Beyond IPY: Crossing Boundaries

The 2009 Gordon Research Conference will take place directly following the 2007-2009 International Polar Year (IPY), which has been one of the most significant internationally coordinated efforts yet undertaken in polar research. Many of the IPY campaigns have concentrated on marine sciences, and this conference will seek to capture the excitement of the polar marine science discoveries that have resulted from IPY research over the last two years. These results will provide a stimulus for discussing the directions that polar marine science might take in the coming years. It has become increasingly apparent than ever before that for Polar Marine Science to move forward, traditional disciplinary research boundaries must be crossed. To this end we aim to have speakers representing as many disciplines of marine science as possible, working in both the Arctic and Southern Oceans. The effects of climate change are anticipated to form a considerable part of the discussions. It is envisioned that recent changes as well as new findings from paeleo-studies will be discussed in the context of the geological history of the regions. Poster sessions will provide an opportunity for lively and informal discussion, in counterpoint to the more formal oral sessions. These poster sessions and related discussions will provide a forum for presentation of the latest results, seeding of new ideas and establishment of new collaborations. The overarching conference goal will be to bring together marine scientists from wide ranging disciplines for discussion of future research pathways within a cross-disciplinary context in order to better understand the implications of large-scale marine dynamics in the polar regions.