The International Geophysical Year (1957–1958) was inspired by the realization that much better and more complete information was needed about the Earth and geospace to understand and manage the complete terrestrial environment on which we depend. So it was that the IGY member countries worked together to deploy a large number of geophysical observatories around the world. These nations were pursuing the major IGY objectives to collect geophysical data as widely as possible, and to provide free access to these data for all scientists around the globe. About 50 permanent stations were set up in the Arctic and Antarctic, and the World Data Center System was established to ensure that the data collected were properly archived and made available without restrictions for scientific research and practical applications. IGY was an outstanding success. It elevated geophysical monitoring to a new level, and set new standards for international collaboration and data-sharing. Many successes of the geophysical sciences in recent times have origins that can be traced back to the IGY. A notable example is the modern era of space exploration. As we approach the 50-year anniversary of the IGY, it is appropriate to seek to build on the IGY achievements through renewed global resolves as well as to review the outcomes of the IGY and celebrate its successes. This is the “IGY+50” concept.