Ice - Climate - Education
Svalbard 2007

I.C.E.-Partner




 

 


















 

International Ice-Climate        
Education 2007
          
Arved Fuchs Youth Expedition

March 2007 marks the beginning of the International Polar Year 2007/2008. This international research project focuses on recent and possible future changes within the Arctic and Antarctic climate system and their impact on humans, animals and plants. The polar regions are more severely effected by global warming than most other regions of our planet, and the ongoing changes are already today affecting a number of plant and animal species and might bring to an end the century-old traditional life style of native inhabitants of these fragile regions.

Arved Fuchs, a German expedition leader and polar explorer knows the polar regions better than most, having carried out a vast number of expeditions in the high latitudes. In summer 2007, he is planning yet another expedition to the Arctic, using his ship the "Dagmar Aaen". As during previous expeditions, he plans also this time to interact via internet with pupils from around the world. However, he raise awareness of the ongoing threat of the polar regions owing to climate change, this time there will additionally be a competition.

The central subject of this competition is the ongoing melting of Arctic sea ice and its consequences of the local and global climate system. The competition will involve a contest of ideas not only concerning a possible rescue of the Arctic regions, but also a possible adjustment to present changes and the development of solution concepts.

The concept of this competition has been developed as openly as possible, in order to give the pupils and teachers involved the possibility of developing activities which coincide with individual subjects and their curriculum. The concept also allows the integration of projects which have taken place in the past or which are already underway. A further goal of this contest is to foster new long-term projects dealing with global warming. It is hoped that this will allow for a connection to the daily lives of the pupils or for the development of a strategy of action.

For the competition, three main subjects are envisaged:
A look at the present situation in 2007
  A vision of the future Arctic in 2040
    Present environmental and biotope protection

Further information about these subjects can be found on the following pages. The contest is intended mostly for pupils who are at least 16 years old. Participants are expected to have sufficient command of the English language and to be able to participate in lessons given in English.