12 June 2010: The closing ceremony of the International Polar Year 2007–2008 (IPY), the largest polar research and education venture ever undertaken, took place in Oslo, Norway, on 12 June 2010, the final day of the IPY Oslo Science Conference.
The IPY was sponsored by the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which passed the baton to the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, the International Arctic Science Committee and the WMO Executive Council Panel on Polar Observations, Research and Services, to secure the legacy of this initiative. “IPY was founded on the ideas and energy of thousands of scientists, educators, technicians and many more,” said Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of WMO. Deliang Chen, Executive Director of ICSU, emphasized that “IPY has paved the way for a solid understanding of the polar regions at a critical time for society’s relationship with the Earth,” and underlining the importance of the collaboration among countries and scientific disciplines for the success of IPY, called for sustaining in the long-term “the energy and partnerships that converged in IPY.”
The IPY success story has been captured in a summary report titled “Understanding Earth’s Polar Challenges: International Polar Year 2007–2008” from the ICSU-WMO Joint Committee, which oversaw the implementation of the IPY. [WMO Press Release] [IPY Website]