Documents

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 19: Humanities and Social Sciences Expert Group (HASSEG) Report

Agenda Item: 4.4.1.

Person Responsible: E. Leane & D. Liggett

Executive Summary

Authors

Elizabeth Leane (University of Tasmania, Australia) & Daniela Liggett (University of Canterbury, New Zealand)

Summary of activities and other important matters from 2016-18

HASSEG membership stands at over 200, about half have detailed profiles on our website. Our main activities are sessions at the SCAR OSC, and in alternate years a biennial conferences, held jointly with the History EG. We held our third and largest biennial conference in mid-2017. We built connections with our Arctic counterparts, in particular the IASC Social and Human Working Group (one of our Executive Committee members attended a meeting of this group in early 2018, and we are organizing a session at POLAR2018 with them). Our Executive Committee has extended to include Cristian Lorenzo (CONICET and National University of Tierra Del Fuego), in recognition of our strong South American membership. Cristian will be convening the next HASSEG biennial conference in 2019. The Committee holds meetings via Skype several times a year, as well as the business meetings at our conferences and sessions which all members can attend (over 50 attendees in 2017).

We have a strong online and social media presence through our website, our email communications, Facebook and Twitter. We continue to have a strong working relationship with the History EG.

Recommendations

Together with the SCAR History Expert Group a Humanities and Social Sciences Group is proposed. We will be submitting Action Group proposals along with our main proposal for a Humanities and Social Sciences Group, as well as an SRP Planning Group proposal (jointly with other groups). We also request permission to carry over funds from 2018 to 2019 to ensure sufficient funding for our 2019 Biennial Conference in Argentina.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 20: History Expert Group Report

Agenda Item: 4.4.2

Person Responsible: C. Lüdecke

Executive Summary

Authors

Cornelia Lüdecke, Germany

Summary of activities and other important matters from 2016-18

The EG organized a session and produced a collective poster summarizing its activities at the 2016 SCAR OSC. In 2017 the History and Humanities/Social Sciences EGs co-organized a conference at the University of Tasmania with 77 oral papers. EG members participated actively at the 2017 International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences. A session has been organized for the 2018 OSC to further build bridges between Arctic and Antarctic researchers. Collaboration between the two EGs continues to progress substantively leading to joint publications (see below) as well as a strong research network. EG members initiated major new projects on the history of polar environmental management (funded by the European Research Council) and on Antarctic cultural heritage (funded by the Swedish Research Council). Major publication developments included a landmark volume on Antarctica and the humanities, the first volume of its kind, and the signing of a contract to prepare a new Cambridge History of the Polar Regions. Lüdecke participated in the German Agenda for Polar Research 2017 of the German SCAR/IASC National Committee.

Recommendations

• We strongly recommend that the Delegates consider forming a Social Sciences and Humanities SSG as merger of the History EG and HASSEG.

• If the Delegates cannot approve a new SG, we request that the Delegates continue to support the History EG activities as proposed in this report to ensure the continued collaboration with HASSEG.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 21: Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) Report

Agenda Item: 4.4.3.

Person Responsible:  L Newman et al.

Executive Summary

Authors

Louise Newman (SOOS IPO), Sebastiaan Swart (Sweden), Andrew Constable (Australia). Mike Williams (New Zealand), Oscar Schofield (USA) and Phillippa Bricher (SOOS IPO)

