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International Polar Week as an educational activity to boost science–educational links: Portugal as a case study

Part of: Celebrating IPY Education, Outreach and Engagement – 10 years on

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2019

José C. Xavier Open the ORCID record for José C. Xavier [Opens in a new window] ,
Patrícia Fialho Azinhaga ,
José Seco  and
Gerlis Fugmann
José C. Xavier*
Affiliation:
Marine and Environmental Research Centre (MARE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000–456, Portugal British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
Patrícia Fialho Azinhaga
Affiliation:
Institute of Education, University of Lisbon, Alameda da Universidade, Lisboa 1649–013, Portugal Polar Educators International (PEI), ARCUS, 3535 College Rd., Suite 101, Fairbanks, AK 99709–3710, USA
José Seco
Affiliation:
CESAM and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810–193, Portugal Pelagic Ecology Research Group, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
Gerlis Fugmann
Affiliation:
Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS), Alfred Wegener Institute, Potsdam, Telegrafenberg A43, Potsdam 14473, Germany
*
Email: jccx@cantab.net
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Abstract

International Polar Week is an educational activity that has been carried out since the International Polar Year 2007–2008 (known then as International Polar Days). This event, which brings together educators and polar scientists to promote polar science, is generally organised by the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists and Polar Educators International. Here we provide an overview of how International Polar Week started, and describe its implementation in Portugal, a “non-polar” country. We quantify the activities carried out during International Polar Weeks in Portugal between 2012 and 2017, which involved >96,000 students, >200 schools, >1900 educators and 100 polar scientists, with talks and Skype calls by polar scientists being the most frequent activities. Portugal’s International Polar Weeks have involved students, educators and polar scientists from 18 other countries, in particular from the United Kingdom and Brazil. We conclude by providing recommendations to other countries wanting to implement International Polar Weeks.

Keywords

Association of Polar Early Career ScientistsInternational Polar YearOutreachPolar education
Type
Research Note
Information
Polar Record , Volume 54 , Issue 5-6 , September 2018 , pp. 360 - 365
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

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