International Polar Year celebrations begin in India

New Delhi, Mar 1 (UNI) India today began celebrations of the International Polar Year to draw attention to global climate change, melting of polar ice caps and rise in sea level.

The celebrations mark the 50th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year.

As part of the celebrations, the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), Goa in collaboration with Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) launched the year-long mass awareness programmes.

These include a series of public lectures by eminent Indian and international polar scientists, exhibitions, screening of special films, national level competitions for school children and other related programmes.

The campaign will not only be aimed at educating but also at motivating the next generation of scientists, engineers and leaders This year India will start its long-term Arctic Research Programme. It is being worked in collaboration with the Norwegian Polar Research Institute.

India is also hosting the XXX Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting for the first time.

Delegates from all the Antarctic Treaty nations and other invited experts and organisations will be deliberating on various science, environment and administrative issues related to the management of the icy continent in the two-week long meeting starting on here on April 30.

UNI