Summary of activities from 2016-18 and other important issues

For details of activities, please refer to the 2016 Annual Report (Attachment 1). For 2017: 1) delivered and enhanced the database of Upcoming Expeditions to the Southern Ocean (DueSouth), 2) developed and delivered SOOSmap, 3) held eight international workshops/meetings, 4) developed a Task Team on Observing System Design and 5) maintained strong, internationally diverse leadership and strategic direction in the Executive Committee, Steering Committee, Data Committee, and Working Group Co-chairs 2017 was a pivotal year in developing sponsorship for the SOOS International Project Office. We are excited to announce the sponsorship by the State Oceanic Administration (China), supporting a Project Officer Dr Yuhua Pei. Additionally, all previous sponsors (Attachment 2) have continued their support in 2017 and into 2018, and we have new service providers through EMODnet Physics, COMNAP and the ACE CRC (Australia). In 2018, we have another new service provider sponsor, the Istanbul Technical University Polar Research Center. Hosting of the IPO in Hobart, Australia, has been extended until end-2019 (including both the Executive Officer and Data Officer salaries) through the Australian Research Council’s Antarctic Gateway Partnership. SOOS is working with the University of Tasmania, Australian Antarctic Division, CSIRO, Integrated Marine Observing System, and the Tasmanian State Government to develop a partnership agreement for sponsorship over the coming years.

Recommendations

1) SOOS requests continuation of the SCAR sponsorship of the annual SSC meeting (jointly with SCOR) for 2019 and 2020, to the value of 10,000 USD per year. This support is greatly appreciated by SOOS and is imperative to ensure participation of all international SSC members.

2) SOOS invites the SCAR Executive Director to attend the 2019 meeting (hosted by KOPRI, Korea)

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 22: Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP) Report

Agenda Item: 4.4.4.

Person Responsible:  D. Bromwich

Executive Summary

Authors

YOPP Steering Committee via David Bromwich (USA) 

Summary 

The goal of the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Polar Prediction Project (PPP) is to facilitate internationally coordinated research efforts to significantly improve environmental prediction capabilities for the Polar Regions and beyond, on time scales from hours to seasonal. Its key activity, the Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP), was officially launched on 15 May 2017. Scheduled from mid-2017 to mid-2019, YOPP fosters intensive extra observation activities and modeling campaigns in both the Antarctic and the Arctic. 

Special Observing Periods (SOPs) will be carried out during YOPP. The purpose is to enhance the routine observations to reduce the gaps in the conventional Antarctic and Arctic observing systems for several weeks. This will allow subsequent forecasting system experiments aimed at optimizing polar observing systems and providing insight into the impact of better polar observations on forecast skill in lower latitudes. 

In order to make YOPP a success in the Southern Hemisphere, a YOPP in the Southern Hemisphere (YOPP-SH) task team led by PPP Steering Group member David Bromwich coordinates YOPP-SH activities. In preparation of the YOPP-SH Special Observing Period (SOP) that will take place later this year from 16 November 2018 to 15 February 2019, progress has been made to collect national commitments on extra observations, in particular radiosonde and buoy deployments, from various Antarctic stations and vessels in the Southern Ocean. Modelling efforts by the USA, France and Japan will subsequently be undertaken to demonstrate the value of the enhanced SOP observations for substantially improved Antarctic and Southern Ocean forecasts and to improve the use of observations in forecast models. 

For details see attached 2018 ATCM report entitled “Planning the Southern Hemisphere Special Observing Period during the Year of Polar Prediction”. 

Recommendation 

The Delegates are asked to support the collection of additional surface and radiosonde observations during Special Observing Period and facilitate their real-time transmission over the WMO Global Telecommunications System. More modeling investigations of the forecast improvement resulting from these observations are desirable. 

Summary Budget 2017 to 2020 

No budget request

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 23: Southern Ocean Acidification Report

Agenda Item: 4.4.5.

Person Responsible: R Bellerby

Executive Summary

Authors

Richard Bellerby (NOR)

Summary of activities from 2016-18 and other important issues

Final editing in response to the reviewers and a scientific update on recent new findings has been underway this last 12 months. As throughout the report writing process, feedback from the group members has been slow and hap-hazard – mainly because of the timing of requests for input and the demands of fieldwork but also due to heavy commitments to other work and the limitations of some institutions to provide support. Many of the members were performing this review in their own time due to lack of funding support from SCAR. In addition, some reviewers had to be chased significantly to deliver their reviews. The report is approaching the final stages and it is anticipated that it will be delivered to SCAR for proof-reading, final editing to format etc. by the end of June 2018.

Recommendations

None

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 24: ICSU-ISSC Merger

Agenda Item: 4.4.6.

