International Polar Year Research Project
Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment in the Arctic
What Is IPY?
The International Polar Year is a large scientific programme focused on the Arctic and the Antarctic from March 2007 to March 2009 led by the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Over 200 projects with thousands of researchers from more than 60 nations are participating by examining a wide range of science and social science topics.
This is the fourth polar year—the first three were in 1882-3, 1932-3, and 1957-8. The goal of the polar years is to emphasize the importance of Polar Regions to global climate and to encourage cooperative international research. It is also a unique opportunity to see science in action and get involved in it.
What's New
- Oct. 28, 2009
- Fleming College is this week officially releasing environmental software it developed in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Subsurface Wetland Model software – or SubWet 2.0 – has been developed to assist in the design of constructed wetlands to improve water quality and treat domestic wastewater. For more details go here: http://www.flemingcollege.com/index.cfm/go/news/sub/view/ID/265.cfm
- Oct. 24 to 26, 2008
- Fleming College’s Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment (CAWT), the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the Government of Nunavut partnered this week to provide a training workshop in Iqaluit for Nunavut government officials. The workshop focused on SubWet 2.0, subsurface wetland modelling software For more information: http://www.flemingcollege.com/index.cfm/go/news/sub/view/ID/184.cfm
- Feb. 06, 2008
- Fleming College is teaming up with the United Nations Environmental Programme's International Environmental Technology Centre (UNEP-IETC) in Japan, and the University of Copenhagen’s Professor Sven Erik Jørgensen to upgrade “SubWet” - specialized environmental software for water quality improvement and sanitation. For more details: http://www.flemingcollege.com/index.cfm/go/news/sub/view/ID/97.cfm
- Nov. 10, 2007
- New IPY website launchedA brand new site has been launched for IPY with a photo gallery, project details…
- Nov. 2, 2007
- IPY research group is heading to Iqaluit for the NTWWA meetingBrent Wootton, Agata Durkalec and Dibyashree Shrestha are heading to Iqaluit, NU for a Northern Territories Water and Waste Association meeting…
- Aug. 15, 2007
- Fleming receives funding for International Polar Year researchFleming College’s Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment (CAWT) has received $700,000 in funding from…
- July 27, 2007
- We’re coming to Nunavut!The project team is making their first trip to Nunavut to begin preliminary research on treatment wetlands in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut…
Find Out More
- IPY websites
Check out www.ipy.org for information on IPY projects all over the world. For details on Canada's participation in IPY, visit www.ipycanada.ca.
- Background information on the Programme
Download background information on the goals of IPY research.
- IPY Framework Document
- Scope of Science in IPY
For more information about the United Nations Environment Programme and SubWet 2.0 Software: http://www.unep.or.jp/Ietc/Publications/Water_Sanitation/SubWet2/index.asp


