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Notes from the SCAR President, number 21 (2 April 2010)
Brief Update and Request for Assistance
Colleagues,
Please excuse my lateness in sending out my March Note! I will keep it short, providing a few quick updates and reminders that certain programs need your attention. We are also a little behind on the Strategic Plan timeline but I will have additional information in my April Note on progress to date. I am confident we will meet the key deadlines as we produce this critical document.
Activity at the Secretariat continues at a hectic pace and the transition of leadership is almost complete. Dr. Michael Sparrow began his term as SCAR Director April 1, 2010. I ask all of you to congratulate Mike and to offer your assistance as he assumes this key leadership position in SCAR.
Updates and Reminders
The SCAR Fellowship Scheme is open for 2010-2011 and applications are invited. The scheme is designed to encourage the active involvement of early career scientists in Antarctic scientific research, allowing researchers from one SCAR Member country to undertake research in an institute in another SCAR Member country. Applicants should be either currently studying for or within five years of completing a PhD and their research should make a contribution to the objectives of one of the Scientific Research Programs endorsed by SCAR (see the Science and Data section for information on SRPs). Submission Deadline: Saturday, 15 May 2010. For full details of the scheme and how to apply, please go to the SCAR Fellowships section.
Update on the 2010 SCAR Meeting - The SCAR Business meetings (July 30-August 2), SCAR Open Science Conference (August 3-6) and SCAR Delegates Meeting (August 9-11) are being held in the beautiful city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. For further information on the meetings please see the meeting website.
- New Deadline for Abstract Submission: The deadline for abstract submission has been extended to April 5, 2010.
- APECS Panel and networking event - "Antarctic Science: Role of SCAR in promoting early career research opportunities", August 4, 2010 (time and location TBA).
- New version of SCAR Business Meetings Timetable is now available. The SCAR Business meetings are an opportunity for the SCAR groups and committees to meet prior the Open Science Conference. View the timetable.
- Information about Travel Grants & Fellowships. Three types of financial assistance are offered for attending the OSC. SCAR and the US offer travel grants, while Argentina extends fellowships to students and young scientists to cover registration for the meeting. Note the deadline for the SCAR grants is April 15, 2010. View the grants and fellowships information.
The SCAR Annual Report for 2009 and is available as Bulletin 174.
SCAR Medal Nominations are needed for the "The SCAR Medal for Excellence in Antarctic Research" and the "The SCAR Medal for International Scientific Coordination". For instructions and nomination forms, visit the SCAR Awards section. The deadline has just passed (April 1) but nominations will continue to be accepted.
Martha T. Muse Prize for Science and Policy in Antarctica nominations are needed. For instructions and nomination forms, go to the Muse Prize website (a significant increase in budget for this program was recently renegotiated with the Tinker Foundation and the yearly rotation of one third of the Selection Committee has been completed). The deadline for nominations is June 1, 2010.
Other Items
A SCAR Delegation will travel to Norway for the ATS Meeting of Experts on Climate Change to be held in Svolvær, Norway from 6-9 April 2010 and they (and the ACCE report) will play a significant role in the proceeding. Steven Chown, Colin Summerhayes and Mike Sparrow will be attending for SCAR.
Byong Kwon Park (Korean SCAR Delegate) will be representing SCAR at the Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) to be held in Nuuk, Greenland from 15-19 April 2010. SCAR's partnership with IASC is critical to identifying ways the two groups can work together to advance polar science and we are committed to a presence at IASC meetings and appreciate Dr. Park serving in this role in Greenland.
I would be remiss, if I did not mention that Dr. Colin Summerhayes is in his last week with SCAR (though he is off making the speaker tour in India and Norway!). There will be ample opportunity to recognize his substantial contributions to SCAR as its inaugural Executive Director as he will join us as an expert consultant in Buenos Aires. However, his official employment with SCAR ends April 9, 2010 and I ask everyone to wish him the best as he moves on to the next stage of his career which is already well underway!
On a final note, I attach a pdf of an article to appear soon in International Innovation (published by Research Media). You might find it useful when people ask what is SCAR and what does SCAR do?
To those of you celebrating holidays, I wish you relaxing times with family and friends.
Chuck K.
President of SCAR
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