Three Countries, Two Poles, One Shared Future 🇳🇴🇰🇷🇨🇱 council.science/news/ipy-5-h… Norway, the Republic of Korea, and Chile will work together to coordinate the Fifth International Polar Year (IPY-5), the world’s largest international scientific effort focused on the Arctic and Antarctic. The International Coordination Office will be based in Tromsø, Norway, with regional offices hosted by KOPRI in Korea and INACH in Chile — connecting Europe, Asia, and South America in one global network. Why does this matter? The polar regions cover only a small part of our planet, yet changes there influence sea level, climate, biodiversity, food and water security, economies, and communities around the world. IPY-5 will bring together scientists, Indigenous Peoples, early-career researchers, new technologies, and open science to better understand those changes and prepare for what comes next. This is more than a research program. It is a reminder that the Arctic and Antarctic are connected to all of us — and that the challenges of a changing planet cannot be solved by one country, one discipline, or one generation alone. From Tromsø to Korea and Chile, science is building a bridge between the poles — and between people. What happens at the poles affects everyone.

Norway and Korea: Honoring a Partnership in Polar Science 🇳🇴🇰🇷 mk.co.kr/news/society/121117… The Royal Norwegian Order of Merit was recently presented in Seoul in recognition of contributions to polar science and stronger cooperation between Norway and Korea. Dr. Sung-Ho Kang of the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) received the honor from Ambassador Anne Kari H. Ovind, on behalf of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway, for his long-standing work in polar research and for helping connect the Norwegian and Korean scientific communities. The recognition reflects more than one person’s achievement. It celebrates over 25 years of trust, shared knowledge, and friendship among researchers and institutions. This partnership matters far beyond the two countries. Changes in the polar regions affect oceans, climate, biodiversity, and communities around the world. No nation can understand or protect the poles alone. In a divided world, science can remain a bridge — connecting people, countries, and generations through a shared responsibility for our planet.