had been strongly nationalistic, elitist, the property
port pure and open scientific research with public
of the privileged. The IPY, with one event, helped
funds.19
achieve acceptance of the international nature and
basic principles of the IPY were tested, seen to be
International Arctic Science Developments Subsequent to IPY-I
sound, and have proved to be long-lasting:
In the decades following the conclusion of IPY-I,
benefits of investigations of the natural world. The
18
several proposals were made to establish an orga“The Earth should be studied as a planet (not as
nization to facilitate continued international coop-
independent parts);
eration and involvement in Arctic investigations.
None of these persisted. Then the First World War
Observation stations should be selected not for
put an end to international cooperation except for
geographical position but for the advantages
‘practical’ activities such as weather reporting and
they offer for the phenomena to be studied. The
magnetism observations. After the war, there was
geographical pole has itself no greater signifi-
a resurgence of scientific interest and experimen-
cance for science than any other point in high
tation; but it was not until 1927, when a number of
latitude;
eminent scientists in Europe and America proposed
that, because of the great recent advances in the
Coordinated and synchronized observations are
fields of meteorology and magnetism and the phys-
necessary to provide information on characteris-
ics of the Earth, the time was ripe for a multi-dis-
tics, changes, and the distinctive nature of natu-
ciplinary study of the Polar Regions, which would
ral phenomena in space and time;
mark the fiftieth anniversary of the IPY. After much
discussion, the Second IPY came about.
Interrupted series of observations can have only
relative value;
By the late 1920s international professional scientific societies had come into being; and planning for
Results of much greater scientific value can be
IPY-II was coordinated by the International Meteo-
expected if standardized observations are made
rological Organization (IMO) and the International
by observers using similar instruments for re-
Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG)—both in-
cording phenomena at simultaneous periods
ternational committees of leading scientists within
throughout the year, and who exchange the
their subjects of expertise. An ambitious and very
results of their observations without discrimi-
advanced program was drafted, focusing on new-
nation.”
ly-discovered phenomena such as atmospheric jet
streams, electrical charges (ionization) in the upper
The influence of the IPY spread far beyond the Arc-
atmosphere, the physics of polar clouds, and the re-
tic regions. Academies of Science, Royal Societies,
lationship of aurora to sunspot activity.
and universities became international in outlook,
and international scientific societies and networks
quickly came into being. The IPY showed that the
greatly reduced the scope of the planned program,
quality and worth of scientific observations should
but with generous help from private foundations to
be determined not by who did it or who was the
provide instruments and with much personal sac-
patron, but by the accuracy and reliability of the
rifice and volunteer work, IPY-II was carried out on
data or of the experiment, as openly judged by
schedule, through 1932-1933. Forty-four countries
others knowledgeable in the subject. So it was
took part; twenty-two sent special observation and
that the idea of ‘peer review’ was born. There was
research parties to high latitudes, while the others
also a growing acceptance and expectation that it
conducted the required studies at established facil-
was a legitimate government responsibility to sup-
68
The world-wide economic depression of 1929-31
ities. An indication of the true international nature
03 Contributions of Former IASC Presidents