Transcript IASC Overview Fall 2012

Definition and Mission
The
International Arctic Science Committee (IASC)
is a non-governmental, international scientific organization.
The mission of IASC is to
encourage and facilitate cooperation in all aspects of Arctic research, in all
countries engaged in Arctic research and in all areas of the Arctic region,
by
promoting and supporting leading-edge multi-disciplinary research to
foster a greater scientific understanding of the Arctic region and its role in
the Earth system.
International Arctic Science Committee
www.iasc.info
Member Countries
Canada
The Netherlands
China
Norway
Czech Republic
Poland
Denmark
Republic of Korea
Finland
Russia
France
Spain
IASC´s membership today
includes national science
organizations from 21
countries involved in
Arctic research.
IASC is an International Scientific Associate of the
Germany
Sweden
Iceland
Switzerland
India
United Kingdom
Italy
United States of America
International Council for Science (ICSU)
and observer on the
Arctic Council.
Japan
International Arctic Science Committee
www.iasc.info
Organizational Structure
IASC draws on an
organizational structure that
provides mechanisms for
initiating and implementing
cutting-edge science-led
international programs.
International Arctic Science Committee
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Council, Executive Committee and Secretariat
• Representatives of the national science organizations from all 21 IASC
member countries form the IASC Council.
• Council usually meets once a year during the Arctic Science Summit
Week (ASSW).
• An Executive Committee, consisting of an elected President, four
elected Vice-Presidents and a permanent Executive Secretary
operates as a Board of Directors and manages IASC activities between
Council meetings.
• The Secretariat is currently hosted by the Alfred Wegener Institute
for Polar and Marine in Potsdam (Germany), and is responsible for
the day-to-day operations of the organization.
International Arctic Science Committee
www.iasc.info
Working Groups
Working Groups are IASC´s main scientific working bodies. They
identify and formulate science plans, act as scientific advisory boards
to the IASC Council and assist IASC in the implementation of its science
mission.
 Terrestrial Working Group
 Cryosphere Working Group
 Marine Working Group / Arctic Ocean Sciences Board
 Atmosphere Working Group
 Social & Human Working Group
International Arctic Science Committee
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Terrestrial Working Group
Scientific Foci
Estimating past changes in arctic geo- and biodiversity, measuring current
change and predicting future changes
Determining the net effect of the terrestrial and freshwater environmental and biosphere’s
processes that amplify or moderate climate warming
Developing high spatial resolution models of terrestrial geosystem and ecosystem change,
and other tools that can be used by arctic stakeholders for adaptation strategies and
sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystem services
Developing unifying concepts, fundamental theories and computer models of the interactions
among species, interactions between species and their environment, and the biology of life in
extreme environments
Determining the role of connectivity in the functioning of arctic terrestrial systems,
including connections within the arctic and the global system
Steering Group
Chair: Terry Callaghan Vice-Chair: Benjamin Vinegla
Vice-Chair: Warwick. F. Vincent Vice-Chair: Torben Christensen
International Arctic Science Committee
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Cryosphere Working Group
Scientific Foci
Sea-ice boundary layer dynamics, particularly as they
relate to biogeochemical exchanges and polar amplification.
Permafrost, including support of activities being
undertaken by the International Permafrost Association.
Tidewater glacier dynamics and response to climate change,
with a focus on methods for studying these issues. This activity is
intended to have a large early career scientist and training component.
