Polar Outreach Catalogue

The International Polar Lecture Series activities provided tools and assistance to researchers interested in sharing their science and enthusiasm about the polar regions, and helped to sustain the momentum of the IPY Days started in 2007. Early career researchers were asked to give a presentation or arrange a guest lecture on polar research for a local group, such as Rotary, 4-H, Boy Scout/ Girl Scout troop, church groups, school associations, city councils, universities, or wherever their community gathers. Over 50 lectures were given in over ten countries as part of this series in October 2009 and March 2010. Based on the education and outreach event planning experiences of several APECS members, a step-by-step checklist with steps and other considerations was provided to assist participating researchers. This included a template for a flier to advertise the presentation and a draft press release. Global participation and presentations were tracked on the APECS website which created an instant global network making one presentation feel like a part of a much larger international effort to educate the global public about the polar regions and to excite and engage the next generation of polar researchers.