UiT Aims to Be the Hub for the Next International Polar Year

"Norway is a leading polar research nation, and it is very positive that UiT – The Arctic University of Norway is taking leadership in the planning of the upcoming International Polar Year in 2032–2033. This research is crucial for our security," says Minister of Research and Higher Education, Sigrun Aasland.

The secretariat will coordinate the global research efforts related to the polar regions over a period of nearly eight years.

Extensive International Support

The application is backed by an international consortium led by UiT, in collaboration with the Norwegian Polar Institute, the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) in South Korea, and the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) in Chile. The application has received support from 20 international institutions, including organisations in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, India, and China.

If the application is approved, Tromsø will become the main base for the secretariat, with international nodes in South Korea and Chile. The office is planned to be established in January 2027.

"Over many decades, Norway has built strong academic communities and international collaborations in polar research. With the expertise we have gathered in Tromsø and across the country, we believe Norway is well-equipped to take responsibility for coordinating the next IPY," says Jørgen Berge, Prorector for Research and Innovation at UiT.

Advancing the International Polar Year

The IPY has traditionally been conducted on a 50-year cycle since 1882. The initiative is driven by major international scientific organisations and other global stakeholders.

The most recent IPY took place in 2007–2008. The upcoming International Polar Year is therefore occurring earlier than the traditional 50-year cycle. The reason for this is climate change.

"The changes we are witnessing in the polar regions are happening so rapidly that the need for new knowledge and international coordination is far more urgent than before. That is why this IPY is being brought forward," says Berge.

Requires Close Collaboration

The goal of the IPY is to provide the world with a much stronger knowledge base about the significance of the polar regions, not only in terms of climate but also geopolitically and socially.

"The polar regions influence far more than just the local climate in the north and south. It also concerns global societal changes, geopolitics, resource management, and how people live and work in these areas. The ambition is to strengthen the knowledge base across many disciplines," he says.

"To succeed with a project of this scale, close collaboration between research communities and nations is essential. The role of the secretariat will be to ensure that activities are coordinated and that knowledge, data, and resources are utilised as effectively as possible," says Berge.

The secretariat will be operational throughout the planning and implementation phases, and its work will continue even after the International Polar Year has concluded. The initiative has an estimated total budget of over 100 million Norwegian kroner.

A decision on who will host the international secretariat is expected by July.

Eidum, Espen Viklem espen.eidum@uit.no Seniorrådgiver kommunikasjon

Published: 05.06.26 10:53 Updated: 05.06.26 11:17

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