Steering Group
Chair: Martin Sharp
Vice-Chair: Julian Dowdeswell
Vice-Chair: Pedro Elosegui
Vice-Chair: Tetsuo Ohata
International Arctic Science Committee
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Marine Working Group
Scientific Foci
Predicting and understanding rapid changes to the Arctic Ocean system
Understanding biological and ecosystem processes in the Arctic and Sub-arctic seas
Understanding sea ice structure dynamics and the Arctic system
Understanding geochemical processes in the Arctic and Sub-arctic seas
Facilitating Deep Sea drilling in the Arctic Ocean
Steering Group
Chair: Bert Rudels
Vice-Chair: Rolf Gradinger
Vice-Chair: Jinping Zhao
Past Chair: Savi Narayanan
International Arctic Science Committee
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Atmosphere Working Group
Scientific Foci
Polar Climate Predictability: Polar Climate Predictability is an issue of growing
concern particularly as it becomes clear that Arctic amplification has an impact on lower
latitudes. IASC, together with WCRP can play a leading role in bringing the international
community together to address issues related to decadal and multi-decadal prediction.
Long-term, International Sea Ice Observatory: The AWG has as a priority the
initiation of planning and design a long-term, international, observational in order to provide
much needed observations to support regional and global climate model simulations.
Historical Data Retrieval and Reanalysis: The AWG will provide support
for historical data retrieval and reanalysis to inform current observations, models
and policy makers.
Steering Group
Chair: James Overland
International Arctic Science Committee
Vice-Chair: Hiroshi Tanaka Vice-Chair: Michael Tjernström
www.iasc.info
Social & Human Working Group
Scientific Foci
Indigenous peoples and change: adaptation and
cultural and power dynamics
Histories and methodologies of
arctic sciences and arts
Exploitation of natural
resources: past, present, future
Security, international law and cooperation
Cross-cutting
Collaborative community research
on climate change
Perceptions and representations of arctic science
People and coastal processes
Human health, wellbeing and
ecosystem change
Competing forms of resource
use in a changing environment
Steering Group
Chair: Peter Schweitzer
Vice-Chair: Sylvie Blangy
Vice-Chair: Gail Fondahl Past Chair: Louwrens Hacquebord
International Arctic Science Committee
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Participants of the IASC Working Groups Workshop, January 2011, Potsdam
International Arctic Science Committee
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Action Groups
Actions Groups are providing strategic advice to the IASC Council
concerning both long-term activities and urgent needs. They are
small expert groups that act within a limited timeframe of two
years.
 Joint SCAR/IASC Bipolar Action Group
on Science Development
 Data Policy Group
 Action Group on Geosciences
International Arctic Science Committee
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SCAR-IASC Bipolar Action Group (BipAG)
Formed in 2008 with the objectives to advice the
SCAR and IASC Executive Committees
• on how SCAR and IASC can work together most
effectively, e.g. through development of joint
SCAR-IASC workshops, programs and networks
addressing bipolar issues, and
• on the development of mechanisms to nurture
the IPY legacy, with a focus on the roles of SCAR
and IASC.
Renewed in 2010 (for another two years) with
the objective to advice SCAR and IASC on bipolar
science. The IPY legacy tasks was taken over by
the SCAR and IASC Executive Committees.
International Arctic Science Committee
Participants of the second BipAG II, May 2012.
BipAG II is chaired by Cynan Ellis-Evans
(NERC Arctic Office, UK)
www.iasc.info
IASC Data Policy Group
A small advisory group of external experts formed in 2012 to
reinforce IASC’s commitment to robust data management and
sharing activities.
The Data Policy Group will recommend a data policy, including
steps toward its implementation, that would provide guidance
for IASC supported activities.
The group is chaired by Mark Parsons (US National Snow and
Ice Data Center), who previously served as a co-chair of the
IPY Data Subcommittee.
International Arctic Science Committee
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IASC Action Group on Geosciences
Formed in 2012, the IASC Action Group on Geosciences will particularly
address emerging research questions in the field of:
•
Arctic solid-earth geoscience, including Arctic tectonic evolution and
the exploration of the ridge systems;
•
sedimentary records and climatic and environmental history obtained
from marine and lake sediments, ice cores and permafrost deposits;
•
geologic and geochemical processes especially related to the stability
of permafrost and of gas hydrate deposits known to underlie the
continental slopes of the Arctic Ocean Basin;
•
seismic risk of the Arctic regions.