Person Responsible: S. Chown & Secretariat

Executive Summary

Authors

Steven L Chown and Secretariat

Summary

The International Council for Science (ICSU) and the International Social Sciences Council (ISSC) agreed to merge at a meeting in October 2017. The ICSU electronic general assembly meeting to approve the merger treaty is taking place from 11 to 16 May 2018. The new body will be known as the International Science Council (ISC). The first general assembly of the ISC will be held in July 2018 in Paris. The position of the organisation’s committees will not change, except through their development of work to align with the vision and mission of the ISC.

Summary Budget 2017 to 2020

No budgetary implications for SCAR.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 25: Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean (ICED) Report

Agenda Item: 4.4.7.

Person Responsible: E. Murphy et al.

Executive Summary

Authors

Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean programme (ICED).

Summary of activities from 2016-18 and other important issues

ICED is a regional programme of Future Earth and the Scientific Committee on Ocean Research’s (SCOR) Integrated Marine Biosphere Research programme (IMBeR), and is a Co-sponsored Group of SCAR. ICED is undertaking integrated circumpolar analyses to improve our understanding of change and the implications for Southern Ocean ecosystems and their management. By providing a focus for linking Southern Ocean research communities across disciplines a diverse range of science is underway. Recent highlights include an expanding body of research on key species and food webs, on the links between biogeochemistry and ecology, and on the effects of change. ICED’s current major focus is to build on this to comprehensively assess (and where possible quantify) the impacts of change on Southern Ocean ecosystems. This will be achieved through the analysis and integration of available data together with the development of models, scenarios and projections. These activities and outputs will provide valuable information for ecosystem-based management and policy. A summary of key ICED scientific highlights during the ten years since its inception was presented at the ICED-sponsored conference on Marine Ecosystem Assessment of the Southern Ocean (MEASO) held in April 2018.

Recommendations

ICED wishes to continue to work with SCAR to complement and add value to our work, learn from shared experience, and collectively address common goals. We would like SCAR to particularly note the mutually beneficial opportunities for strengthening interactions and collaborations with ICED. This includes (i) our ongoing work with the Commission for the Conservation of Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP), see below Plans and Linkages, and (ii) our work on models, scenarios and projections of change in Southern Ocean ecosystems (including our recent Projections Workshop (April 2018) and the ICED-sponsored MEASO Conference (April 2018)). As such we recommend that where possible, SCAR encourages, endorses and participates in relevant ongoing and upcoming ICED activities (see below).

Summary Budget 2017 to 2020

No budget request

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 26: The Future of Ice Sheet Mass Balance and Sea Level (ISMASS)

Agenda Item: 4.4.8

Person Responsible: C. Ritz et al.

Executive Summary

Authors

Frank Pattyn ([email protected]) – BELGIUM, Catherine Ritz ([email protected]) – FRANCE, Francisco Navarro ([email protected]) – SPAIN, Edward Hanna ([email protected]) – UK

Summary of activities and other important issues

• A model intercomparison initiative on West Antarctic Glacier-Ocean was organized at the New York University Campus in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on 16-18 May 2016, focused on coupling of ice sheet and ocean models, organized by David and Denise Holland.

• An ISMASS Workshop that addressed the impact of 1.5°C global warming on Greenland & Antarctic ice sheets, held in Brussels from 11-13 January 2017 with the purpose of preparing a review paper on the contribution of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets to future sea level under a 1.5°C warmer climate (in line with the Paris agreement).

• Catherine Ritz gave presentations on the above activity at: (1) 2017 European Geosciences Union meeting; and (2) WCRP/IOC conference on “Regional Sea Level Changes and Coastal Impacts” in New York in July 2017.

• There will be an ISMASS related session during next Open Conference in DAVOS in 2018. CR5: “Interactions between ice mass balance, the solid Earth, and sea-level changes” (C. Ritz convener)

• ISMASS will organize a one day workshop on 15 June 2018 as a side meeting of the above Open Conference. Title: “Update on mass balance of Greenland and Antarctica (linkages between data and models)”. A review article should be an outcome of this workshop (Contact Edward Hanna).

