2.9
Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW)History and Changes Over Time
Kristján Kristjánsson
Reviewers: Odd Rogne and Volker Rachold
Reykjavik (Iceland 2004), Kunming (China 2005),
Potsdam (Germany 2006), Hanover (USA 2007),
Syktykvar (Russia 2008), Bergen (Norway 2009),
Nuuk (Greenland 2010), Seoul (Republic of Korea
2011), Montreal (Canada 2012), Kraków (Poland
2013) and Helsinki (Finland 2014).
From the outset, the central purpose of ASSW has
been to provide opportunities for international co-
The first Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW), orga-
ordination, collaboration and cooperation in all areas
nized by IASC was held in Tromsø, Norway in 1999.
of Arctic science. Furthermore, ASSW has served as
It was the former Secretary of IASC, Odd Rogne,
an arena for host countries to offer an insight into
who proposed the idea of organizing an event that
their own Arctic research. In the original IASC hand-
would bring together Arctic researchers and Arctic
book it was stated that IASC should “….achieve its
partner organizations. During the years leading up
mission and provide additional value by: providing
to the formation of the ASSW, several Arctic orga-
a forum in which other arctic science organizations
nizations existed; however, there was little or no
may join in such effort.” It can be stated, without a
formal collaboration between them. A few members
doubt, that IASC has effectively accomplished this
within the organization tried to coordinate informal
through partnering with other organizations to
agreements to attend meetings held by each oth-
create ASSW. Starting with a few organizations in
er´s organizations; however, this proved to be diffi-
Norway in 1999, the ASSW continued to attract
cult to execute. Factors such as travel expenses and
more groups. Today, the membership of the ASSW
long distances between meeting locations imped-
International Coordination Group (ICG) includes
ed attendance. As a solution, Odd Rogne decided to
IASC, the EPB, PAG, FARO, the University of the Arc-
invite a few Arctic organizations to hold their annual
tic (UArctic) and the Ny-Ålesund Science Managers
meetings during the same week and in one location.
Committee (NySMAC) all which routinely hold their
The IASC Executive Committee took to this sugges-
annua