National Committees will vary between countries. In some countries, IPY-5 National Committees may be involved in funding processes. In all countries, these Committees are encouraged to work under the following general terms of reference:

 

Central National Responsibilities

  1. To encourage and facilitate the provision of necessary national funds, logistical support, and other support for the implementation of activities contributing to the IPY-5 objectives;

  2. To facilitate the planning and implementation of national activities contributing to IPY-5, including, where appropriate, the national endorsement of IPY-5 expressions of intent and/or proposals;

  3. To ensure that nationally-collected IPY data are available to the international research community and the wider polar community in accordance with protocols and international standards developed for data exchange within IPY-5;

  4. To take a lead role on issues of education, outreach and communication (incl. education, public engagement and knowledge sharing) at the local and national level

 

Central Responsibilities within the international IPY-5 planning process

  1. To act as an information conduit from the IPY-5 Planning Groups to the national scientific community and wider polar community to promote awareness of and interest in IPY-5;

  2. To provide national input to the IPY-5 Planning Group for the formulation of the IPY-5 programme of activities;

  3. To encourage and facilitate national contributions to the cost of the international polar science and knowledge sharing coordination and integration of IPY-5;

  4. To assist the IPY-5 Planning Group in the planning, implementation, data management, delivery, evaluation and legacy of IPY-5;

  5. To host regional or international IPY-5 meetings as needed.

  6. To ensure the cross-links with international polar initiatives ongoing and/or planned.

 

Composition of IPY-5 National Committees

IPY-5 National Committees may be composed of, for example: 

  • National funding agencies;

  • National polar programmes;

  • institutions (e.g. universities) / research centres / organisations / think tanks etc. involved in Arctic or Antarctic research (including those in charge of logistic field work and data management implementation) within the country;

  • Existing national networks e.g. for polar early career scientists, polar educators. 

  • other organisations and institutions (e.g. Indigenous Peoples´ organisations) as appropriate.

 

Establishing an IPY-5 National Committee

When can IPY-5 National Committees be established?

Countries may establish an IPY-5 National Committee at any time during the ramp-up period to IPY-5 from October 2025 onwards. The IPY-5 National Committee will be expected to remain active until at least one year after the conclusion of IPY-5.  

 

Who can establish an IPY-5 National Committee in a country?

An IPY-5 National Committee should be usually established by the body most responsible for coordinating polar research within a country in cooperation with other national bodies and polar communities such as:

  • National funding agencies;

  • National polar programs;

  • Institutions (e.g. universities) / research centres / organisations / think tanks etc. involved in Arctic or Antarctic research within the country;

  • Existing national networks e.g. for polar early career scientists, polar educators. 

  • Other organisations and institutions (e.g. Indigenous organisations) as appropriate.

 

Can existing national polar committees serve as IPY-5 National Committee?

Yes, if a national committee already exists which represents the polar (research) community within a country, this committee may serve as the IPY-5 National Committee. 

 

How to establish an IPY-5 National Committee?

Each country is responsible for organising the establishment of an IPY-5 National Committee on their own. They may consider among others:

  • What type of IPY-5 National Committee should be set up that best fits their needs to coordinate their national IPY-5 planning; 

  • Which organisations / institutions etc. within the country to invite to the IPY-5 National Committee; 

  • What timeline is needed for setting up the committee;

  • How the committee is internally structured and how it operates;

  • How the national committee should be represented in the international IPY-5 coordination.

  • What activities the national committee will focus on to fulfill its role as an IPY-5 National Committee 

 

Endorsement for IPY-5 National Committees

Countries must inform the IPY-5 Executive Committee and IPY-5 Interim Secretariat / International Coordination Office when they establish an IPY-5 National Committee. 

The following information must be sent to the IPY-5 Interim Secretariat / International Coordination Office to receive endorsement as an IPY-5 National Committee:

  • Information on membership and leadership of the IPY-5 National Committee

  • a central contact point for general communication. 

  • Up to two representatives for the IPY-5 National Representatives Coordination Committee (NRCC) 

Only endorsed IPY-5 National Committees will be listed on the IPY-5 website and will be included in the IPY-5 National Representatives Coordination Committee.