International Arctic Science Committee

The International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) is a non-governmental organization

Non-governmental organization

A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...

which is composed of international science groups participating in arctic

Arctic

The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...

science research. IASC is an International Scientific Associate of ICSU, and was established in 1990. IASC's main aim is to initiate, develop, and coordinate leading edge scientific activity in the Arctic

Arctic

region, and on the role of the Arctic in the Earth system. It also provides objective and independent scientific advice to the Arctic Council

Arctic Council

The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum which addresses issues faced by the Arctic governments and the indigenous people of the Arctic.- History of the Arctic Council :...

and other organizations on issues of science affecting the management of the Arctic region. The decision-making organs of IASC are the Council and the Executive Committee. The day-to-day operations are supported by its secretariat headed by the executive secretary. IASC's geographical remit covers the Arctice Ocean and the surrounding landmasses.

Since the founding of IASC, the scientific, environmental, economic and political realities of the North have changed dramatically. New problems and challenges ask for new or improved scientific knowledge. This increased need for knowledge of the arctic region has made international cooperation even more essential. In this light IASC has established five Working Groups (WG) that will identify scientific priorities and initiate and stimulate cross-disciplinary initiatives. The Working Groups are ‘living’ groups that rise and fall according to the scientific need of the community. The five Working Groups are:

• Terrestrial WG
• Cryosphere WG
• Marine/AOSB WG
• Atmosphere WG
• Social and Human WG

Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW)
The ASSW is an initiative of IASC and organized in cooperation with the Pacific Arctic Group (PAG), the International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA), the European Polar Board (EPB) and the Forum of Arctic Research Operators (FARO). The purpose of the summit is to provide opportunities for coordination, collaboration and cooperation in all areas of arctic science, and to combine science and management meetings to save on travel and time. The ASSW also offers insight into arctic research undertaken by the host country.

In 2009, the first Science Symposium was held in Bergen, Norway during the Arctic Science Summit Week. The three day symposium created a platform for exchanging knowledge, cross fertilization and collaboration. Considering the great success of this event, which attracted 300 scientists, students, policy makers and other professionals from over the world, the Science Symposium will take place at the ASSW every other year. The next ASSW with a Science Symposium will take place in March 2011 in Seoul (Republic of Korea).

IASC maintains close links and connections with the following partner organizations:

Arctic Council / Observer / http://www.arctic-council.org
International Council for Science (including IPCC) / International Associate / http://www.icsu.org
World Climate Research Programme / Memorandum of Understanding/ http://wcrp.wmo.int
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research / Letter of Agreement / http://www.scar.org
International Permafrost Association / Memorandum of Understanding / http://ipa.arcticportal.org
Pacific Arctic Group / Letter of Agreement / http://www.pagscience.com
International Arctic Social Sciences Association / Letter of Agreement / http://www.iassa.gl
Association of Polar Early Career Scientists / Memorandum of Understanding / http://www.apecs.is
International Association of Cryospheric Sciences / Letter of Agreement / http://www.cryosphericsciences.org

Research projects

While maintining an interest in facilitating the effectiveness of arctic science in all fields, IASC selects programmes for direct action. Priority is given to achieving research output within an agreed period of time, e.g.

Arctic coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...

al biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...

and coastal dynamics;
Arctic hydrology
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...

;
human-caribou/reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...

grazing systems;
environmental data gathering (CEON);
effects of Arctic environmental contaminants on human health;
biodiversity in Arctic and alpine
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....

ecosystems;
Arctic glaciology
Glaciology
Glaciology Glaciology Glaciology (from Middle French dialect (Franco-Provençal): glace, "ice"; or Latin: glacies, "frost, ice"; and Greek: λόγος, logos, "speech" lit...

;
land-ocean interactions in the Russian Arctic;
Arctic marine transport routes;
mapping Arctic sediment thickness;
nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....

and health of indigenous people in Arctic countries; and
changes in the tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...

/taig
Taig
Taig is a derogatory term for an Irish Catholic. It is mainly used by sectarian loyalists in Northern Ireland and Scotland. It has been used in sectarian slogans such as "Kill All Taigs" , "All Taigs Are Targets" and "Any Taig Will Do"...

a boundary.

IASC gives priority to interdisciplinary projects relevant to Arctic science issues which require international cooperation. This is archived by

framing issues in thematic terms;
bringing together the physical, biological and social sciences;
strengthening the dialogue between science and policy;
addressing the concerns of those who live in the Arctic.

Council

Country	Organization	Representative
Canada	Canadian Polar Commission	David Hik, President
China	Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration	Huigeng Yang
Denmark/Greenland	The Commission for Scientific Research in Greenland	Naja Mikkelsen, Vice-President
Finland	Delegation of the Finnish Academies of Science and Letters	Kari Laine
France	Institut Polaire Français	Gérard Jugie
Germany	Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft	Karin Lochte
Iceland	RANNÍS, The Icelandic Centre for Research	Kristján Kristjánsson
Italy	National Research Council of Italy	Carlo-Alberto Ricci
Japan	Science Council of Japan, National Institute of Polar Research	Hiroshi Kanda
The Netherlands	Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research	Louwrens Hacquebord
Norway	The Research Council of Norway	Susan Barr, Vice-President
Poland	Polish Academy of Sciences, Committee on Polar Research	Jacek Jania
Russia	The Russian Academy of Sciences	Vladimir I Pavlenko
Republic of Korea	Korea Polar Research Institute	Byong-Kwon Park,Vice-President
Spain	Comite Polar Espanol	Manuel Catalan
Sweden	The Swedish Research Council	Magnus Friberg
Switzerland	Swiss Committee on Polar Research	Martin Luethi
United Kingdom	Natural Environment Research Council	Cynan Ellis-Evans
USA	Polar Research Board	Jackie Grebmeier, Vice-President

IASC Secretariat

The IASC Secretariat implements decisions of the Executive Committee and Council, manages IASC finances, conducts outreach activities and maintains international communication. Since 2009, the IASC Secretariat is based in Potsdam (Germany), hosted and financed by the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) for Polar and Marine Research and co-financed by the German Science Foundation (DFG).

Executive Secretary	Volker Rachold
Executive Officer	Mare Pit
Executive Officer	Sara Bowden
Administrative Assistant	Heike Midleja

Research projects

Council

IASC Secretariat

See also