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Notes from the SCAR President, number 12 (29 June 2009)

Time to Think Strategically!

Colleagues,

The SCAR Executive Committee will meet in August 2009 and begin, in earnest, discussions about the SCAR Strategic Plan 2011-2016. Preliminary discussions are already underway. In order to seamlessly move from the previous to the next strategic plan, a draft is needed for consideration at the Delegates Meeting in 2010.

I ask everyone to think strategically and assist in developing a vision for the future of SCAR.

With nearly constant planning and a library of strategic documents, SCAR is well positioned to develop an integrated and effective strategic plan. The document will be holistic and internally consistent from mission to allocation of resources and address the interests of all of SCAR's stakeholders building on the ten years of progress and success. The plan will benefit everyone's viewpoint and best thinking will be the basis for formulating a final consensus document. While the last decade of change was critical to SCAR's existence, it was just the first step. This next step, what I call "institutionalization", will finalize implementation of the restructuring, fine tune the organizational structure, maximize processes to accomplish the organization's mission, and set a course for the future.

SCAR is at a critical time in its history and you can influence, as well as be a part of, what comes next. Your suggestions, comments, observations and ideas on where SCAR should be in 2016 are not only solicited but they are essential.

As one step in the process, I propose that the (extended) SCAR Executive Committee meet in Cambridge, England at the SCAR Secretariat for a special retreat sometime in the spring 2010. This will be after the new Executive Director is in place and the retreat will be for the sole purpose of strategic planning.

The jumping-off point for the planning process will be the SCAR Strategic Plan 2006-2010. The process will incorporate various planning documents including, but not limited to:

  1. the recommendations and assessment by the Action Group on SCAR and the ATS in the 21st Century (AG-SATC),
  2. the new Data and Information Management Strategy (DIMS) (under review),
  3. the revised plan for Capacity Building, Education and Training (CBET),
  4. the Communications Plan, and
  5. the Recommendations of the SCAR 2009 External Review.

Some of the issues to be addressed include, but are not limited to:

  1. transition of SCAR's scientific portfolio with emphasis on evolution of the Scientific Research Programs,
  2. interactions with the ATS with a special emphasis on 21st century conservation and protection,
  3. integration of the full range of climate activities engaging all communities especially other ATS partners and the biology/ecology communities, and
  4. plans for SCAR administration procedures to fully engage the Delegates and the Antarctic science communities in member nations.

Additional items will be added and documents consulted as necessary. The 2009 SCAR Review was categorized under the following themes and it provides one way of looking at the issues:

The Executive Committee will be formulating a response to 2009 Review for consideration by the Delegates and this response provides important input into the strategic planning process. There are a number of key papers being presented and considered by the Executive Committee at its August 2009 meeting that deal with many of these topics. These documents are a part of the process (for details, go to the Members Only section and review the SCAR ExCom Agenda, August 2009).

I would appreciate any initial impressions of the SCAR 2009 Reveiw Report Recommendations.

To close, just a few updates:

  1. The Martha T. Muse Prize - Selection Committee invitations are pending and committee membership will be announced shortly. Nominations for the first Prize opened on June 15, 2009 and the advertising campaign is just beginning. The web site is publically available with on-line nomination, and the closing date for nominations is October 15, 2009. Please provide nominations!!!!
  2. SCAR Executive Director Search - The SCAR Executive Director Selection Committee (ExCom) has almost completed initial evaluation of applicants and expects to select a short-list to ask for clarifications of any missing material in the application packages and letters of recommendation. 17 applications were received. After a review of the additional materials, finalists will be selected and scheduled for personal interviews with the Search Committee. A final decision is expected in the early fall.
  3. SCAR Fellowship Program - Fellowship applications increased this year by 50% to 35. Applications are under review and decisions are expected soon.
  4. 2010 Open Science Conference - John Priscu (USA) and Carlota Escutia Dotti (Spain) have agreed to co-Chair the 2010 International Scientific Organizing Committee of 29 people and planning of the science program is underway. The OSC theme will be "Antarctica - Witness to the Past and Guide to the Future". Proposals for topical OSC sessions should be sent to the Co-Chairs.

All for now and I hope this note finds you well!
Chuck K.
President of SCAR

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