Recommendation

ISMASS bridges scientific groups and communities involved in better understanding of and improving projections of sea level change (past, present and future). This happens under the form of meetings and targeted initiatives. ISMASS is a longstanding working group that refocused its attention in 2012 to ice sheet mass balance and sea level. For that purpose, ISMASS is not solely a SCAR initiative, but is also linked to IASC and CliC. The main website of ISMASS is hosted by CliC.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 27: Standing Committee on Antarctic Data Management (SCADM)

Agenda Item: 5.1.

Person Responsible: A. Van de Putte

Executive Summary

Authors

Anton Van de Putte (Belgium), Frank Nitsche (USA), Masaki Katano (Japan) with support from SCADM members

Summary of activities from 2016-18 and other important matters

• In the period 2016-2018 SCADM developed a short strategy for SCADM for the period 2017-2022, to be updated in parallel with the SCAR strategic Plan. Efforts, started in 2014, to improve internal functioning were continued and include an update of the SCADM terms of reference.

• SCADM continued to support publication of (meta)data through the Antarctic Master Directory This resulted in 237 new metadata records and a total of 9229. Further we added a search interface for the AMD to the SCAR website.

• Interactions with external Polar partners such as the Arctic Data Committee and the Southern Ocean Observing System were further developed, leading to a joint initiative on the development of a Polar Federated Data Search toolset.

• SCADM held 3 annual meetings: 2016 in Kuala Lumpur (in conjunction with SCAR OSC), 2017 in Montreal in conjunction with Research Data Alliance (RDA) and will meet in Davos in conjunction with Polar 2018.

Recommendation

SCADM requests the Delegates and SG-CO’s note the updated SCADM terms of reference.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 28: Standing Committee on Antarctic Geographic Information (SCAGI)

Agenda Item: 5.2.

Person Responsible: A. Fox & J-Y. Pirlot

Executive Summary

Authors

Adrian Fox (UK) and Jean-Yves Pirlot (Belgium)

Summary of activities from 2016-18 and other important matters

SCAGI continues to deliver a range of geographic information products through its various SCAR Products: Antarctic Digital Database (ADD); Air Operations Planning Maps; Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica (CGA) and SCAR Map Catalogue. Usage statistics show that these SCAR Products are used and valued by the Antarctic Community. SCAGI seeks to continue to develop and improve the existing products and develop appropriate new ones to support evolving activities in Antarctica. SCAGI held an inter-sessional meeting in June 2017 which was kindly hosted by Antonie Haas at AWI, Bremerhaven. It was attended by 11 delegates including new attendees from Bulgaria and Czech Republic. SCAGI continues to try to build engagement with countries without a delegate or a named contact. The SCAR Air Operations Planning Maps series is now completed and 16 1:1M scale maps and an overview map were available for Antarctic Operations planning in 2017-18. Emerging themes are the increasing use of UAVs for geospatial work and the impact of the forthcoming US Reference Elevation Map of Antarctica (REMA).

Recommendations

Delegates are asked to:

• ensure familiarity with the work of SCAGI and encourage their National Representatives to become involved with and contribute all new data to SCAGI,

• replace retiring national representatives and notify SCAGI co-Chairs of any changes, and

• endorse a strategic view of web-interfaces to ensure that products work together effectively and coherently and to minimize duplication and cross-cutting between products.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 29: SCAR Products

Agenda Item: 5.3.

Person Responsible: Secretariat

Executive Summary 

Authors

Eoghan Griffin and Rosemary Nash

Summary

Over the course of its 60 years SCAR has promoted free and unrestricted access to Antarctic data and information by promoting open and accessible archiving practices. SCAR aims to be a portal to data repositories of Antarctic scientific data and information. SCAR encourages the community to make maximum use of all data; to develop and operate mechanisms to facilitate the collection, storage, retrieval and dissemination of data and information for the common good; and to ensure that these mechanisms are effective. This paper highlights the recent developments and notes the extensive repository of both current and past SCAR Products.

