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You are in:  Home » International Polar Year

International Polar Year

• International Polar Year website
• Progress Report for SCAR
• SCAR nominated to participate on new International Polar Year Joint Committee
  for planning and coordination of the International Polar Year
• Announcement for the post of Director of the International Programme Office
  of the International Year (IPY) 2007-2008
• Call for Expression of Intent for the IPY
• SCAR comments on the IPY
• ICSU Memo
• Proposed Approach and Workplan
• IPY Planning Timeline

Appointment of Dr David Carlson

back to IPY page

Dear All,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr David Carlson to the post of Director of the International Polar Year 2007-2008 International Programme Office (IPO). As you are aware, the post will be based at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge and is funded by the Natural Environmental Research Council. David will commence at Cambridge on 9 May 2005.

The IPY 2007-2008 will be an extremely high profile period of internationally coordinated scientific research and observation focused on the Earth's polar regions. An IPY Joint Committee (IPY JC), established by the International Council for Science and World Meteorological Organisation, is responsible for planning, coordinating and overseeing events during the IPY. David and the Programme Office team will play a key role in supporting the IPY JC, promoting, facilitating and coordinating the IPY worldwide.

David is an accomplished scientist and leader. He served as Director of the Atmospheric Technology Division of the US National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Colorado for nine years between 1994-2003. Prior to that he was for three years the Director of the office coordinating the 'Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean - Atmosphere Response Experiment' (TOGA COARE) leading oceanic and atmospheric scientists from twelve nations in a large ICSU/WMO climate research programme. Most recently, David has been working on oceanographic research as a visiting scientist for NCAR. David is originally from the mid west of the United States and holds a PhD in Oceanography from the University of Maine. He is married with two sons, and outside work has a keen interest in mountain biking.

The IPO now also has an Administrator. Nicola Munro has been working in the IPY office since the beginning of April. She was educated in Sweden before gaining a degree in Geography from Kings College, London. Most recently she worked for Cambridge Council on a major GIS project but also has experience of customer relations.

Alongside his role in the BAS Programme Office, Cynan Ellis-Evans has been assisting with the development of IPY for the past 18 months and has been the acting Director of the IPY Programme Office for the past 6 months. To ensure continuity, Cynan will continue to play a full role in supporting IPY activities until David has settled in, after which the level of Cynan's commitment will be reviewed.
Best regards,
Chris

Prof C. G. Rapley CBE
Director
British Antarctic Survey