Role of IPY-5 National Committees

The functional responsibilities of IPY-5 National Committees will vary between countries. In some countries, IPY-5 National Committees may be involved in funding processes. In all countries, these Committees are encouraged to work under the following general terms of reference:

Central National Responsibilities:

1. To encourage and facilitate the provision of necessary national funds, logistical support, and other support for the implementation of activities contributing to the IPY-5 objectives;

2. To facilitate the planning and implementation of national activities contributing to IPY-5, including, where appropriate, the national endorsement of IPY-5 expressions of intent and/or proposals;

3. To ensure that nationally-collected IPY data are available to the international research community and the wider polar community in accordance with protocols and international standards developed for data exchange within IPY-5;

4. To take a lead role on issues of education, outreach and communication (incl. education, public engagement and knowledge sharing) at the local and national level;

Central Responsibilities within the international IPY-5 planning process:

5. To act as an information conduit from the IPY-5 Planning Groups to the national scientific community and wider polar community to promote awareness of and interest in IPY-5;

6. To provide national input to the IPY-5 Planning Group for the formulation of the IPY-5 programme of activities;

7. To encourage and facilitate national contributions to the cost of the international polar science and knowledge sharing coordination and integration of IPY-5;

8. To assist the IPY-5 Planning Group in the planning, implementation, data management, delivery, evaluation and legacy of IPY-5;

9. To host regional or international IPY-5 meetings as needed.

10. To ensure the cross-links with international polar initiatives ongoing and/or planned.

Composition of IPY-5 National Committees

IPY-5 National Committees may be composed of, for example: 

• National funding agencies;

• National polar programmes;

• institutions (e.g. universities) / research centres / organisations / think tanks etc. involved in Arctic or Antarctic research (including those in charge of logistic field work and data management implementation) within the country;

• Existing national networks e.g. for polar early career scientists, polar educators. 

• other organisations and institutions (e.g. Indigenous Peoples´ organisations) as appropriate.

Establishing an IPY-5 National Committee

When can IPY-5 National Committees be established?

Countries may establish an IPY-5 National Committee at any time during the ramp-up period to IPY-5 from October 2025 onwards. The IPY-5 National Committee will be expected to remain active until at least one year after the conclusion of IPY-5.  

Who can establish an IPY-5 National Committee in a country?

An IPY-5 National Committee should be usually established by the body most responsible for coordinating polar research within a country in cooperation with other national bodies and polar communities such as:

• National funding agencies;

• National polar programs;

• Institutions (e.g. universities) / research centres / organisations / think tanks etc. involved in Arctic or Antarctic research within the country;

• Existing national networks e.g. for polar early career scientists, polar educators. 

• Other organisations and institutions (e.g. Indigenous organisations) as appropriate.

Can existing national polar committees serve as IPY-5 National Committee?

Yes, if a national committee already exists which represents the polar (research) community within a country, this committee may serve as the IPY-5 National Committee. 

How to establish an IPY-5 National Committee?

Each country is responsible for organising the establishment of an IPY-5 National Committee on their own. They may consider among others:

• What type of IPY-5 National Committee should be set up that best fits their needs to coordinate their national IPY-5 planning; 

• Which organisations / institutions etc. within the country to invite to the IPY-5 National Committee; 

• What timeline is needed for setting up the committee;

• How the committee is internally structured and how it operates;

• How the national committee should be represented in the international IPY-5 coordination.

• What activities the national committee will focus on to fulfill its role as an IPY-5 National Committee

Endorsement for IPY-5 National Committees

Countries must inform the IPY-5 Executive Committee and IPY-5 Interim Secretariat / International Coordination Office when they establish an IPY-5 National Committee. 

The following information must be sent to the IPY-5 Interim Secretariat / International Coordination Office to receive endorsement as an IPY-5 National Committee:

• Information on membership and leadership of the IPY-5 National Committee

• a central contact point for general communication. 

• Up to two representatives for the IPY-5 National Representatives Coordination Committee (NRCC) 

Only endorsed IPY-5 National Committees will be listed on the IPY-5 website and will be included in the IPY-5 National Representatives Coordination Committee.