Source: University of Toronto http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/061012-2621.asp U of T to host lecture on state of Earth's polesOctober 12, 2006 Event is part of the International Polar Year Oct 12/06 by Jenny Hall The University of Toronto will host a lecture on the state of the planet’s polar regions, co-sponsored by the British High Commission. As part of the run-up to the International Polar Year 2007-2008, Professor Chris Rapley, director of the British Antarctic Survey, will speak on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 11 a.m. in the Hart House music room. The International Polar Year 2007-2008 is an intense, interdisciplinary, multi-nation focus on the state of the poles. The last time a polar year was held was 1957-58 and this round is the fourth occurrence since the first international polar year was held in 1882. The year is meant to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the health of the poles and to draw attention to the looming crisis of global warming. "It’s hard to find a clearer example of academic research being conducted in the public interest," said Professor John Challis, U of T’s vice-president (research) and associate provost. "Complex problems like the environmental state of the poles are going to require complex, creative solutions and the world will look to universities to lead the way. The International Polar Year will not only provide a boost for polar research, it will draw the attention of the public. I am delighted that U of T could work with the British High Commission to host this important initiative." Rapley, in addition to being director of the British Antarctic Survey, is a commander of the Order of the British Empire, president of the Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research, a fellow of St. Edmund’s College Cambridge, an honorary professor at University College London and at the University of East Anglia and a distinguished visiting scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. Rapley’s lecture, entitled The Quickening Poles and the International Polar Year 2007-2008, will be followed by a reception. The events are open to the public though an RSVP is required to rsvp_event@britainincanada.org.
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