pdf SCAR XXX WP12i: King George Island Science

SCAR XXX WP12i: King George Island Science

Summary

Recommendations for improving the coordination of science between national operators on KGI have been made over a number of years, to little effect. There is now a broad view of the breadth of science carried out, and the main topic headings. However, we still lack the detailed information on who is doing what, and where, which is required as the basis for improving coordination, and we still lack any mechanism for improving coordination.

To address these shortcomings, a workshop on the coordination of King George Island (KGI) science will be held as part of XXX SCAR in St Petersburg. It will take place in Room B on the 10^th floor of the Pribaltiskaya Hotel, for a maximum of 20 people, from 0900-1300 on July 6^th. Delegations will be asked to nominate attendees.

The main business will be:

• To agree on how to complete the inventory of KGI scientific activities and contact points;
• To explore ways in which scientific coordination between national operations on KGI can be improved so as (a) to benefit all national operators, (b) to avoid duplication of effort, and (c) to benefit all SCAR programmes through more coherent and integrated inputs of data from KGI activities to SCAR activities;
• To consider the benefits of holding a workshop on KGI to explore the practicalities of different models for improved scientific coordination (such as a management coordination mechanism and a regular scientific workshop programme).
• To consider the benefits of making a senior level SCAR visit to KGI in the coming southern summer season to explore these various possibilities with operators on the ground;
• To devise a report through SSG-PS to the Delegates with recommendations on the above topics.

The report will help Delegates to decide on the most appropriate way forward for the coordination of KGI science insofar as it affects the interests of SCAR programmes.