The program office of the International Polar Year 2007-2009 (IPY) has announced two Polar Weeks in coming months, October 2009 and March 2010. The theme will be: What Happens at the Poles Affects Us All. Polar weeks were a regular feature during the two years of concentrated scientific and exploring programs in the most recent IPY.

In October (October 5-9) the Polar Week will focus on recruiting new individual and institutional partners and highlight classroom activities developed for a forthcoming IPY polar resource book. The book will feature lessons and activities for the classroom as well as personal stories of polar experiences.

The March 2010 Polar Week will focus on local community-building activities and promote global awareness for online and on-site events in June 2010, when the IPY office will sponsor an international science conference in Oslo, Norway.

As in polar weeks held earlier in the 2007-2009 IPY, the upcoming weeks will feature accessible science, web events, classroom activities, and virtual balloon launches.