The International Polar Year 2007-2008 (IPY) was officially inaugurated on 1 March 2007. The celebration held at the Palais de la Découverte, Paris, launched the two-year programme of Arctic and Antarctic Polar research. The event was presided by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and covered by the international media. In attendance were representatives of the ICSU and WMO, as well as all members of the Joint Committee who have been working tirelessly for four years to reach this point. In co-ordination with the international opening ceremony in Paris, dozens of IPY opening events were held around the globe, including many educational programmes hosted in schools and museums .

First announcement of the training course on "Methods and Applications of Ocean Colour Remote Sensing in African Coastal and Regional Seas" to be held in Mombasa, Kenya, 24 September - 5 October 2007.

No registration fees; limited travel support available. Deadline for application: 15 April 2007.

In an editorial published in Science on 15 December 2006, James Baker and Keith Alverson from UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission propose the development of a UNESCO convention that commits countries to sustaining an integrated ocean observing system that will lead to better understanding of the ocean and at the same time enable the provision of hazard warnings, monitoring of climate change and management of marine and coastal resources. Read the editorial in Science (pdf)