On the evening of October 3, 2012, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco along with Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium and 300 guests attended a gala dinner held on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the International Polar Foundation held at the Tour & Taxis in Brussels.

The International Polar Foundation, a partner with the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, was created in 2002 by:

“… Belgian polar explorer Alain Hubert and scientists André Berger and Hugo Decleir, as a foundation for the public good tasked with connecting science and society.  The Foundation works to raise the profile of polar scientific research, in order to advance human knowledge, and to promote informed action on climate change and the development of a sustainable society.”

During tonight’s gala dinner the InBev Baillet Latour Antarctica Fellowship was awarded to “… German Glaciologist, Mr. Reinhard Drews…”  The InBev Baillet Latour Antarctica Fellowship, worth 150,000 Euros, was created to “… promote research activities at, or in the vicinity of, the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica research station located in the Sør Rondane Mountain Range in East-Antarctica.”

Tomorrow, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II will participate in the 2012 Arctic Futures Symposium held inside the Jacques Delors Building at the European Union Committee of the Regions in Brussels.

“Arctic Futures Symposium brings together a wide variety of Arctic stakeholders, including EU and foreign policymakers, scientists, industry representatives, indigenous peoples and academics. A key international multidisciplinary forum to discuss future scenarios for the Arctic, the Symposium will participants discussing the key issues facing a region that is coming under increasing interest.”

Topics to be discussed will include future of energy resources in the Arctic including renewable energy solutions, the management of fisheries and marine protected areas, the importance of long-term scientific monitoring in the Arctic, and much more.