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2024-11-27
The 20th Asian Forum for Polar Sciences (AFoPS) Anniversary Conference was held in Shanghai
-Report by HAN Yi (Polar Research Institute of China,PRIC)From October 27th to 29th, 2024, the 20th Anniversary Conference of the Asian Forum for Polar Sciences (AFoPS 20), hosted by the Polar Research Institute of China and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, was grandly held at the Xuhui Campus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Representatives and coordinators from SIX AFoPS member countries (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Malaysia, and Thailand), and invited representatives from the Consulates General of New Zealand and Norway in Shanghai, over 100 invited delegates attended this meeting and celebrated the 20th Anniversary of AFoPS altogether. All the participants were invited to visit the R/V "Xuelong 2", sparking discussions on advancements in polar expedition equipments and technology capabilities.
The AFoPS 20 keynote speech was delivered by Dr. Kim Yeadong, Chairman of the Korean National Polar Research Committee and AFoPS Honorary Member, who systematically reviewed the forum's two decades of international collaboration and shared a vision for its future.
Representatives from the member countries shared updates on their recent polar research progress, scientific achievements, research plans, polar education initiatives, and international cooperation. The AFoPS 20 also featured two thematic forums: "Polar International Scientific Cooperation Programs" and "Polar Infrastructure and Data Sharing", where representatives from AFoPS members, Australian Antarctic Division, TUBITAK Marmara Research Center Polar Research Institute（Turkey）, and the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) joined in hybrid discussions. These broaden communications aimed to strengthen polar cooperation, particularly in planning process for the Fifth International Polar Year (IPY5) and the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV).
AFoPS was established in May 2004 by PRIC, NIPR, and KOPRI in Shanghai. Dr. Zhanhai Zhang (PRIC), Dr. Okitsugu Watanabe (NIPR), and Dr. Yeadong Kim (KOPRI) , the three founders of AFoPS were invited to join the session “AFoPS 20 Reflections -AFoPS Founders Reunion”.
Background and Outcomes
The AFoPS served as a pivotal platform for advancing polar science collaboration in Asia. During the closed-door meeting, it was designated by the AFoPS committee that National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR, India) will be the 2025/2026 AFoPS rotating presidency, while PRIC will host the AFoPS permanent secretariat.