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IASC - International Arctic Science Committee

IASC website

In July 2006, following agreement by IASC Council and SCAR Delegates, the Presidents of SCAR and IASC signed a Letter of Agreement. The letter recognised that there are many common interests between SCAR and IASC in scientific research in the polar-regions, and that there is much to be gained from developing a synergy between SCAR and IASC in polar and bipolar research. Development of this link at this time was designed to enable the two organisations to make a more effective contribution than they might otherwise make to the success of the International Polar Year. SCAR and IASC agreed to combine their efforts in selected fields and activities (to be decided by mutual agreement) so as to raise the level of impact of both organisations in terms of making scientific advances and of advising policy makers (for example of the likelihood and likely effects of climate change), as well as to avoid duplication. The agreement will last for 5 years in the first instance.

To facilitate the process, SCAR and IASC agreed:

  1. to invite each other to attend the meetings of their major bodies (SCAR Delegates' Meeting and IASC Council).
  2. to encourage appropriate linkages between the relevant existing SCAR and IASC scientific projects.
  3. to encourage their scientific communities to develop joint bipolar projects and approaches in appropriate fields.
  4. to work together in arranging workshops, conferences, and reports on topics of mutual scientific interest.
  5. to exchange ideas on best practices in data and information management.
  6. to exchange newsletters and advertise each other's newsletters and web sites on their own web sites.
  7. to develop combined approaches to communicating with the wider community on the significance of polar research to the solution of societal issues, including their respective experience in giving advice to the AC and ATCM.

Letter of Agreement, signed in 2006.

At the Arctic Science Summit Week meeting in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA (March 2007), a report was made to the IASC Council on progress-to-date in implementing the Letter of Agreement. View the report on the progress in relations.

Also at that ASSW meeting a joint presentation was made by the Executive Secretary of IASC and the Executive Director of SCAR on how SCAR and IASC were working together to help to ensure a strong legacy from the International Polar year (IPY). Read the text of the presentation and view the powerpoint slides.

Another set of slides has been prepared for the joint SCAR/IASC presentation to the ASSW meeting on 26 March - 2 April 2008 in Syktyvkar, Komi Republic, Russia. You can view the powerpoint presentation.

To help take matters forward the SCAR and IASC Presidents met with their Secretariat representatives at the IASC Secretariat, in Stockholm in June 2007; a number of actions were identified. View the report of the meeting.

A report on SCAR-IASC links was presented to the Delegates at the XXX SCAR meeting in Moscow (July 14-16) as Working Paper 22.

As noted in the report of the delegates meeting (Bulletin 167):

"Delegates complimented the SCAR and IASC Secretariats on taking the SCAR-IASC linkage forward. Delegates considered that the joint efforts in bipolar high latitude climate studies and in ice sheet modelling and sea level were good examples of how to develop joint approaches to research, and suggested that ISMASS needs to revisit its terms of reference and to consider adopting IASC as a co-sponsor. Delegates noted that scientists from both poles are also working together in marine biodiversity and ice core studies. Delegates applauded the development of joint MoUs with IASC (i) for co-sponsorship of APECS; (ii) for cooperation with IACS; and (iii) for cooperation with WCRP. These agreements tie all 4 ICSU polar bodies together and were signed at the (Open Science Conference) Plenary in St Petersburg (July 8)."

One key outcome was the identification of a need for a joint Bipolar Action Group to assist in taking joint initiatives forward, and to assess how SCAR and IASC might contribute to the development of a strong legacy for the IPY.