The group is chaired by Carlo Barbante (University of Venice, Italy) and
reports to IASC Council on emerging fields in Arctic geosciences, in order to
better address, coordinate and prioritize the research efforts at national and
international level.
International Arctic Science Committee
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IASC Networks
• Arctic Climate System Network (ACSNet)
www.iasc-acsnet.org
• Arctic Coastal Dynamics (ACD)
www.arcticportal.org/acd
• Circum-Arctic Lithosphere Evolution (CALE)
www.cale.geo.su.se
• Network on Arctic Glaciology (NAG)
www.iasc-nag.org
Networks are
 IASC-endorsed, thematic groups;
 address specific scientific issues
on a circum-arctic scale;
 strive to involve early career
scientists.
• Palaeo-Arctic Spatial and Temporal Gateways (PAST Gateways)
www.geol.lu.se/pastgateways
• Polar Archaeology Network (PAN)
polararchaeologynetwork.blogg.no
International Arctic Science Committee
www.iasc.info
IASC Partner Organizations
Organization
Type of Agreement
Signed
Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS)
MoU, jointly with SCAR
2008
International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA)
LoA
2008
International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS)
LoA, jointly with SCAR
2008
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)
LoA
2011
International Network for Circumpolar Health Research (INCHR)
LoA
2011
International Permafrost Association (IPA)
MoU, jointly with SCAR
2009
Pacific Arctic Group (PAG)
LoA
2009
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR)
LoA
2006, 2011
University of the Arctic (UArctic)
LoA, jointly with IASSA
2011
World Climate Research Program (WCRP)
MoU for the CliC Project, 2008
jointly with SCAR
MoU: Memorandum of Understanding
LoA: Letter of Agreement
International Arctic Science Committee
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Highlights
and
Major Achievements
International Arctic Science Committee
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Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW)
 Initiated by IASC in 1999
 Most important annual gathering of the
Arctic research organizations
 Provides opportunities for coordination,
cooperation and collaboration
 Any organization engaged in Arctic
research may participate
 In odd number years includes a 3-day
Science Symposium
 Has been held in a dozen different IASC
member countries
 ASSW 2015 Japan
 ASSW 2014 Helsinki, Finland
 ASSW 2013 Krakow, Poland
 ASSW 2012 Montreal, Canada
 ASSW 2011 Seoul, Korea
 ASSW 2010 Nuuk, Greenland
 ASSW 2009 Bergen, Norway
 ASSW 2008 Syktyvkar, Russia
 ASSW 2007 Hannover, NH, USA
 ASSW 2006 Potsdam, Germany
 ASSW 2005 Kunming, China
 ASSW 2004 Reykjavik, Iceland
 ASSW 2003 Kiruna, Sweden
 ASSW 2002 Groningen, Netherlands
 ASSW 2001 Iqaluit, Canada
 ASSW 2000 Cambridge, UK
 ASSW 1999 Tromsø, Norway
International Arctic Science Committee
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International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP)
An Arctic Science Conference,
convened periodically by IASC and its
partners to identify key scientific
questions and issues.
 ICARP I, held in Hanover NH 1995,
reviewed the state of Arctic science and
resulted in a series of IASC-supported
research projects.
 ICARP II, held in Copenhagen 2005,
developed twelve forward-looking science
plans and resulted in several follow-up
international projects and programs, in
particular within the framework of the
emerging International Polar Year.
International Arctic Science Committee
www.iasc.info
IASC Medal
Awarded in recognition of
exceptional and sustained
contributions to the
understanding of the Arctic
since 2010.
Patrick Webber
IASC Medal 2010
Igor Krupnik
IASC Medal 2012
Martin Jakobsson
IASC Medal 2011
International Arctic Science Committee
www.iasc.info
Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA)
An international project of the Arctic
Council and IASC to evaluate and
synthesize knowledge on Arctic climate
variability, climate change, and their
impacts.
