PolarEDUCATORS

The Students on Ice Foundation hosted the International Polar Year (IPY) PolarEDUCATORS Workshop in Montréal, Canada from April 20-22, 2012, bringing together 170 international educators for an exceptional, two-day professional development opportunity.

In conjunction with the IPY 2012 From Knowledge to Action Conference (April 22-27, 2012), PolarEDUCATORS 2012 was an opportunity for educators from around the world to come together to hear presentations on topics related to the Polar Regions, including polar science, traditional ecological knowledge and critical issues facing the poles and circumpolar Arctic peoples. Participants learned new, hands-on teaching methods to stimulate interest and excitement about the Polar Regions.

Building on the extensive IPY education, outreach and communication (EOC) initiatives and the successes of the IPY 2010 PolarTEACHERS Conference, PolarEDUCATORS 2012 has contributed to the overall EOC legacy of the IPY by promoting and strengthening polar education, particularly in secondary school classrooms around the world. Participants had the opportunity to discuss best practices in teaching about the Polar Regions and inspiring youth, and were engaged in sessions on linking knowledge to action, public engagement, education and outreach.

PolarEDUCATORS workshop participants participated in From Knowledge to Action, a premier polar science conference that brought together 3,000 participants from more than 40 countries. Hosted by the Palais des congrès conference centre in the heart of downtown Montréal, the conference showcased the latest polar scientific results. It also offered syntheses of the extensive research and opportunities to discuss the application of recent findings to critical issues for the Arctic and Antarctic regions and for the rest of the world. Many business and industry topics, including shipping, resource development, as well as important issues for northern communities were also be examined.

From Knowledge to Action engaged participants in panels, debates and workshops focused on increasing our understanding of the many changes in the Polar Regions. It provided opportunities for participants to discuss the implications of recent polar research on human and environmental health, biodiversity, resource development, security and shipping, among other critical issues.

PolarEDUCATORS

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