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Background and Context of the Horizon Scan Process
Within this framework of science and policy advice, the Scan forms the first element and will provide a community-based vision of the direction of Antarctic and Southern Ocean science in the next two decades. The Scan will not attempt to directly address policy makers' issues but policy makers will be included as Scan participants, and Scan outputs will benefit the other activities.
The second element, the Antarctic Conservation Strategy, is a community-driven effort led by Professor Steven Chown (Australia, Inaugural Muse Prize Awardee) that is addressing the need to better inform and communicate, with and to policy- and decision-makers, the scientific principles that underpin the most critical environmental issues facing Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in the next ten to twenty years. The Antarctic Conservation Strategy will consider the utility of the science identified by the Scan in respect to the knowledge needed for conservation and environmental stewardship efforts. As a feedback, the Antarctic Conservation Strategy will inform the Scan of unmet, critical science needs and/or gaps in knowledge from a "science advice to policy-makers" perspective.
The third element, the Antarctic Environments Portal, is envisioned as a "one-stop shopping" location that provides access to policy-ready scientific outputs. The Portal development is being led by New Zealand and is sponsored by SCAR. Facilitating access to the latest and best scientific findings and knowledge is a critical need of the policy community. The outcomes of the Scan and the Antarctic Conservation Strategy will directly support the objectives and information needs of the Portal.
Figure 1. Strategy for a new Antarctic science and policy paradigm for the 21st century.
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