For the fourth year in a row, the International Polar Foundation grants an Energy & Environment Award to a candidate whose project has had favorable implications in fighting climate change. For this year's edition, held on June 5th at the "Maison des Tanneurs" in Brussels, the winner of the IPF prize was v.z.w. Komosie, from the province of Antwerp (Berchem).

The Energy and Environment Awards started in 2006. The aim of this yearly event is to raise public awareness about various innovative projects of environmental concern. The contest is open to Belgian participants, whether individuals or professionals.

This year, the IPF awarded its special prize to vzw Komosie, for their Energiesnoeiers project. "The originality of this initiative lies in that it brings together economical, environmental and social objectives", said IPF Director Thierry Touchais. Through social reinsertion, the project sets forth to train unemployed people to conduct energy auditing in disfavored family homes and to carry out a set of energy-saving measures.

On May 28th, Alain Hubert and three other meriting scientists were awarded an honoris causa degree by the University of Hasselt in Belgium.

The university chose Alain Hubert, civil engineer, founding President of the International Polar Foundation and author of the Princess Elisabeth Station project in Antarctica, for having demonstrated "how existing scientific knowledge can foster rational solutions in facing today's social challenges."

The awarding of this honorary doctorate was first suggested by the university's Faculty of Architecture for the exceptional concept of the Princess Elisabeth Station. The university's other faculties quickly supported the idea, choosing to pay tribute to Alain Hubert's achievements as an explorer and scientist to preserve the planet's environment in face of today' economical development.

In his speech, Alain Hubert gave a significant reminder: "We do not have the luxury to wait anymore until the ideal technology to drastically cut emissions is found. We have to go much faster and go for a minimum of 60% of emissions cuts leading towards an energy efficient society by the end of the century."

On May 28th 2009, Alain Hubert was awarded the Harvard Leadership prize by the Harvard Club of Belgium. This is the first year the prize has recognized someone for his legacy.

The Leadership Prize is awarded each year to an individual or organization which embodies Harvard University's values and has made significant economical, cultural, scientific or socio-political impact on society.

With the leadership he showed throughout the Princess Elisabeth Station project, Alain Hubert was a perfect candidate for this award. The International Polar Foundation (IPF), founded by Mr. Hubert, according to the Leadership Prize, has provided a "means to address climate change" through its "innovative and scientific approach" to addressing this problem and has encouraged society to become involved. The IPF has allowed Belgium to occupy a central position in terms of climate-related knowledge.

The World Meteorological Organization and the International Council for Science have awarded the International Polar Foundation's President, Mr. Alain Hubert, and Vice-President, Ms. Nighat Amin, with a certificate of appreciation.

The IPF provided valuable contributions throughout the International Polar Year 2007-2008 and has helped to make it a success and an enduring example of international collaboration. This certificate is a special recognition to all people at IPF who contributed to IPY.

On Wednesday April 29th, 2009, the Flemish Government's department of Economy, Science and Innovation organized an afternoon of networking within the framework of a science communication action plan. As co-organizer of the meeting, the International Polar Foundation made its pedagogical workshop "Class Zero Emission" available for the occasion. All organisations active in science communication and popularization in Flanders were invited to the event.

After a short presentation by IPF's science education manager, Sandra Vanhove, an introduction to the "zero emission" concept of the Princess Elisabeth Station in Antarctica was given by project coordinator, Johan Berte. The documentary "Station Princess Elisabeth: Building the Future" was shown to the public to illustrate the Station's scientific context. Prof. Hugo Decleir then added a basic overview about the scientific research to be undertaken at the Princess Elisabeth Station, before the meeting  was rounded off by IPF pedagogical officer Isabelle Dufour with an explanation on "Class Zero Emission" and a detailed tour of the workshop.

Invited by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Alain Hubert, Director of the Princess Elisabeth Station project and winner of the Prince Albert II Foundation's award for climate change in 2008, attended a special event on Antarctica that followed up on the Prince's journey to the 7th continent during the 2008-2009 austral season. It was held on April 14th at the Grimaldi Forum of Monaco and gathered a number of scientific personalities, schoolchildren, journalists and citizens.

During the evening, a movie retracing the Prince's journey through Antarctica and his stop at the Princess Elisabeth research station amongst others was broadcasted for the first time before the public. It was a moment to discuss the importance of research, the Polar Regions and education and was further highlighted by a Q&A session between the schoolchildren and the Prince. A special intervention was offered to Alain Hubert on the following question: "The Princess Elisabeth Station has just been inaugurated and is the first "zero emission" scientific base of its kind. Why is it so important to preserve the air quality within the Antarctic area?"

The involvement of schools in the Prince's journey began in January, when the Prince landed in Antarctica. The schoolchildren had then been invited to a live conversation with the Prince when he was contacted at the Princess Elisabeth Antarctic Station by satellite telephone.

