International Arctic Science Committee Definition and Mission The International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) is a non-governmental, international scientific organization. The mission of IASC is to encourage and facilitate cooperation in all aspects of Arctic research, in all countries engaged in Arctic research and in all areas of the Arctic region, by promoting and supporting leading-edge multi-disciplinary research to foster a greater scientific understanding of the Arctic region and its role in the Earth system.

International Arctic Science Committee Member Countries IASC´s membership today includes national science organizations from 23 countries involved in Arctic research. This year IASC Council welcomed Portugal as the 23 rd IASC member country. IASC is an International Scientific Associate of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and observer on the Arctic Council.

International Arctic Science Committee Organizational Structure IASC draws on an organizational structure that provides mechanisms for initiating and implementing cutting-edge science-led international programs.

International Arctic Science Committee Council, Executive Committee and Secretariat Representatives of the national science organizations from all 23 IASC member countries form the IASC Council.Representatives of the national science organizations from all 23 IASC member countries form the IASC Council. Council usually meets once a year during the Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW).Council usually meets once a year during the Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW). An Executive Committee, consisting of an elected President, four elected Vice-Presidents and a permanent Executive Secretary operates as a Board of Directors and manages IASC activities between Council meetings.An Executive Committee, consisting of an elected President, four elected Vice-Presidents and a permanent Executive Secretary operates as a Board of Directors and manages IASC activities between Council meetings. The Secretariat is currently hosted by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Potsdam (Germany), and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization.The Secretariat is currently hosted by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Potsdam (Germany), and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization.

International Arctic Science Committee Secretariat and Fellowship Program IASC Fellows at ASSW 2015 Member country support for IASC Secretariat Germany – Central Secretariat Germany – Central Secretariat Korea – Sub-office supporting AWG, MWG and TWG Korea – Sub-office supporting AWG, MWG and TWG Canada – Sub-office supporting SHWG Canada – Sub-office supporting SHWG Japan – Sub-office supporting CWG Japan – Sub-office supporting CWG Poland – Sub-office for IASC Fellowship coordination Poland – Sub-office for IASC Fellowship coordination

International Arctic Science Committee Working Groups Working Groups are IASC´s main scientific working bodies. They identify and formulate science plans, act as scientific advisory boards to the IASC Council and assist IASC in the implementation of its science mission.  Terrestrial Working Group  Cryosphere Working Group  Marine Working Group / Arctic Ocean Sciences Board  Atmosphere Working Group  Social & Human Working Group

International Arctic Science Committee Arctic Climate System Network (ACSNet) Arctic Climate System Network (ACSNet) Arctic Coastal Dynamics (ACD) Arctic Coastal Dynamics (ACD) Arctic Freshwater System Synthesis www in preparation Arctic Freshwater System Synthesis www in preparation Arctic in Rapid Transition (ART) Arctic in Rapid Transition (ART) Circum-Arctic Lithosphere Evolution (CALE) Circum-Arctic Lithosphere Evolution (CALE) International Study of Arctic Change (ISAC) International Study of Arctic Change (ISAC) Network on Arctic Glaciology (NAG) Network on Arctic Glaciology (NAG) Palaeo-Arctic Spatial and Temporal Gateways (PAST Gateways) Palaeo-Arctic Spatial and Temporal Gateways (PAST Gateways) Polar Archaeology Network (PAN)polararchaeologynetwork.blogg.no Polar Archaeology Network (PAN)polararchaeologynetwork.blogg.no IASC Networks Networks are  IASC-endorsed, thematic groups;  address specific scientific issues on a circum-arctic scale;  strive to involve early career scientists.

International Arctic Science Committee Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW)  Initiated by IASC in 1999  Most important annual gathering of the Arctic research organizations  Provides opportunities for coordination, cooperation and collaboration  Any organization engaged in Arctic research may participate  In odd number years includes a 3-day Science Symposium  In even number years includes a 3-day Arctic Observing Summit  Has been held in a dozen different IASC member countries  ASSW 2017 Prague, Czech Republic  ASSW 2016 Fairbanks, USA  ASSW 2015 Toyama, Japan  ASSW 2014 Helsinki, Finland  ASSW 2013 Krakow, Poland  ASSW 2012 Montreal, Canada  ASSW 2011 Seoul, Korea  ASSW 2010 Nuuk, Greenland  ASSW 2009 Bergen, Norway  ASSW 2008 Syktyvkar, Russia  ASSW 2007 Hannover, NH, USA  ASSW 2006 Potsdam, Germany  ASSW 2005 Kunming, China  ASSW 2004 Reykjavik, Iceland  ASSW 2003 Kiruna, Sweden  ASSW 2002 Groningen, Netherlands  ASSW 2001 Iqaluit, Canada  ASSW 2000 Cambridge, UK  ASSW 1999 Tromsø, Norway

