Programme framework ready for The Oslo Science Conference

Written by Anita Thorolvsen Munch, Journalist og Kristen Ulstein, Kommunikasjonsrådgiver

Published: 28.08.2009

konferanse ing (Ingressbilde)

Less than a year to go before the first worldwide conference to present the breadth of science and outreach during IPY, takes place in Oslo. The preliminary programme is now ready - and published.

The IPY Oslo Science Conference will:
  • demonstrate, strengthen, and extend IPY's remarkable accomplishments in science and outreach. 
  • represent an essential opportunity to display and explore the full breadth and implications of IPY activities.
  • emphasize the breadth and global impact of polar research during IPY. 
  • highlight the extraordinary interdisciplinary and multinational efforts in research and in communication of research to the public.

More than 3000 polar scientists are expectetd to arrive in Oslo for The Oslo Science Conference (OSC) in Oslo, June 8-12, 2010.

- A lucky draw for Norwegian polar research and The Research Council of Norway, concluded Senior Commucation Adviser at the IPY secretariat, Research council of Norway, Kristen Ulstein when it became clear that Norway was hosting the event.

The overarching science committee, chaired by Dr. David Hik, and the variuous subcommittees, has been working hard since then to get the list of sessions in the ready. More than one hundred proposals has been distilled so far into 6 themes and 34 sessions.

Evolving programme
The draft programme is now published on www.ipy-osc.no/.
The programme will continue to evolve and more information about the individual sessions will be added.

You can also find the names of the members of the six committees ("Organisation"). The spreadsheet with all themes/sessions and the schedule chart are available under "Downloads/Programme updates".

Profilbilde for konferansen i Oslo i 2010.Photo: Illustrasjon ved Fete typer
Profilbilde for konferansen i Oslo i 2010.

Timeframes and venues for each session is still to be decided. Depending on the volume of submissions for the individual sessions it is expected that some will extend through the whole IPY-OSC, while others may last for 1-2 days

In some cases the names of conveners are not listed. These are sessions where several proposals have been merged, and where the work of nominating conveners, and possibly refining session titles, has not been finalized.

For some of themes (4 and 6) you will find more details by following the link. The framing of and more information about each individual session will be published/updated as soon as we receive it from committees and conveners.

Olav OrheimPhoto: Susanne Moen Stephansen
Olav OrheimAttractive and memorable
Chair of the IPY-OSC Steering Committee, Dr. Olav Orheim, expresses hope that most proponents will find their field covered within one or more sessions. - The committee met in Oslo in June and concluded that the venue is well suited to receive a large number of participants from the wider polar science community.

- Preparations is under way to make the IPY-OSC an attractive arena for publishing science as well as a memorable social gathering. There will be a call for abstracts in October, and I hope that this conference is already in next years calendar, he said.

Dr. Orheim assures that any comments to improve the programme will be appreciated. - The Steering Committee and the Science Committees are sure that the programme will mature with the help of the community. The website will be updated with adjustments and more details about each session as we go, says Dr. Orheim.

Guidlines
The Steering Committee has given guiding criteria for the science sessions which have included:

Keep the number of sessions under each theme as low as possible.

Integrate and combine as much as possible into broad sessions. Single IPY projects should be avoided as sessions, and IPY project title or acronym should not be in session titles.

Session titles should be such that it should be readily apparent for the different IPY projects to where they should submit their contributions.

In addition the Steering committee has requested that early career scientists are included as convenors.

The steering committee on a guided tour at the IPY-OSC venue in Lillestrøm. Here by the entrance to the main hall.Photo: Kristen Ulstein
The steering committee on a guided tour at the IPY-OSC venue in Lillestrøm. Here by the entrance to the main hall.

- We want to thank everyone that demontrated interest in the conference by proposing a session. A large number of proposals were received, and the six committees responsible for the five scientific themes and the EOC programme have worked very hard to sort through these to make a total programme that would fit the available space and time of the conference, says Dr. Orheim.

Visit the website and do not forget to submit your registration for newsletters.
We will also urge you to join the IPY-OSC Facebook Group

Last updated: 28.08.2009

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Det norske IPY-sekretariatet, Norges forskningsråd, Postboks 2700 St.Hanshaugen, 0131 Oslo - Redaktør: Kristen Ulstein