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The SCAR Constitution 2004

1. Definition and Domicile of SCAR

1.1
The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, hereinafter called SCAR, was formed in February 1958 and is an interdisciplinary body of the International Council for Science (ICSU).
1.2
The legal domicile of SCAR and its Secretariat will be determined by the Meeting of Delegates.
1.3
SCAR is a Private Company (without a share capital) Limited by Guarantee and is registered as a charity with the Charity Commissioners in the United Kingdom.

2. Vision, Mission, and Objectives of SCAR

2.1
The vision of SCAR is to establish through scientific research and international cooperation a broad understanding of the nature of Antarctica, the role of Antarctica in the Earth System, and the effects of global change on Antarctica.
2.2
SCAR's specific mission is to be the leading non-governmental organization for facilitating and coordinating Antarctic Research, and for identifying issues emerging from greater scientific understanding of the region that should be brought to the attention of policy makers.
2.3
To fulfil its mission, SCAR aims to achieve the following main objectives:
  1. to initiate, develop, and co-ordinate high quality international scientific research in the Antarctic region and on the role of the Antarctic region in the Earth system;
  2. to provide objective and independent scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings and other organizations on issues of science and conservation affecting the management of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
  3. to facilitate free and unrestricted access to Antarctic scientific data and information;
  4. to develop scientific capacity in all SCAR Members, especially with respect to young scientists, and to promote the incorporation of Antarctic science in education at all levels;
  5. to communicate scientific information about the Antarctic region to the public.

3. SCAR Area of Interest

3.1
For the purpose of SCAR the Antarctic region is considered to include Antarctica, its offshore islands, and the surrounding ocean including the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the northern boundary of which is the Subantarctic Front. Subantarctic islands that lie north of the Subantarctic Front and yet fall into SCAR's area of interest include Ile Amsterdam, Ile St. Paul, Macquarie Island and Gough Island.

4. Membership of SCAR

4.1
The membership of SCAR is as follows:
  1. Full Member
    A Full Member will be a national organization adhering to ICSU, or nominated by a national organization adhering to ICSU, that represents the scientific community of that country. The country must maintain an active Antarctic Research programme and must have formed a National Committee to communicate with SCAR.
  2. Associate Member
    An Associate Member will be a national organization adhering to ICSU, or nominated by a national organization adhering to ICSU, that desires to participate in SCAR for scientific reasons but does not qualify for full membership.
  3. Union Member
    A Union Member will be an ICSU Union, whose activity is related to the objectives of SCAR , which wishes to participate in SCAR on a continuing basis.
  4. Honorary Member
    An Honorary Member will be an individual who has rendered outstanding service to SCAR and has been so recognized by the Meeting of Delegates.

5. Decision Making

5.1 The decision-making organs of SCAR are:
  1. The Meeting of Delegates;
  2. The Executive Committee
5.2 Representation and voting rights
5.2.1 Each Full Member is represented by one Delegate and one Alternate delegate designated by the National Committee communicating with SCAR. Each Full Member has one vote.
5.2.2 Each Associate Member is represented by one Delegate designated by the national body adhering to ICSU. Associate Members have no vote.
5.2.3 Each Union Member is represented by one Delegate designated by the Union. Union Members have a vote on all matters except financial matters.
5.2.4 Honorary Members are without voting rights.

6. Meeting of Delegates

6.1
Meetings of Delegates are normally held every two years.
6.2
The President of SCAR will preside over the Meeting of Delegates.
6.3
The Meeting of Delegates consists of:
  1. The Delegate and Alternate Delegate representing each Full Member.
  2. The Delegate representing each Associate Member.
  3. The Delegate representing each Union Member.
  4. Honorary Members in their personal capacity.
  5. Invited observers from other governmental and non-governmental organizations.
6.4 The Delegate Committee on Scientific Affairs and the Delegate Committee on Standing Committees will meet at each SCAR Meeting of Delegates

7. Executive Committee

7.1
The Executive Committee consists of the Officers of SCAR as defined in Section 8.1.
7.2
The Executive Committee directs the affairs of SCAR and attends to matters requiring consideration by SCAR. It will meet as often as necessary, and at least once between SCAR Meetings of Delegates.
7.3
The President of SCAR will preside over meetings of the Executive Committee.
7.4 The Executive Committee will report all decisions taken to the biennial SCAR Meeting of Delegates

8. Officers of SCAR

8.1
The officers of SCAR are a President, four Vice-Presidents and the immediate Past-President and will be from six different Full Members.
8.2
The President will be elected for a term of four years from Delegates and Alternate Delegates of Full Members.
8.3
The Vice-Presidents will be elected for a term of four years from Delegates and Alternate Delegates of Full Members.
8.4 The Immediate Past-President will serve as a member of the SCAR Executive Committee for a period of two (2) years.
8.5 Election of Officers will be conducted under the Rules of Procedure for SCAR established by the Meeting of Delegates.

9. Subsidiary Bodies of SCAR

9.1
SCAR operates through subsidiary bodies inter alia, Standing Scientific Groups, a Standing Committee on Finance, and a Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System.
9.2
Standing Scientific Groups are bodies representing the Antarctic activities in Geosciences, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences

10. SCAR Finances

10.1 The income of SCAR is obtained from the following:
  1. Annual contributions from its National Members according to the a scale determined by the Meeting of Delegates
  2. Grants or income obtained from ICSU or from other sources.
10.2 The fiscal year for SCAR will be the calendar year, 1 January to 31 December.

11. Legal Representation of SCAR

11.1 The President is the legal representative of SCAR. If the President is unavailable, a member of the SCAR Executive Committee, designated either by the President or by a vote of the Executive Committee, will be the temporary legal representative of SCAR.

12. Modification of the SCAR Constitution

12.1
Amendments may be made to the Constitution with the approval by consensus of the voting Delegates present at a Meeting of Delegates.
12.2

After ICSU approval the revised Constitution will enter into force thirty (30) days after the SCAR Secretariat forwards copies to National Members and Union Members.

13. Interim Measures

13.1 After approval of amendments to the Constitution, by the Meeting of Delegates, SCAR members should voluntarily follow the revisions as if the changes were in force.