(Ashok B. Sharma/Financial Express, 9 August 2007)** --  After strengthening its research activities in Antarctica, India is slated to explore the Arctic region, particularly in relation to the changing environment of the region and its possible impact on global climate and Asian monsoon. It will also explore the biodiversity of the region with and suggest measures for its conservation and sustainable use.

Indian scientists, with their activities in the two polar regions, intend to give a boost to the ongoing global polar studies in the International Polar Year 2007-08, co-sponsored by International Council of Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). International Polar Year (IPY) has been launched to commemorate 50 years of International Geophysical Year (IGY) 1957-58. During IGY, extensive cooperative research was initiated in the atmospheric and oceanic realm with focus on the difficult polar regions, which finally lead to the signing of Antarctic Treaty in 1959.

The focus of IPY 2007-08 is poles and their relevance to the rest of the world. IPY themes are closely linked to the assessment of global environment and climate change, prevention and mitigation of natural disasters, environmental conservation and sustainable human development. More than 60 nations including India, are participating in IPY by conducting research in physical, biological and social sciences in the Arctic and Antarctic. India will now join the race with countries like Norway, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, South Korea and China in research and exploration of the Arctic region, says the Union minister for science and technology and earth sciences, Kapil Sibal.

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