Recommendation

Delegates note the recent developments and updates and are asked to remind relevant national entities to contribute data for SCAR products.

Summary Budget 2018 to 2020

No specific budget is allocated however some Products do receive support from the SGs and SRPs.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 30: Partnerships, MoUs and Other Agreements

Agenda Item: 6.1

Person Responsible: Secretariat

Executive Summary 

Authors

Secretariat

Summary

SCAR currently has Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) or Letter of Agreement (LoA) with nine (9) other organizations. Four (4) are set to expire in 2018 and three (3) in 2019.

Informational reports from SCAR partner organizations:

• European Polar Board (EPB)– R Badhe

• International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) – A Pope

• International Permafrost Association (IPA)

• Scientific Committee on Ocean Research (SCOR)

• WMO/IOC-UNESCO/ICSU World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)– M Sparrow

• World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) – M Sparrow

Recommendation

The Delegates consider the effectiveness of MoUs/LoAs expiring in 2018/2019 and determine if their renewal is desired and/or warranted.

The Delegates acknowledge the reports and thank partner organizations. In particular, Delegates are asked to note:

• SCOR appreciates its long cooperation with SCAR, particularly in relation to co-funding of SOOS in recent years.

• WMO invites SCAR to participate in the scoping workshop for an Antarctic Polar Regional Climate Centre and will liaise with the SCAR Secretariat once a date has been finalized.

• WMO will explore ways in which to make sure the joint fellowship scheme with SCAR is a success.

• WMO looks forward to further exploring ways in which it can provide relevant information to the Antarctic Treaty System in partnership with SCAR.

• WCRP is committed to a positive, inclusive and mutually beneficial engagement with SCAR.

• In the near future, IASC and SCAR will be revisiting their joint MoUs (with APECS and WMO/WCRP/CliC), as well as address the recommendations which arise from the joint executive meeting.

Summary Budget 2017 to 2020

No budgetary implications

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 31: SCAR-WMO Fellowship

Agenda Item: 6.2.

Person Responsible: S. Chown

Executive Summary 

Author

Steven L Chown

Summary of activities from 2016-18 and any other important matters

This paper announces a Joint WMO-SCAR Fellowship Programme for early-career scientists. Those supported will be expected to undertake research, on a topic that is relevant to the programme priority areas of WMO, at major international laboratories, field facilities, and/or institutes in or operated by SCAR member countries with the goal to expose them to recent advances in research and to develop long-term scientific links and partnerships. Selected fellows will not be expected to come from SCAR member countries in keeping with aim of the WMO Fellowship Programme to support the education and training of qualified and suitable candidates, particularly from least-developed and developing countries, countries with economies in transition, and countries more vulnerable to natural disasters.

Summary Budget 2017 to 2020

The full amounts for the Fellowships, and the total per annum, to be provided by WMO, will be finalized in the lead up to the first announcement.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 32: Antarctic Treaty Secretariat Report

Agenda Item: 7.1.

Person Responsible: A. Lluberas

Executive Summary 

Author

Albert Lluberas Executive Secretary, Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty.

Summary of activities between 2016-18 and any other important matters

The XLI Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 16 to 18 May 2018, during which Consultative Parties met for the purpose of exchanging information, holding consultations and considering and recommending to their Governments measures in furtherance of the principles and objectives of the Treaty.

Discussions in the ATCM focused on the following issues: operation of the Antarctic Treaty System including Secretariat matters; biological prospecting in Antarctica; update of the Multi-year Strategic Work Plan; inspections under the Antarctic Treaty and the Environment Protocol; and tourism and non-governmental activities (trends, patterns and environmental impact) in the Antarctic Treaty area.

The Meeting adopted a set of Measures, Decisions and Resolutions, including the revision of five of the 75 Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs).

The three Decisions were related to the Secretariat Report, Programme and Budget; the renewal of the contract with the Secretariat’s auditor; and the Multi-Year Strategic Work Plan.

