Public Relations Section
NIPR conducts a range of public relations activities about research in the Antarctic and Arctic.
Lectures and Exhibitions
NIPR exhibits samples and materials that normally are not available for public viewing, holds lectures, often with former expedition leaders, and organizes real-time videophone talks with on-site expedition members using the Intelsat satellite connection that links Syowa Station and Japan. These events have become very popular.
Exhibits include photos of Antarctic observation activities, stuffed animals, meteorite samples, mineral samples, tents used on expeditions, clothing and gear, models of Antarctica, Syowa Station, snowmobiles, and the Shirase, an aurora artificially producing machine, Antarctic ice and other items.
A videophone exchange with Syowa Station
An exhibition
Antarctic Classes
About ten times a year, NIPR holds “Antarctic Classes” for elementary and junior high schools. Former expedition members give classroom talks about their experiences, and current members at Syowa Station answer questions from the children via a videophone link. The children get a sense of the hardships involved in pursuing research in the harsh Antarctic environment and come to understand the importance of the activities and of the global environment.
An Antarctic Class
International Polar Year: Polar Open Forum for School Child
The International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) are planning an International Polar Year (IPY) in 2007~2008 to mark the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY). A variety of international research organizations have announced their participation and submitted proposals for Arctic and Antarctic research.
During the IPY, the Science Council of Japan and NIPR are planning to hold a Polar Open Forum for junior and highschool child in order to awaken interest in polar studies in the next generation. The catchphrase of the forum will be“Arctic and Antarctic Proposals from School child.”NIPR called for polar research proposals from school child and held a meeting to announce the winning proposals. The research in the winning proposal will be carried out by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) and the Arctic Research Group, and the results reported to the school that submitted the proposal.
The group with the winning proposal
Publication and Lending films, images and Specimens
Besides issuing the quarterly NIPR News, which covers the NIPR’s Antarctic and Arctic research activities, NIPR produces a variety of pamphlets for distribution at lectures and other events in order to raise public awareness of polar research. In addition, NIPR lends out public-domain films and images and specimens that have been collected during the past 50 years of the Antarctic Research Project. These items are available for special exhibitions in museums, lectures, and other planned events.
