Innovation Anthology #126:
International Polar Year is generating all kinds of scientific activity. But what will be the legacy of IPY?
That’s a question scientists and public officials from many polar nations are trying to answer. And they’ve established a group called SAON to do just that.
SAON stands for Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks.
Over 200 participants from SAON met in Edmonton in mid-April for the second of three workshops. The first was in Stockholm.
Their goal is to establish long term international commitments to coordinate and sustain these Arctic Observing Networks.
Co-chair Dr. David Hik from the University of Alberta describes the outcome of the Edmonton workshop.
DR. DAVID HIK:
What we realized is we’re very close to achieving our objectives. The major issues are really about how we handle information, how we collect data in a standardized format, how we archive it so it’s safe in perpetuity, how we share it openly and freely, and how we translate it so that it can be understood by the scientific community but also by the public and people responsible for public policy.
The SAON participants will meet again this fall in Helsinki.
FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY,
I’M CHERYL CROUCHER
Guest
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Sponsor
Program Date: 2008-04-17