NCPOR Goa hosts Asian polar science forum in Kochi; focus on stronger regional cooperation

India's National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, hosted the Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2026 of the Asian Forum for Polar Sciences (AFoPS) in Kochi. Representatives from China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and an observer from the United Arab Emirates attended the two-day meeting to discuss regional cooperation in Arctic, Antarctic, and Southern Ocean research. A major focus of the discussions was the Fifth International Polar Year (IPY-5) planned for 2032–2033, along with joint research, data sharing, research infrastructure, logistics, and polar education and outreach.