The five Resolutions pertained to: Guidelines for the assessment and management of Heritage in Antarctica; Revised Guide to the presentation of Working Papers containing proposals for Antarctic Specially Protected Areas, Antarctic Specially Managed Areas or Historic Sites and Monuments; Environmental Guidelines for operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in Antarctica; SCAR’s Environmental Code of Conduct for Terrestrial Scientific Field Research in Antarctica; and Site Guidelines for Visitors.

The Meeting welcomed the invitation of the Government of the Czech Republic to host ATCM XLII in Prague, from 1 to 11 July 2019.

For future planning, the Meeting took note of the following likely timetable of upcoming ATCMs:

• 2020 Finland

• 2021 France

The Meeting agreed to support that a Declaration by Consultative Parties be made at ATCM XLII to commemorate the 60 years since the signing of the Treaty. It requested SCAR’s participation in the drafting of the declaration, to ensure that it reflected and drew the public’s attention to the importance of Antarctic science and the relevance of Antarctica to the rest of the world, and also to highlight the many changes that have taken place in Antarctica over the past 60 years.

Recommendations

1. To participate in the ATCM forum on the drafting of the Prague Declaration.

2. To present at ATCM XLII an update to its report contained in WP 2 Biological Prospecting in the Antarctic presented at ATCM XXXIII.

3. SCAR to give another lecture on scientific issues relevant to ATCM XLII.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 33: Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (SCATS) Report

Agenda Item: 7.2.

Person Responsible: A. Terauds

Executive Summary 

Author

Aleks Terauds (Australia)

Summary of activities and other important matters from 2016-18

Since the last Delegates Meeting, the SCAR Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (SC-ATS) continued to focus on the provision of advice to the Antarctic Treaty System and engaged in a range of international activities that enhanced SCAR’s reputation as a provider of independent and scientific advice and as a leader in Antarctic science. These activities have included active participation in two CEP/ATCM meetings; the development and support of two major international workshops; maintaining an active and influential role in the Antarctic Environments Portal; and direct involvement in a diverse range of research projects. SC-ATS continues to energetically pursue the development of new policy-relevant advice through active engagement with international scientists and policy makers. To help achieve this, SC-ATS is continually working on developing ideas to underpin future international workshops, including an important SCAR/CEP initiative to facilitate the further development of an Antarctic protected area system.

Recommendations

That the SCAR Executive Committee (ExCom) and SCAR Delegates recognize the active involvement of SCAR in the ATCM, CEP and CCAMLR, and associated meetings, and note the high regard in which SCAR, and the advice that it provides, is held by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties. That the SCAR Delegates approve the below funding request, to allow SC-ATS to continue this active engagement with international scientists, policy makers, and the bodies of the Antarctic Treaty System.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 34: The Antarctic Environments Portal: Update

Agenda Item: 7.3.

Person Responsible: A. Terauds

Executive Summary 

Author

Neil Gilbert (New Zealand) and Aleks Terauds (Australia)

Summary

The Antarctic Environments Portal (the Portal; www.environments.aq) continues to provide the Antarctic Treaty Parties with easy access to reliable and up-to-date information on a range of issues relevant to the management of Antarctic environments.

The Tinker Foundation currently provides the University of Canterbury, New Zealand with a grant to fund the costs associated with the Portal (i.e. editorial, translation and technical support costs).

In 2016 the SCAR Delegates agreed to take over the management of the Portal on conclusion of the Tinker Foundation grant. The Tinker Foundation requires the grant to be spent through the University of Canterbury prior to the transfer of the Portal to SCAR.

The Portal Management Board continue to work with the SCAR Secretariat on developing a business plan for the Transfer of the Portal to SCAR on conclusion of the Tinker Foundation grant.A Content Management Plan has been developed to assist in communicating planned articles for the Portal both to end users of the Portal and knowledge providers.

Recommendation

That the Delegates welcome the further development of the Antarctic Environments Portal and agree for the SCAR Secretariat to continue to work with New Zealand colleagues on the transfer of the operation of the Portal to SCAR over the next two years.

