 The need to ensure the continuation of successful initiatives and activities after the IPY led to brainstorming on post-IPY legacy.At the same time, the increase in young researcher initiatives in polar science started to create some confusion in the scientific community, questioning the structure, coordination and even the relevance of such organizations.To address these issues, a meeting was organized at Sanga Saby outside Stockholm, Sweden in September 2007 to bring together all these groups and prepare some long-term sustainable plans.