ACIA Reports
• Scientific Report (1000 pages)
• Synthesis Report (140 pages)
• Policy Report
Published 2005
International Arctic Science Committee
www.iasc.info
Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic (SWIPA)
… was an Arctic Council project
coordinated by AMAP, IASC and
CLIC.
… integrated scientific information on
the impacts of climate change on the
ice, snow, and permafrost
characteristics of the Arctic, which
have potentially far-reaching
implications for both the Arctic and
the Earth as a whole.
… also considered the social,
economic, and cultural implications
of these changes for people living in
the Arctic.
Published 2011
International Arctic Science Committee
www.iasc.info
State of the Arctic Coast 2010
Background
✤
ACIA Key finding # 5
✤
ICARP II WG 3
✤
IASC: ACD
✤
IPY: ACCO-Net
Release
Final Report
published
May 2011
History
IASC/LOICZ/IHDP/IPA/AMAP
Workshops Arctic Coastal Zones
at Risk in Tromsø October 2007
and January 2008
International Arctic Science Committee
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International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008
The largest internationally coordinated research
program in the Earth´s Polar Regions, cosponsored by ICSU and WMO, involving
 estimated 50,000 participants;
 more than 60 nations;
 220 projects.
Status
Global
Connections
Change
Human
Dimension
New
Frontiers
Vantage Point
IASC was deeply involved in the development and
implementation of the IPY:
 Ex-office member of the ICSU/WMO Joint Committee;
 Organizer (jointly with SCAR) of the first IPY
Conference 2008;
 Co-organizer of the IPY 2010 and 2012 Conferences;
 Co-editor of the IPY Summary Publication.
International Arctic Science Committee
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Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON)
A partnership
between the
Arctic Council
and IASC
The Goal of SAON is to enhance Arctic-wide
observing activities by facilitating partnerships
and synergies among existing observing and data
networks (“building blocks”), and promoting
sharing and synthesis of data and information.
International Arctic Science Committee
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Bipolar Cooperation
Letter of Agreement with IASC´s Southern Hemisphere counterpart
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), signed 2006 and
renewed 2011, resulted in several successful joint activities during the last
years:
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SCAR/IASC Open Science Conference St. Petersburg (Russia), 2008;
Joint work on the steering committees for the IPY 2010 and 2012 Conference;
“Polar Research - Global Challenges" Symposium, Siena (Italy), 2011;
Bipolar Action Group;
Ice Sheet Mass Balance and Sea Level Group (ISMASS);
Three successful applications for ICSU Grants;
Joint meetings of the Executive Committees;
Trilateral agreements with APECS, IACS, IPA and WCRP;
Several joint presentations given by the two Executive Directors;
Joint outreach activities, many including APECS.
International Arctic Science Committee
www.iasc.info
The Next Generation of Polar Researchers

Established and run by
early career scientists

An outcome of the IPY
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IASC supports APECS by
providing travel stipends
and mentoring APECS
members
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Co-sponsorship MoU,
jointly signed with SCAR
in 2008
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At the final IPY
conference, IASC, SCAR
and APECS received the
IPY torch (“budstikke”)
International Arctic Science Committee
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International Polar Initiative (IPI)
A new and novel framework for long-term cooperation
in the Polar Regions
 addressing the emerging challenges identified within the IPY;
 optimizing and better coordinating existing resources and facilities;
 developing mechanisms for concerted investments in areas where
activities are lacking.
Steering Group to develop the concept established early 2012
International Arctic Science Committee
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25 Years of IASC (1990-2015)
IASC´s 25th anniversary will be celebrated 2015,
culminating in a final conference in Japan
including
 Arctic Science Summit Week 2015;
 3rd International Conference on Arctic Research
Planning (ICARP III);
 IASC History Publication;
and involving
 IASC Working Groups;
 IASC Partner Organizations.
International Arctic Science Committee
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…more information about IASC…
www.iasc.info
International Arctic Science Committee
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International Arctic Science Committee
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