IPY Task Groups
Tasks Groups are short-term groups working on a specific issue to address a strategic aspect of the IPY planning process. Members are nominated by the IPY Planning Group from their organisations or other relevant experts will be invited depending on the expertise needed.
Task Groups will report on their progress to the IPY Planning Group at their biannual meetings.
Four Task Groups have been created so far.
Task Group 1: Vision and Priorities for IPY 2032/33
Task Group 1 aims to identify a vision and purpose for IPY-5. This includes suggesting joint polar issues which should be addressed as well as large lead products that could be worked on. The Task Group will also work on identifying metrics for success.
The Task Group is chaired by Prof Rob Dunbar and will be composed of representative of both the Antarctic and Arctic (including Indigenous representation) both from the IPY Planning Group and on an ad hoc expert basis.
The group will start its work in June 2025 and will present results before the end of 2025.
Task Group 2: IPY Indigenous Leadership and Involvement Coordination
This Task Group aims to produce a detailed plan for coordination of Indigenous leadership and involvement in the 5th IPY planning process as well as the IPY 2032-33 itself. The discussion will be held in close connection with the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) Process and its Indigenous Peoples’ Coordination Group.
The group will be composed of representatives of the Indigenous organisations represented on the IPY Planning Group, representatives of the ICARP IV process and other Indigenous representatives including from the Southern Hemisphere.
The group is due to start mid-2025.
Task Group 3: Country and Funders Involvement
In December 2024, the Country and Funders Involvement
Task Group 3 started to work on a detailed plan and suggested timeline for the involvement of countries and funders in the IPY-5 planning process in December 2024. The Task Group will recommend the structure to be set up within the IPY-5 planning process for engagement with countries and funders and a timeline for setting these up, as well as identify relevant bodies to contact and how best to reach out to them to seek their input into the planning process.
The Task Group aims to have these plans ready for September 2025.
Task Group 4: Capacity Building and Early Career Coordination
Task Group 4 is co-led by UArctic and APECS and will begin its work in 2025. The aim of the Task Group is to create a detailed plan to ensure the integration of capacity building activities for future generations of polar professionals. The Task Group will coordinate the involvement of ECRs and connect relevant bodies to guide the representation of early career voices in the IPY-5 planning process.