Protect 7-7, a unique photography exhibition, was held on the 7th continent in January 2009. Wim Tellier, the author of this exhibit, chose the "Gedempte Zuiderdokken" in Antwerp to unfold on April 24th through 26th his six 20m X 40m photographs that had previously been carried to and displayed in Antarctica. A total of 4800 m², it is the biggest art exhibition in the world.

Wim Tellier, a professional Belgian photographer, wanted to find a place everyone would recognize to be Antarctica where he could exhibit his masterpieces. He chose Utsteinen and the Princess Elisabeth Station for the emblem it conveys. His pictures reveal several months of travel throughout the world's six continents, in search of children aged 7 years old and of men and women aged 77 years old. The result: 7 continents, 6 elderly, 4500 children, 1 home and 1 legacy. Photographed individually with a drawing of their dreams and aspirations for the future, the 4500 children depict the infinite amount of paths which exist into the future. In the centre of each collage is the nude body of a 77-year-old.

During the Antwerp display, the "making of" the exhibit in Antarctica was revealed to the public on a wide open-air screen. It was also possible to board a crane in order to catch a better glimpse of the exhibit from high above

During the 32nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and 50th anniversary celebration in Baltimore, Maryland (USA), the Belgian minister in charge of Economy and Administrative Simplification, Mr. Vincent Van Quickenborne, was proud to announce Belgium's return to Antarctica through the achievement of the Princess Elisabeth Research Station. Special congratulations were given to Alain Hubert, Founding President of the International Polar Foundation (IPF) and Director of the Princess Elisabeth Station Antarctica project, "whose energy and determination transformed this project into reality."

Festivities celebrating the Antarctic Treaty's 50th anniversary began in Washington on April 6th in the presence of U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. The ATCM then continued at the Baltimore Convention Center from April 7th through 17th. Nearly 400 people representing 47 countries attended the event in order to discuss the future of Antarctica's status amongst the international community, its environment and scientific research.

On Wednesday April 15th, the IPF gave a special presentation on the Princess Elisabeth Station at the Convention Center. It was attended by the Belgian Ambassador in Washington, Jan Mathyessen, and no less than 150 people. After a short film retracing the expedition achievements, Ms. Nighat Amin, Program Administrator of the Princess Elisabeth Station project and Vice-President of the IPF, introduced the international crowd to the technological performances of this unique and remarkable project and the public-private partnership which has contributed to its realization.

In collaboration with the International Polar Foundation, STIB / MIVB (Société des transports intercommunaux de Bruxelles / Maatschappij voor Intercommunaal Vervoer van Brussel) inaugurated a new Metro station in Brussels on Monday, March 23rd. This new underground station, baptised "Belgica", is a tribute to Belgian exploration in Antarctica and a reminder of the dangers of climate change.

Belgica is the name of the ship aboard which Adrien de Gerlache led the first overwintering expedition in Antarctica in 1897-1898. The history of Belgium has since been tightly bound to the Antarctic continent and is now once again at the forefront of history with the recent inauguration of the first "zero emission" research station, the Princess Elisabeth.

In order to retrace Belgium's long history in Antarctica and celebrate the International Polar Year, two gigantic murals have been printed on either side of the platform. Texts and pictures were provided by the International Polar Foundation (the polar mural) and the Brussels Institute for Environmental Management (climate change mural).

A third mural, the result of a public participation initiative that was undertaken in the Metro station, depicts the views and ideas the wider public has on climate change and the Polar Regions. Various associations, including the International Polar Foundation, had a stand at the Metro station over an entire week with the sole purpose of diffusing knowledge about the climate issue, giving ideas on how to fight the climate challenge and getting people involved in the debate. Directed by the Belgian artist Blaise Patrix (Ateliers Partage SMART, asbl), the result is a magnificent multi-coloured and stylistic mural.

Class Zero Emission (CZE), a pedagogical workshop initiated by the International Polar Foundation (IPF) covering the themes of the Polar Regions and climate change, was officially inaugurated on 25 March 2009 at the IPF in Brussels.

Before an audience of two classroom schoolchildren (one French-speaking and one Dutch-speaking), journalists and ministers, Alain Hubert, President and co-Founder of the IPF, underlined how important it was to initiate projects like this in order to educate future generations and get them to understand climate change and its impact on the environment. The objective is to get them to change their habits and adopt a more sustainable way of life. This was backed by Mr Vandenbroucke, Flemish Minister of Education in Belgium, who, in his speech, reminded us how important it was "to leave as little a trace of our presence on earth as possible in order to leave a healthy planet for our children and grand-children."

Moreover, CZE answers the teaching community's request for pedagogical material tackling the issues related to climate change. Class Zero Emission will help answer the questions pupils may ask themselves about the environment and any changes it may have to undergo and will teach them how the poles, aside from being a beautiful landscape, are key in scientific studies. Moreover, CZE teaches the pupils which actions they can undertake in order to stop climate change.

Finally, a special thanks was given to the Flemish and French-speaking Communities of Belgium, to the project partners, and all the people who contributed to making CZE a reality.