SCAR XXXIV WP05: SCAR Membership Popular

SCAR XXXIV WP05: SCAR Membership

Authors: J. López-Martínez and Jenny Baeseman

Executive Summary

Important Issues or Factors: The membership of SCAR currently comprises 39 National Members and 9 Union Members. Following the conversations maintained in the last couple of years, four new countries have put applications together for this Delegates meeting to join SCAR, and other two countries are considering a possible future association to SCAR. Increasing the membership of SCAR has obvious advantages, both by engaging more countries in Antarctic Science and SCAR as well as increasing SCAR revenue.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: In regards to current membership, those associate members that have already consolidated Antarctic research activities should be encouraged to become full members. Currently the Ukraine and Denmark are in arrears for more then 3 years and Delegates are asked to consider the special circumstances for both countries. Uruguay is also in arrears for 2015, however the payment is being processed. Contact with potential future members of SCAR should continue, including those contacted before as well as other potential interested countries.

Budget Implications: New members would increase the resources available to SCAR.