Using Real-time Communication Technology to Bridge Students and Real Science Research During the International Polar Year

Live from the International Polar Year (IPY)!, transported students and the public to remote polar locations through live from the field calls and internet presentations during the International Polar Year (2007-2009). Live from IPY! uses a simple online interface to support real-time presentations, audio, text chat, and when possible, video, as an interactive, web-based education resource. From isolated locations such as the Greenland Ice Sheet or a Coast Guard vessel navigating the Arctic Ocean, teachers and researchers in the polar regions interacted with students in real time. Whether communication was limited to a satellite phone or presenters had high speed internet, Live from IPY events were successful because they were free and they relied on simple technology that could be adapted to different field and classroom environments.

From January 2007 to January 2010, the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. hosted 69 Live from IPY! events, including six events celebrating the International Polar Days held in conjunction with the International IPY Programme office. Each event is archived and available on the PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) website. In total, over 14,000 people participated in Live from IPY! events from numerous states across the U.S. and other countries. The majority of participants, 83%, were K–12 students, and over 1,000 questions and answers from students and the public have been shared over the connection. Our experience facilitating the events shows students engaged in an unparalleled educational science and technology experience, and educators opening doors to greater understanding and confidence in bringing technology into the classroom.

Thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation, the Live from IPY! events will be part of the legacy of the fourth International Polar Year.