The 1^st SCAR Antarctic and Southern Ocean Science Horizon Scan assembled the world's leading Antarctic scientists, policy makers, leaders, and visionaries to identify the most important scientific questions that will or should be addressed by research in and from the southern Polar Regions over the next two decades.  The SCAR Science Horizon Scan was developed, organized and managed by an International Steering Committee.

The Horizon Scan activity was concluded in 2014 and this web page is now an archive of information and associated documents, which provides easy access to all aspects of the Horizon Scan planning, updates, and various supporting resources.

Main Scan Results

• pdf The 80 most important scientific questions as identified by the Scan (326 KB)
• Polar research: six priorities for Antarctic science - Kennicutt, et al., Nature 512, 23-25 (06 August 2014) | doi:10.1038/512023a
• A roadmap for Antarctic and Southern Ocean science for the next two decades and beyond - Kennicutt, et al., Antarctic Science, First View, 1-16 (September 2014) | doi:10.1017/S0954102014000674
• A Vision of the Future for Antarctic and Southern Ocean Science - Blog

Follow-on Work

• Antarctic Roadmap Challenges Project - translating the highest priority Antarctic research questions into actionable requirements for supporting technologies, logistics and infrastructure - led by COMNAP.
• Future challenges in Southern Ocean ecology research - Xavier, et al., Frontiers in Marine Science, 3:94 (14 June 2016) | doi: 10.3389/fmars.2016.00094 

Contacts

If you have any questions or wish for more details, please contact a member of the Horizon Scan International Steering Committee, especially a member from your own country or region. If you have any feedback or queries, please contact the Chair of the Horizon Scanning Committee, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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The Horizon Scan process was based on inclusive, community-wide consultations led and managed by SCAR. Horizon Scan organizers invited all interested parties and individuals to participate throughout the process. No formal association with SCAR was necessary and the intent was to develop as broad a view as possible of future directions in Antarctic and Southern Ocean science, regardless of the source and/or affiliation of contributors. Wide participation was essential for ensuring the credibility of the outcomes of the Horizon Scan.