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Notes from the SCAR President, number 40 (8 August 2011)
ISAES XI and Executive Committee Meeting Report
Dear Colleagues,
I recently joked that my travel has been so extensive recently that the airline will soon name a plane after me! Reflective of the exciting times for Antarctic science, the pace of SCAR activities remains at an all-time high. In this Note I provide highlights and my impressions from several important events since my last note. I apologize for the length of this email but there are many important items I wish to bring to your attention.
International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences (ISAES)
It was a great pleasure to attend the International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences (ISAES) in Edinburgh, Scotland. SCAR symposia are some of the most important scientific activities that SCAR sponsors. Symposia are assembled on a 4-year cycle and report the most up-to-date scientific results. ISAES XI was an exceptional event and I was amazed at the advancement of knowledge on so many fronts in the earth sciences and with the truly collaborative, interdisciplinary, and international nature of modern Antarctic science. More than 500 researchers attended from 22 countries - a new record for the symposium. The scope of science was truly breathtaking and applications of the latest technologies are producing an emerging picture of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean system that could not have been imagined just a few short years ago. Topics included: Antarctica and supercontinent evolution, ice sheet history and dynamics, Antarctic climate variability, subglacial water systems and hydrology, permafrost and periglacial environments, Antarctica and global geochemical cycles, the solid earth and tectonics, origin and evolution of Antarctic biota, Antarctic ice sheets and the Southern Ocean, Antarctica's subglacial basins and mountain ranges, and progress in Antarctic data, collections and maps . I was honored to deliver a plenary presentation on Antarctic Research Imperatives in a Changing World, linking Antarctic research directions with ICSU's Grand Challenges in Sustainability, which was only one of 16 excellent plenary keynotes. The City of Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh were excellent hosts and Martin Siegert and his team managed the meeting efficiently and flawlessly! A heartfelt thank you is in order to all involved.
SCAR Executive Committee Meeting 2011
Directly following ISAES XI, your Executive Committee (EXCOM) gathered for its annual meeting. A report of the meeting will be available on the SCAR website soon (Members Only) and I ask you to please refer to the full report for further details. I provide some brief highlights of the more important issues and decisions made on your behalf. A Chief Officers' meeting preceded the full EXCOM meeting (report also soon to be available).
SCAR Science Bodies and Programs
Progress reports and future plans were presented for all SCAR Standing Scientific Groups, Standing Committees, and Program Planning Groups. Important items from these reports include: guidelines for election procedures for SSG, SRP and SC COs will be provided; future cross-linkages meeting will be held in conjunction with COs' meeting and allow for annual meetings at reduced cost; a new Expert Group will be created to assist in coordination of planning and integration of scientific results amongst programs such as ANDRILL, SHALDRILL, IODP etc.; the SCAR Human Biology and Medicine group is in the process of merging with COMNAP MEDNET; an Antarctic Clouds and Aerosols (ACA) group and the Southern Ocean Acidification Action Group have been established; an ISMASS workshop is being planned for 2012; several recommendations were adopted to enhance SSG and Standing Committee operations and impact on Delegates' decisions, including a requirement for SSG/SC draft reports and budget requests to be submitted two months prior to the Delegates' Meeting; and that good progress is being made on the development of at least four proposals for new Scientific Research Programs (SRPs) to be considered by the Delegates in 2012. A timeline for SRP proposals will be widely circulated and posted to the SCAR website. Progress on the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) was reported including that the final version of the plan will be printed soon and a SOOS International Project Office (IPO) is being established in Australia, supported by the new Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, and an Executive Officer (Louise Newman) has been appointed and will start in August 2011.
International Polar Decade
The concept of an International Polar Decade was discussed and a SCAR view of the concept will be circulated soon for comment. Most recommendations of the Social Sciences Action Group were agreed but this new direction in SCAR requires further discussion by the Delegates.
International Cooperation
While SCAR remains supportive of efforts by National Antarctic Programs to better coordinate activities, reduce redundancy, and create synergy and integration across complementary programs located in the same region, the King George Island Action Group was disbanded due to a lack of response from SCAR members.
Data and Geographic Information
Three Standing Committee on Antarctic Data Management (SCADM) activities were reported: an interoperable Date Repository Network, improving relevance and utility of SCAR Products, and participation in the Polar Information Commons. It was noted that the SCAR website needed to be upgraded in order to better promote SCAR Products. SCAR Products will be reviewed to establish if they are still viable, active, and have critical mass to continue. Standing Committee on Antarctic Geographic Information (SCAGI) efforts to engage national representatives over several years have not been fruitful and an alternative model for SCAGI will be proposed. SCAGI will meet in September to produce a forward work plan and to appoint a new Chief Officer.
Partnerships
EXCOM approved the recommendations of BiPAG II and charged the Secretariat to implement them. All SCAR partnerships will be reviewed as MoUs or Letters of Agreement expire. Partnerships that are beneficial will be continued and those that are not will be revised or terminated.