International Arctic Science Committee Including 4 th International Symposium on Arctic Research (ISAR-4) and 4 th International Symposium on Arctic Research (ISAR-4) and 3 rd International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP III) 3 rd International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP III) Arctic Science Summit Week April 2015

International Arctic Science Committee IASC Medal Awarded in recognition of exceptional and sustained contributions to the understanding of the Arctic since Martin Jakobsson IASC Medal 2011 Patrick Webber IASC Medal 2010 Igor Krupnik IASC Medal 2012 Leif Anderson IASC Medal 2013 Julian Dowdeswell IASC Medal 2014

International Arctic Science Committee IASC Medal Awarded in recognition of exceptional and sustained contributions to the understanding of the Arctic. IASC Medal 2015 Jacqueline Grebmeier IASC Medal 2015

International Arctic Science Committee Steering Group Chair: Gail Fondahl Vice-Chair: Hiroki Takakura Vice-Chair: Peter Sköld Past Chair: Peter Schweitzer Scientific Foci (revised in 2013) The Arctic in a global context Arctic residents and change: dynamics of mitigation and sustainability Natural resource[s] / use / exploitation and development: past, present, future Human health and well-being Histories and methodologies of arctic sciences and arts Perceptions and representations of the Arctic Security, governance and law US Members of the Working Group Andrey Petrov, University of Northern Iowa Sven Haakanson, University of Washington Social and Human Sciences Working Group

International Arctic Science Committee Marine Working Group Scientific Foci: Predicting and understanding rapid changes to the Ocean system Understanding biological and ecosystem processes in the Arctic and sub-arctic seas Understanding sea ice structure dynamics and the Arctic system Understanding geochemical processes in the Arctic and sub-arctic seas Enhancing and improving access to the paleo record of the Arctic Ocean through scientific drilling Steering Group: Chair Bert Rudels Vice-Chair Lee Cooper Vice-Chair Jinping Zhao Past Vice-Chair Rolf Gradinger US Members of the Working Group: Lee Cooper, University of Maryland Mary-Louise Timmermans, Yale University

International Arctic Science Committee Steering Group Chair: Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir, Iceland Vice-Chair: Josef Elster, Czech Republic Vice-Chair: Philip Wookey, UK Determining the role of connectivity in the functioning of arctic terrestrial systems, including connections within the arctic and the global system Determining the net effect of the terrestrial and freshwater environmental and biosphere’s processes that amplify or moderate climate warming Developing unifying concepts, fundamental theories and computer models of the interactions among species, interactions between species and their environment, and the biology of life in extreme environments Estimating past changes in arctic geo- and biodiversity, measuring current change and predicting future changes Scientific Foci Developing high spatial resolution models of terrestrial geosystem and ecosystem change, and other tools that can be used by arctic stakeholders for adaptation strategies and sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystem services Terrestrial Working Group Improving knowledge at multiple spatial scales of the current state of Arctic terrestrial geosystems and ecosystems US Members of the Working Group: Donald ‘Skip’ Walker, University of Alaska Fairbanks Vladimir Romanovsky, University of Alaska Fairbanks

International Arctic Science Committee Atmosphere Working Group Scientific Foci Atmospheric Dynamics in the Arctic and Subarctic Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP, ) Arctic- Mid-latitude Weather Linkages Air Chemistry and Pollution Data Rescue Steering Group: Chair James Overland Vice-Chair Michael Tjernström Vice-Chair Hiroshi Tanaka Vice-Chair Kathy Law US Members of the Working Group: Jim Overland, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory/NOAA John J. Cassano

International Arctic Science Committee Cryosphere Working Group Scientific Foci Sea-ice boundary layer dynamics, particularly as they relate to biogeochemical exchanges and polar amplification. Permafrost, including support of activities being undertaken by the International Permafrost Association. Tidewater glacier dynamics and response to climate change, with a focus on methods for studying these issues. This activity is intended to have a large early career scientist and training component. Steering Group: Chair Francisco Navarro Vice-Chair Jon Ove Hagen Vice-Chair Walter Meier Past Chair Martin Sharp US Members of the Working Group: Elizabeth Hunke Walter Meier

International Arctic Science Committee International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP)  ICARP I, Hanover NH 1995  Reviewed the state of Arctic science and resulted in a series of IASC-supported research projects.  ICARP II, Copenhagen 2005  Twelve forward-looking science plans - resulted in many international projects and programs, especially within the framework of the International Polar Year.  ICARP III, underway  The outcome will be a ‘roadmap’ for the next decade of Arctic research. Convened periodically by IASC and its partners to identify key scientific questions and issues:

International Arctic Science Committee