The International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) is a non-governmental, international scientific organization. IASC was founded in 1990 by representatives of national scientific organizations of the eight Arctic countries – Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia (at that time Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), Sweden and the United States. The Founding Articles of IASC were signed in Resolute Bay, Canada.
Over the years, IASC has evolved into the leading international science organisation of the North and its membership today includes 25 countries involved in all aspects of Arctic research, including 17 non-Arctic countries (Austria, Belgium, China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom).
Mission The Founding Articles committed IASC to pursue a mission of encouraging and facilitating cooperation in all aspects of Arctic research, in all countries engaged in Arctic research and in all areas of the Arctic region. Overall, IASC promotes and supports leading-edge interdisciplinary research in order to foster a greater scientific understanding of the Arctic region and its role in the Earth system.
Rather than defining human and environmental boundaries, IASC tries to bridge those boundaries. IASC is also committed to recognizing that Traditional Knowledge, Indigenous Knowledge, and “Western” scientific knowledge are coequal and complementary knowledge systems, all of which can and should inform the work of IASC.
To achieve this mission IASC:
Initiates, coordinates and promotes scientific activities at a circumarctic or international level; Provides mechanisms and instruments to support science development; Provides objective and independent scientific advice on issues of science in the Arctic and communicates scientific information to the public; Seeks to ensure that scientific data and information from the Arctic are safeguarded, freely exchangeable and accessible; Promotes international access to all geographic areas and the sharing of knowledge, logistics and other resources; Provides for the freedom and ethical conduct of science; Promotes and involves the next generation of scientists working in the Arctic; and Promotes polar cooperation through interaction with relevant science organizations.
Organization IASC is governed by a Council, composed of one representative of each of its member countries, which meets annually at the Arctic Science Summit Week. The Council sets priorities and guides the work of the organisation. 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 Rannis (Iceland), and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organisation. The Secretariat was previously hosted by Germany, Norway and Sweden.
IASC is engaged in all fields of Arctic research and its main scientific working bodies are five Working Groups: Atmosphere, Cryosphere, Marine, Social & Human and Terrestrial. Each Working Group is composed of up to two scientists from each IASC member country, appointed by the national adhering bodies. Though the Working Groups are disciplinary, they also address cross-cutting science questions by initiating activities which involve at least two WGs.
Action Groups are short-term expert groups that provide strategic advice to the IASC Council concerning both long-term activities and urgent needs.
IASC's instruments to support science development include workshops, long-term programs, assessments and science planning activities.
IASC Council Representatives of national scientific organizations from all IASC member countries form the IASC Council that meets once a year during the Arctic Science Summit Week.
The Council is the policy and decision-making body for IASC. The members ensure an input of a wide range of scientific and technical knowledge and provide access to a large number of scientists and administrators through their national committees.
Country Organization Representative Austrian Polar Research Institute Wolfgang Schöner Belgian National Committee on Antarctic Research (BNCAR) Philippe Huybrechts Canadian Polar Commission David Hik Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration Tijun Zhang Centre for Polar Ecology Josef Elster Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science Lise Lotte Sørensen Delegation of the Finnish Academies of Science and Letters Paula Kankaanpä National Center for Scientific Research - CNRS Jérôme Fort German Research Foundation Günther Heinemann RANNÍS, The Icelandic Centre for Research Egill Þór Níelsson National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) Thamban Meloth National Research Council of Italy Carlo Barbante Science Council of Japan, National Institute of Polar Research Hiroyuki Enomoto, Vice-President Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research Daan Blok The Research Council of Norway Jon L. Fuglestad Polish Academy of Sciences, Committee on Polar Research Monika Kędra, Vice-President Ministério da Educação e Ciência João Canario, Vice-President The Russian Academy of Sciences Stepan Nikolaevich Kalmykov Korea Polar Research Institute Hyoung Chul Shin Spanish Polar Committee Antonio Quesada The Swedish Research Council Sara Moa Swiss Commission for Polar and High Altitude Research Gabriela Schaepman-Strub, Vice-President TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center Polar Research Institute Burcu Özsoy Natural Environment Research Council Henry Burgess Polar Research Board Matthew Druckenmiller, President
IASC Working Groups (WGs) IASC carries out much of its scientific coordination through a number of international Working Groups composed of researchers and experts from member countries and partner organizations. The Working Groups promote interdisciplinary collaboration, develop scientific networks, organize workshops and conferences, support early career researchers and contribute to international Arctic research initiatives and assessments.