Antarctic Treaty
SCAR activities at the XXXIII Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting were reported (covered in the last Note) and the first "Antarctic Conservation for the 21st Century" workshop held in South Africa in April 2011 was noted.
Capacity Building, Education, and Training (CBET)
The recommendations of the Fellowships Review Committee regarding selection of the Fellows for 2011-12 was noted (announced elsewhere). The fellowships were jointly administered with COMNAP this year and more than 40 applications were received from applicants in 20 countries. The 2011 Martha T Muse Prize was awarded to Dr José Xavier from the Institute of Marine Research of the University of Coimbra in Portugal and British Antarctic Survey. An update of CBET activities, including a way forward to update the CBET plan, to be revised by the CBET Committee, was presented. A 'Visiting Scientist' program will be initiated in 2011/12 thanks to a voluntary contribution from India. The program will involve sending one or more people to a country that is willing to host the scientist for a short visit. Procedures for applications for and selection of Visiting Scientists will be developed and widely circulated.
Communications
ExCom agreed that the SCAR website needs to be updated to appeal to a much wider audience and to include more dynamic features (blogs, CMS for groups etc.) and allocated the use of funds for this activity. Around $19,000 had been committed by Norway, UK and ASOC to enhance communication of SCAR's climate work to a broader audience. The SCAR Communications Plan (written in 2006) will be updated.
Meetings
Good progress on planning for the 2012 SCAR Open Science Conference, Business Meetings and Delegates' Meeting being held in July 2012 was reported. COMNAP has decided to schedule their AGM in parallel with the OSC. COMNAP will also organize a Symposium on Sustainability on the Sunday prior to the OSC and will chair a similar science session in the OSC. The icebreaker will be a joint SCAR/COMNAP event and include ceremonial welcoming activities. The OSC dinner will once again be a recognition event introducing the SCAR Medals (nomination process to be opened shortly) and Muse Prize winners. Efforts are being made to keep the cost of attendance at the OSC as reasonable as possible, especially the registration fee. SCAR OSC registration fees will be substantially lower than the IPY conferences. Free student registration for those presenting at the OSC is being discussed and if approved, SCAR will subsidize these efforts in lieu of a travel grant program. The travel grant program in 2010 was time consuming for the Secretariat and more efficient ways of reducing attendance cost are being considered. Creation of a revenue stream to fund these activities is being discussed. The hosts have arranged for low cost on-campus housing for students ($25/night). An extensive parallel, cultural program is being developed and will more fully engage the local community and enhance education and outreach activities.
EXCOM approved the recommendation that an Action Group on Meetings and related activities be formed to develop an integrated schedule for scientific, advisory and business meetings and related activities involving SCAR.
Secretariat
Mike Sparrow presented a summary of Secretariat activities, including an analysis of past and future workloads.
Finances
As noted above, a change in procedure has been agreed requiring draft budget submissions from SSG/SCs two months prior to biennial meetings. The Finance Committee will be empanelled two months prior to the biennial meetings to consider draft budget requests. This will allow for development of alternative budget scenarios well in advance of the Delegates' Meeting. Based on the 2010 Resolution approved by the SCAR Members ("Delegates agree the need for an increase in contributions of up to 20% in 2012 based on a business case that SCAR will provide for Delegates to take to their funding agencies") a Business Case was sent to all SCAR Member countries for them to begin discussions with their funding agencies about membership fee increases. The case for an increase in membership fees will be further communicated to Delegates by: (i) a Letter from President/Executive Director reminding Members of the need for an increase in fees including an updated business case and (ii) the President will informally contact individual members with regard to the proposed increase. It was noted that a few members are in arrears on membership fee payments. The SCAR Articles of Association state that membership in SCAR may be terminated if the member "has not paid its contribution within two years of such contribution becoming due" and that any members who were in arrears with payments lose their right to vote at the Delegates' meeting.
Concluding Remarks - Elections
As you can see, your EXCOM has been very busy! You may have noticed this is the 40th Note from the President and that indicates that my term as President is drawing to a close. The 2012 Delegates meeting will involve several critical elections that will lead to a renewal of SCAR leadership. The President (Kennicutt term ends) and two Vice-Presidents will be elected (R Ravindra and A Huskies terms end). In addition, SSGs will elect several new Chief Officers (GS, LS), Deputy Chief Officers (GS), and Secretaries (LS, GS). Continuity in leadership for SSGs is desirable and I ask that potential candidates be encouraged to stand for election far in advance of the meetings. 2012 will see a major change in SCAR leadership and I encourage everyone to consider serving in these important positions, I know you will find it rewarding and even enjoyable!
As always your comments, questions, and/or concerns are not only welcomed but needed!
Chuck K.
President of SCAR
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