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EPB Strengthening International Collaborations Ahead of Global Polar Science Initiatives

March and April 2025 have been productive months for EPB, marked by meetings with long-standing partners (SCAR, IASC, SOOS, ECRA) and new actors, including UNESCO, IOC, EMBRC, and Mercator Ocean International. These engagements aim to strengthen EPB’s role in polar science and enhance visibility in global initiatives such as the UN Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences and the International Polar Year (IPY).

Higlights:

1. UNESCO & UN Decade for Cryospheric Sciences

On 7 March and 1 April, EPB Executive Secretary, Maria Grigoratou, & Marie-Noëlle Houssais (EPB EXCOM) met with Mr. Anil Mishra (Chief of Section Hydrological Systems, Climate Change and Adaptation, Focal Point for the UN Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences) to introduce EPB and European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO) in the context of the UN Cryosphere Decade.

EPB also participated in the UNESCO-hosted brainstorming session on 20 March in Paris, with representatives Miguel Ojeda, Alun Hubbard, and Marije Tempel (EPB Secretariat) attending.Read more here

2. Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW), Boulder, 20–28 March

EPB contributed to and co-organised several important sessions:

  • Co-organization of the "Joint Meeting of National/Regional Polar Organizations towards IPY" with partners including the US Polar Research Board, Polar Knowledge Canada & Asian Forum on Polar Sciences where EPB Executive Secretary presented EPB & EPCO.

  • Collaboration with BAS on the EU Polar Cluster booth and session focusing on Enhancing the role of EU Polar Cluster as a network for EU funded projects highlighting EPCO and discussing the Cluster’s evolving role. The session also featured a panel discussion with contributions from Nicole Biebow, Keith Larson, Eva Horovcakova (EPB Secretariat), among others.

  • EPB and EPCO was also presented by Maria at FARO and ASFF  meetings, further broadening engagement across networks.

3. Bilateral Meetings with Key Partners

  • SCAR: Shared general updates of their activities, including  IPY during the meeting.

  • SOOS: Provided updates with focus on the platforms DueSouth and Polardex.

  • IASC: Productive discussions with IASC Executive Secretary, Gerlis Fugmann, focused on shared contributions to IPY.

  • ECRA: Both the EPB Executive Secretary and representatives from ECRA shared updates and discussed possibilities for future joint efforts.

  • IOC (UNESCO): EPB Executive Secretary and Marie-Noëlle Houssais (EPB EXCOM)  met with IOC representatives. EPB Executive Secretary presented EPB and EPCO to IOC and IOC shared updates of their activities during this meeting.

  • Mercator Ocean International: EPB Executive Secretary introduced EPB and EPCO to Mercator and Mercator shared updates related to the Copernicus Arctic Hub, Digital Twins of the Ocean and Ocean Prediction DCC.
     

  • EMBRC: EPB met with members from EMBRC. Both organisations shared updates and explored opportunities for future collaborations.

We look forward to further developing these collaborations!