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Abstract THE LEGACIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL YEAR: Fae L. Korsmo By the post-World War II era, the US federal government’s
role in science had expanded considerably. New institutions, such
as the Office of Naval Research and the National Science Foundation,
were established to fund basic science. Technological breakthroughs
that had provided the instruments of war were recognized as having
important economic, civilian applications. Understanding the earth’s
environment, including the extreme polar regions, the upper atmosphere,
and the ocean depths, was recognized as key to enhancing a nation’s
communications, transportation, and commerce. The IGY developed
in part from such national interests, but became a huge international
undertaking. The process of international negotiations leading up
to and during the IGY set a precedent for organizing cooperative
scientific undertakings and enshrined norms and practices for sharing
data and resources. Further, the IGY demonstrated the importance
of communicating results across political, disciplinary, and societal
boundaries. Fifty years later, the organizers of the International
Polar Year embraced these values. |