The Working Groups cooperate across disciplines and frequently contribute to international initiatives such as the Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW), the International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP), the Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) process and preparations for future International Polar Years.
In the 2020s, IASC increasingly emphasized transdisciplinary and co-produced research approaches within its Working Groups, including stronger integration of Indigenous Knowledge systems and collaboration with Arctic communities and international partner organizations.
The Working Groups also support capacity-building activities, including fellowships, mentoring programs, workshops and networking opportunities for early career researchers.
As of the 2020s, IASC operates five permanent Working Groups covering major areas of Arctic research:
Working Group Focus areas Atmosphere Working Group Arctic weather and climate processes, atmospheric chemistry, air pollution, climate modelling and interactions between the Arctic atmosphere and global climate systems. Cryosphere Working Group Research on glaciers, sea ice, snow, permafrost, ice sheets and frozen ground systems, including the role of the cryosphere in global climate change. Marine Working Group Arctic Ocean systems, marine ecosystems, sea ice-ocean interactions, biodiversity, fisheries and changing marine environments. Social and Human Working Group Human dimensions of Arctic change, including Indigenous perspectives, health, well-being, governance, livelihoods, education, adaptation and community-based research. Terrestrial Working Group Arctic land ecosystems, vegetation, soils, wildlife, hydrology and environmental change in terrestrial Arctic environments.
IASC Action Groups Actions Groups are established by the IASC Council to provide strategic advice concerning both long-term activities and urgent needs. They are expert groups typically with a one or two year mandate and conclude their task with a report to the Council.
Latest IASC Action Groups:
Strategic Plan Action Group (2022–2023) The current IASC Strategic Plan was developed as directed by the IASC Council based upon the key priorities and overarching messages of the 3rd International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP III). This, IASC's first Strategic Plan, was approved by the IASC Council in June 2018 in Davos Switzerland and is valid from 2018 until 2023. It is based on three scientific ‘pillars’ that provide direction for a necessary progression from knowledge production to exchange, to action.
IASC must develop a new Strategic plan for 2024 onwards. However, in 2025, the 4th International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) will be held, and its outcomes will influence IASC strategic planning in the future. The IASC Council therefore decided to extend the existing Strategic Plan through 2025 with only an internal update of the existing text during 2022 / 2023. An Action Group has been formed to lead the internal update of the existing IASC Strategic Plan during 2022 / 2023
Action Group on Carbon Footprint (2020–2022) Acknowledging the link between anthropogenic carbon emissions and rapid changes in the Arctic, including the Arctic amplification of climate change, IASC has recently convened an Action Group on Carbon Footprint (AGCF). The remit of the AGCF is to facilitate a full organisational response to the climate crisis and to explore ways to minimise the carbon footprint of IASC-related activities themselves. As an organisation promoting research and transnational access in the Arctic, we have a duty to mitigate the impacts of our activities, as well as to lead the way. The group started its work in early 2021.
Action Group on Indigenous Involvement (2017–2020) In light of the commitments made through the ICARP process and strategic planning, IASC is moving forward with these goals of better involving Indigenous peoples and incorporating Indigenous/traditional knowledge. Establishing an Action Group on Indigenous Involvement should lead to concrete recommendations to the IASC Council that will help IASC achieve its goals. The AGII report was greatefully received and approved by the IASC Council in March 2020. IASC will proceed with consideration and implementation of the AGII recommendations.
IASC Standing Committees Standing Committees are long-term bodies created by Council for long-term IASC initiatives working on defined long-term strategic issues that are of relevance and importance for all IASC activities and the organisation as a whole. They assist IASC in the implementation of IASC's mission. The Standing Committee may also work on own projects and activities within its mandate
Standing Committee on Indigenous Involvement (SCII) The scope and responsibilities of the Standing Committee on Indigenous Involvement (SCII) is:
Provide advice and guidance for the IASC Executive Committee and Council regarding Indigenous Peoples meaningful involvement in IASC activities during the planning and implementation of IASC strategic planning (e.g. ICARP processes). Ensure interaction and explore opportunities with the IASC Working Groups on a positive mutual basis to develop joint projects and to promote meaningful Indigenous involvement and leadership in IASC WG projects and activities. Build on the recommendations of the past AGII by developing concepts and proposals for the implementation of the recommendations from or in the spirit of the AGII report. Evaluate the progress of the implementation of the IASC actions regarding meaningful Indigenous involvement. Create opportunities for interaction with relevant international, regional and national Arctic Indigenous organizations;