Summary Budget 2017 to 2020

No budgetary implications.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 35: SCAR Advice to Other Bodies

Agenda Item: 7.3.

Person Responsible: A. Terauds

Executive Summary 

Author

Aleks Terauds (Australia)

Summary

In addition to the scientific advice co-ordinated by the SCAR Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (SC-ATS – see SDM 32 for details). SCAR also provides scientific advice to other bodies.

Since the last delegates meeting this has included advice to:

• Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) (Global Assessment Report led by Julian Gutt)

• EU – Polarnet (white paper on climate and cryosphere, led by Laura de Santis)

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (SCAR scientists have and will will contribute as authors to IPCC AR6 and Special Reports (Cryosphere and Oceans, 1.5°C) [Naish, Mackintosh, DeConto, Golledge]

• National and local governments, large scale projects and other advisory bodies

Recommendation

Delegates are asked to note advice to other bodies expanding SCAR’s influence beyond the ATCMs.

Summary Budget 2017 to 2020

No budgetary implications as these activities are funded under other budget items (e.g., SCATS) or with external funds.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 36: SCAR Fellowship Programme

Agenda Item: 8.1.

Person Responsible: Secretariat

Executive Summary 

Authors

Eoghan Griffin and Rosemary Nash

Summary

The Fellowship program is one of the key capacity building activities undertaken by SCAR. Initiatives such as a mentoring webinar and improved guidance notes have been introduced since 2016 to help applicants improve their proposals and also to expand the base of potential reviewers for the Scheme. In 2016 four SCAR Fellowships were awarded, with 6 awards made in 2017, in part thanks to the additional support provided by India.

Recommendation

Delegates are requested to consider making voluntary contributions to the Fellowship Scheme and to widely advertise the scheme nationally and internationally. An effort should also be made to secure additional funding from other donors. The impact of the mentoring provided in support of applicants could be enhanced through the translation of key material in to other languages.

Summary Budget 2018 to 2020

Total budget for SCAR Fellowships is USD $33,700 from 2018 to 2020 (level compared to 2017 internal budget). Funds will be made available from the Prix Biodiversité awarded to SCAR by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation for the Prince Albert II of Monaco Fellowship addressing biodiversity topics in 2018, with a smaller final contribution from those funds in 2019.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 37: SCAR Visiting Professor Scheme

Agenda Item: 8.2.

Person Responsible: Secretariat

Executive Summary 

Authors

Eoghan Griffin, Rosemary Nash

Summary

The Visiting Professorship scheme is intended to facilitate capacity building for mid to late career stage scientists and academics, whose work contributes to the scientific objectives of SCAR, and complements the SCAR Fellowship scheme. 

A number of issues with the scheme have been identified including applications not addressing the purpose of the scheme and the lack female applicants. A review of the scheme has been proposed.

Recommendation

Delegates are asked to consider ways to help with the funding and advertising of the scheme.

Summary Budget 2018 to 2020

The budget for the scheme is fixed annually at USD$5,000 annually, providing funds for two Visiting Professorships.

SCAR XXXV Delegates Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, 25-26 June 2018

SCAR XXXV Paper 38: The Tinker-Muse Prize

Agenda Item: 8.3.

Person Responsible: S. Chown & Secretariat

Executive Summary 

Authors

Steven L Chown (Australia) and SCAR Secretariat

Summary

The Tinker-Muse Prize, managed by SCAR on behalf of The Tinker Foundation, has now (including 2018) been awarded ten times.

The Tinker Foundation has advised that the 2018 award is the last formal Tinker-Muse Prize award that they will support.

A residual amount of US$175 000 remains in the account being managed by SCAR.

Negotiations are underway with The Tinker Foundation about this residual amount.

It is proposed that an announcement be made after Polar2018 that the prize will no longer be awarded. A statement about any use of residual funds might then be made shortly thereafter.

Recommendation

Delegates to consider the proposed announcement, proposals for final use of funds, ideas about a new prize, and make recommendations.

Summary Budget 2017 to 2020

No budget implications except that the management task for the prize will now come off the Secretariat workload.