With the PolarEDUCATORS workshop done, the next four days would be spent at the International Polar Year (IPY) 2012 Conference. http://www.ipy2012montreal.ca/ The conference was designed to "bring together over 2,000 Arctic and Antarctic researchers, policy- and decision-makers, and a broad range of interested parties from academia, industry, non-government, education and circumpolar communities including indigenous peoples." It was time to learn!
Since my interests have always been strong in population ecology, I spent a lot of time attending talks about moose, caribou, reindeer, lemmings, polar bears, and even one about arctic ground squirrels from a researcher that I will be able to do some work with this summer. The diversity of topics I was able to learn about from some of the world's top experts was truly astounding. I also attended talks addressing legal issues surrounding the commercialization of Antarctic science, petroleum development, and sustainable fisheries.
With my brain full, I was also able to meet and work with researchers from literally all over the world.
![A scientist's social gathering: a group of researchers gathered around an iPad to look at footage of penguins. Scientists Socializing](https://www.polartrec.com/files/members/nick-lafave/images/1-img_1065.jpg)
We were also fortunate to have time to tour Canadian research icebreaker, the Amundsen. http://www.amundsen.ulaval.ca/index.php?url=1 It was my first time on a research ship, and it was yet one more amazing learning experience to add to my week. It was a treat to learn about the equipment, research, and expeditions this ship had been on from actual crew members.
![CCGS Amundsen Amundsen](https://www.polartrec.com/files/members/nick-lafave/images/1-img_1063.jpg)
With one more walk in the snow, I was ready to return to my students with a wealth of new knowledge and questions about polar science.