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The International Polar Foundation (IPF) is honored that SWIFT has joined the ranks of the IPF's sponsors, supporting our mission of bridging the science-society divide.

During the kick-off meeting which took place at SWIFT's headquarters in Brussels, a series of guidelines were established between the two partners to pursue common goals related to actions against climate change.

The objective of this action plan is to raise awareness and general knowledge about climate change issues, including actions that can be taken at individual and collective levels, both internally and externally.

In September, the IPF will be present at SIBOS 2009 in Hong Kong with SWIFT.

With the first season of Class Zero Emission behind us, it is time for the International Polar Foundation to release its first assessment of the project. With 1700 pupils (1000 flemish-speaking and 700 French-speaking) having attended the workshop since its opening in March 2009, the IPF's educational team is quite satisfied with the overall outcome.

Another positive point worth mentionning is the fact that the attendance was extremely diversified with pupils coming from all over the country and all types of schooling (i.e. professionnal, technical or general).

Feedback on the tools used in Class Zero Emission was positive, highlighting an appreciation for their interactivity and diversity. Over the next season, new tools will be introduced in the Classroom and teachers will have the possibility of following a training program associated to the themes developed in Class Zero Emission.

Don't waste any more time and reserve your workshop now:  inscriptions for the month of September have started!

The International Polar Foundation attended the European Polar Summit 2009 held on the 24th of June at the International Auditorium in Brussels and organised by the European Polar Board. During this meeting a Memorandum of Understanding for a "European Polar Framework" was signed closing the EUROPOLAR ERA-NET project.

The EUROPOLAR ERA-NET is a project funded by the European Commission, bringing together 27 Funding Organisations from 19 countries.

During this conference, the survey results of this European project were presented with regards to:

• European Arctic and Antarctic research stations (including the recently inaugurated Princess Elisabeth Station)
• Research vessels and planes
• National research programs conducted in the Polar Regions

Presentations were also made of the BOREAS project (Histories from the North - environments, movements, narratives) and of the Aurora Borealis project.

The movie "Beyond the Poles", which was directed and produced by the International Polar Foundation for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), was also shown to highlight the scientific efforts undertaken during the 4th International Polar Year (2007-2008).

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