United States Participation in the Activities of the International Arctic Science Committee
Principal Investigator & Manager: Dr. Patrick J. WebberThis project supports the United States' (US) participation in the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC). Specifically, it allows the US to have a more active role in multi- and inter-disciplinary scientific cooperation in the Arctic. IASC is a non-governmental membership organization that encourages and facilitates cooperation in all aspects of arctic research.
The US the Polar Research Board (PRB) of the National Research Council represents US scientists in IASC activities. It does this by appointing a representative to the IASC Council. Professor Patrick Webber is the current US representative to the IASC Council and the elected President of IASC. This award permits the PI to visit the IASC Secretariat in Norway and to attend twice yearly Executive Committee meetings and some arctic research meetings at which the PI informs colleagues of research developments and opportunities in international arctic research initiatives.
The Arctic is an important region for understanding the Earth System. The Arctic is intimately connected to the rest of the world via its oceans, and land and air masses. It is home to many people and its renewable and non-renewable resources are important to both arctic and non-arctic residents. The Arctic is by its very geographic and political position an international entity and any large-scale research questions can only be solved through international cooperation in science. Since the US is one of eight arctic nations, strong participation in IASC is beneficial to US arctic interests.
Support for this activity has broad impact beyond improving US arctic science. IASC also advises the Arctic Council (AC) on science issues. The AC is comprised of eight senior government officials from the ministerial level representing environmental interests of the arctic nations. The US is active in the AC. The AC and IASC have close advisory ties in developing the University of the Arctic, which represents the future of higher education in the emerging circumpolar region. These ties permit US scientists and students to contribute and participate in circumpolar social and natural science education.