Project presentation - Phase V BE-POLES: the Belgian Polar Research cluster Context The BE-POLES project initiated by Belgian Science Policy (Belspo) aims to promote the national and international profile of Belgian polar research. It clusters all Belgian polar researchers, funded or not within the Belspo research programmes. The International Polar Foundation (IPF) is also included as a partner, contributing to the project with their ‘education and outreach’ experience. Belgian polar research – as a lot of research – lacks the necessary visibility outside the scientific community. The BE-POLES project, by laying the foundations for a 'Virtual Belgian Polar Institute', will be a major step towards improved communication to the general public and policy makers. The process already has some momentum in Antarctic research through Belspo’s SPSD II programme (second multi-annual scientific Support Plan for a Sustainable Development policy). Fifteen partners funded by SPSD II form the core of this part of the BE-POLES project. In addition, 6 research teams performing high level research in the polar regions are involved (supported by other funding sources). The disciplines represented include oceanography, biogeochemistry, numerical modelling, zoology, biodiversity, paleolimnology, climatology, glaciology, geology and geophysics, astrophysics, microbiology, molecular biology, and biotechnology. To strengthen communication of research outcomes and their social
implications to the public, a strong educational component will
also be part of the BE-POLES project. In particular, the Belgian
Educational Service of RBINS, PROBIO asbl, the VELEWE and the
FEGEPRO will bring their teaching experience to the programme's
actions targeted at teenagers. Key objectives
Expected results 1. The Belgian Polar Platform website on Belgian polar research aimed not only at informing scientists, policy makers, media and the public, on polar science issues but also at making polar research attractive and exciting for younger generations. This increased visibility should lead to a better comprehension of the environmental challenges linked to polar regions. 2. A biannual newsletter (electronic and paper) as well as a brochure promoting the web site. 3. A BEPOLES Communication Office will be the entry point to the programme's different partners' labs and the primary instrument for distributing scientific information. It should enhance the attention given to polar research and related environmental issues. 4. Logistic support for the follow-up to Belgian participation to the International Polar Year 2007-2008 within the ad hoc working group of the Academy of Sciences. 5. Fellowships to help young researchers integrate their work within the broader context of polar research. 6. Two national workshops will allow teams of polar scientists to discuss together their results and to present them to a wider audience. 7. Training sessions for secondary school teachers will offer the teaching community an overview of Belgian polar research and its relevance for global environmental issues, 8. A strong presence at the Belgian science weeks will also help convey science outcomes to teenagers and their families through direct contact. 9. The Class@Poles project will bring together two students in Spitzbergen and Brussels via a classroom cyberlink and will give considerable profile to the BE-POLES project. Complementary resources about this scientific project - CLIC-relates
research activities in Belgium - BE-POLES 3-day workshop devoted to Polar Science in Belgium: Talks, posters and interviews (23/25-03-2006) - BE-POLES at the Printemps-des-Sciences (13/19-03-2006) - BE-POLES at the flemish annual assembly of scientific teachers. (10-09-2005) - BE-POLES presented
two contests at their stand at the annual assembly of scientific
teachers, organized by ‘Congrès pluraliste des
Sciences’. (25-08-2005) - BE-POLES cluster provides travel scholarships: third call is open (deadline 31 May 2006) - BE-POLES cluster provides travel scholarships: four new scholarships awarded after second call (04-2006) - First BE-POLES
fellowship awarded to doctorate student from Ghent University Project team Project Coordinator: Dr Sandra Vanhove, Prof Dr Annick Wilmotte, Prof Dr Claude De Broyer Involved research groups Royal Museum for Central Africa, Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences, Université de Liège, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Universiteit Gent, Université Catholique de Louvain, Katholiek Universiteit Leuven, Universiteit Antwerpen RUCA, Université de Mons-Hainaut, International Polar Foundation, Vereniging van Leraars in de Wetenschappen (VELEWE), Fédération des Professeurs de Géographie (FEGEPRO), Association des professeurs de biologie (PROBIO asbl). Involved partners: Partner 1: Dr. Annick WILMOTTE Partner 2:
Dr. Sandra VANHOVE Partner 3:
Dr. Claude DE BROYER Partner 4:
Prof. Dr Hugo DECLEIR and Prof. Dr. Frank HUYBRECHTS Partner 5:
Prof. Dr Christiane LANCELOT Partner 6:
Prof. Luc ANDRÉ, Partner 7:
Prof. Dr. Frank DEHAIRS Partner 8:
Prof. Dr. Ann VANREUSEL Partner 9:
Prof. Dr. Chantal DE RIDDER Partner 10:
Prof. Jean-Marie BOUQUEGNEAU Partner 11:
Prof. Wim VYVERMAN Partner 12:
Prof. Dr. J.P. HENRIET and Prof. Dr M. DE BATIST Partner 13:
Prof. Dr. Hugues GOOSSE and Prof. Dr. A. BERGER Partner 14:
Prof. Réginald LORRAIN Partner 15:
Dr. Jean-Henri HECQ Partner 16: Prof. Filip VOLCKAERT Partner 17:
Dr. Bart VAN DE VIJVER, Prof. Dr. Louis BEYENS Partner 18:
Dr. Georges FELLER Partner 19:
Prof. Philippe HERQUET Partner 20: Prof. Dr. Jean-Louis TISON Partner 21:
Alberto BORGES Partner 22:
Dr. Pierre COULON Partner 23:
Dr. Gérard COBUT Partner 24:
Brigitte MONFORT Partner 25:
Brigitte DE VOS Partner 26:
Marc BEDDEGENOODTS |
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