endeavors was natural for me since I was among
This was triggered during 2004 with the pending
the founding PIs of the US Long-Term Ecological
retirement of Odd Rogne, who had been with IASC
Research project and the International Tundra Ex-
from its conception and through its formation and
periment (ITEX). Further, I was an officer at the US
entire existence and brought his energy, diplomacy
NSF, OPP when the US Study of Environmental Arc-
and total understanding of international science
tic Change (SEARCH) program, an analog of ISAC,
administration to the Committee. He had counseled
was being envisioned. Both involved my predilection
each successive president with unflagging skill and
for systems science and maintaining and expanding
energy. During the international search for a new
capabilities for long-term observation with the nec-
Executive Secretary it became apparent that IASC
essary data archiving and the increasing awareness
should explore other ways to host and fund the
of global change.
Secretariat. For fifteen years, the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment and the Norwegian National
I was delighted to have championed the formation
Committee on Polar Research had generously un-
of PAG within the IASC umbrella (see Chapter 2.4).
derwritten the costs of the Secretariat´s physical
John Calder, Martin Bergman, and Zhanhai Zhang led
space, salaries, and travel costs. Our problem was
this effort which brought a Pacific Rim dimension to
solved when an offer from the Royal Swedish Acad-
ASSW deliberations. PAG provided, with the growing
emy of Sciences to fund and host the Secretariat,
Asian membership of IASC, a way of bal ancing what,
at least for a few years while other solutions could
heretofore, had been a rather amphiatlantic, Eastern
be explored, was accepted. Our next great good
Arctic, North Atlantic, and European Arctic bias in
fortune was to recruit Volker Rachold as the new
climate and ocean issues.
Executive Secretary. Thus, in 2005, the Secretariat moved from Oslo to Stockholm. The physical
Since IASC´s inception, there had been quiet discus-
and management changes were seamless thanks
sion about merging with AOSB. AOSB had preced-
to the continuing drive and mentoring by Odd, the
ed IASC by some half dozen years and was a highly
pre-adapted skills of Volker and the warm welcome
successful Arctic science organization concerned
to Sweden by Anders Karlqvist, Director General of
with understanding marine ecosystems. As such,
the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.
IASC itself effectively concerned itself with terrestrial, cryospheric, and social issues. AOSB, in my
Reflections and Acknowledgements
view, was always the strongest partner with IASC
The IASC partnerships I have described led, and I feel
in endeavors like ASSW and ICARP. I had particular
sure will continue to lead, to productive research
enjoyment for many years at being welcomed, even
planning and science synthesis for the Arctic. Prob-
as a landlubber, at AOSB meetings and I can assert
lems of a complex and geographically dispersed
that the best science reporting of ASSW occurred at
nature, such as those encountered in the Arctic,
these meetings. I recollect how much I enjoyed the
require team efforts. Success will be judged under
various polynya programs as they evolved over the
the 14th century English proverb “the proof of the
years. I was active in the discussions that were the
pudding will be in the eating.” We can see from the
prelude to the AOSB merger with IASC. I was able
websites of IASC, the Arctic Council, and SCAR how
to assure the leadership of AOSB that being part
much store is being put into partnerships. There is
of IASC would not detract from their independence
a veritable pantheon and taxonomy of agreements,
and would add the strength and economy to the
understandings, affiliations and joint ventures. Nev-
organization of Arctic science.
ertheless, I must admonish that listing and collecting partners is only valuable if they are functional
Perhaps my largest challenge as President was to
assure the recruitment of a new Executive Secre-
tion that most successful partnerships depend on
tary and deal with the relocation of the Secretariat.
78
and more than window dressing. It is my observathe leadership and motivation of a few individuals
03 Contributions of Former IASC Presidents