The fourth International Polar Year (IPY) officially came to a close on May 14 and 15, 2009, with a symposium organized jointly by the Collège de France and the Office parlementaire d'évaluation des choix scientifiques et technologiques, Sénat and Assemblée nationale, in partnership with CNRS and IPEV (Institut Paul-Émile Victor). At the invitation of Professor Édouard Bard and Senator Christian Gaudin, numerous scientists and political figures highlighted the successes of the IPY, including the establishment of at least 200 international, interdisciplinary research projects entirely dedicated to the study of the poles. The first day at the Senate focused on "Man and his environment" and cluster governance. Catherine Bréchignac, President of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), opened the proceedings, with keynote addresses by Philippe Descola, Erik Orsenna, Gérard Jugie and Jean Jouzel, and closing speeches by Michel Rocard, former French Prime Minister, and Valérie Pécresse, French Minister of Higher Education and Research.
The second day, at the Collège de France, reported on the scientific advances made possible by the various projects initiated within the framework of the API. These advances concern the understanding of changes in the physical environment of the polar zones, which are particularly sensitive to current global warming, as well as their multiple consequences on polar biodiversity.
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Article published in La Lettre du Collège de France n° 26, June 2009
