IASC Council Meeting
at the Arctic Science
Summit Week 2008
in Syktyvkar, Russia,
March/April 208.
Photo: IASC Secretariat
In the beginning, the ASSW was organized as two
ward-looking strategic actions to be taken to fulfill
main events: a Science Day, organized by the host
the IASC mission. In 2007 the Review and Strategy
country, and a Project Day, organized by the Interna-
Group submitted their report (International Arctic
tional Coordination Group (ICG). The idea behind the
Science: A Look Forward), in which the Group rec-
Science Day and the Project Day was to increase the
ommended four major changes to the IASC strat-
scientific content of the ASSW, to attract more ac-
egy and activities. One of the major changes was
tive scientists to these meetings. The Science Day
to reorganize and revitalize the ASSW as a major
and the Project Day were often organized around
cross-disciplinary venue. The Group highlighted that
certain themes such as “Adaptation to Climate
ASSW had become a drawn-out and repetitive event
Change,” “Sustainable Development in the Arctic,”
with many presentations being given multiple times
“Arctic Science Initiatives, Developments and Ensur-
to various organizations. They also noted that many
ing Legacies,” to name a few. As would be expected,
of the ASSW meetings were closed or overlapped,
and in light of certain breakthrough events/activi-
which impeded the sharing of information between
ties within the Arctic/Polar research community at
the various organizations.
the start of the 21st Century, topics and/or activities like ACIA, the AHDR, ICARP and, last but not
The Review and Strategy Group suggested the
least, the IPY were inevitably on the ASSW agenda.
following:
- Organize major ASSW meetings every second
There is no question but that the ASSW has been an
ing the larger scientific community by providing
implementing, communicating and enhancing part-
a science forum meeting, replacing the project
nerships and cooperation within Arctic research.
and science days and serving as a kind of
New ideas have emerged, new projects and pro-
‘mini ICARP’ focused on strategic science issues.
grams have been initiated and new alliances have
- In the off years, a smaller ASSW focused on the
been established.
business of the various organizations should
In early 2006, IASC appointed a Review and Strat-
be held. These would be run with an emphasis
egy Group to study and evaluate the scope of IASC
on inter-organizational meetings to identify
activities over the years 1996-2005. The group
critical issues and common objectives, and to plan
was asked to suggest and justify any major chang-
for the next science-focused ASSW the following
es to be undertaken; and, in particular, suggest for-
60
year. These meetings should be aimed at attract-
important venue and played a key role in initiating,
year.
02 IASC Initiatives