Formal discussions between SCAR and IASC were
sentatives, attend each other´s annual administra-
initiated by Summerhayes, the new Executive Direc-
tive meetings.
tor of SCAR, in a January 2005 e-mail message to
Rogne, Executive Secretary of IASC, with a view to
Cooperation is now happening in key areas of sci-
improving collaboration in areas of common interest,
ence. These include joint sponsorship of the Ice
by holding a joint SCAR-IASC forum in association
Sheet Mass Balance and Sea Level (ISMASS) group,
with SCAR´s proposed 2008 meeting in St. Peters-
cooperation between the Social Sciences and
burg, and considering the implications of the IPY for
History groups, and the inclusion of bipolar perspec-
both organizations. Summerhayes and Rogne met
tives in most new science programs and groups, as
in the margins of the IPY Planning Meeting in Paris
well as SCAR and IASC jointly representing ICSU at,
in March 2005. Given that both bodies had polar in-
e.g., IPCC workshops and various steering commit-
terests, and both were associated closely with ICSU
tees.
(SCAR as an Interdisciplinary Science Body, and IASC
as an International Scientific Associate), there were
As an interdisciplinary body of ICSU, SCAR is eligible
strong grounds for supposing that a closer linkage
to bid for ICSU grants. These grants have always
between the two organizations would bring ben-
been bipolar in character and therefore have been
efit to both parties, not least in an exchange of
submitted in partnership with IASC. Despite the stiff
views and experience on important scientific top-
competition for these grants the two organizations
ics. A SCAR and IASC Letter of Agreement was de-
have (to date) had a 100% success rate with their
veloped, and duly signed in July 2006. Through it,
applications. These grants have been on topics
SCAR and IASC agreed to combine their efforts in
such as IMASS (2007 and 2012), Lessons Learned
selected fields and activities so as to raise the level
in Education and Outreach from the IPY (2009), and
of impact of both organizations in terms of making
on Circumpolar Integration of Permafrost Microbi-
scientific advances, advising policy-makers, and
ological Studies (2009). The latter was led by the
avoiding duplication. The development of the IPY
International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS),
was an important driver for the two organizations
and IPA.
coming together, though not the only one; the partnership would have developed, regardless. A joint
In July 2008, SCAR and IASC co-signed a Letter of
presentation announcing the linkage of the two
Agreement on cooperation with the new Interna-
organizations “The science legacy of IPY: Antarctic
tional Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS) of
and Arctic Research Partnership Opportunities” was
ICSU´s IUGG. In March 2009, they co-signed a Let-
made by Summerhayes and Rachold on 16 March at
ter of Agreement with the IPA, which was already
ASSW 2007 in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. An
co-sponsor of SCAR´s Permafrost science group.
update Post-IPY Scientific Cooperation – Ongoing
In July 2008, IASC joined SCAR as a co-sponsor of
and Planned Joint SCAR/IASC Bipolar Activities was
the WCRP´s Climate and Cryosphere program (CliC).
presented by Thiede and Rachold at the next ASSW
These various agreements effectively bind togeth-
in Syktyvkar, Russia, on 29 March 2008.
er the main polar bodies of ICSU. SCAR and IASC
were concerned that the polar sciences did not have
The association proved successful, notably due to
System Science Partnership – ESSP, and Internation-
SCAR Executive Directors, Summerhayes (2004-
al Geosphere-Biosphere Program – IGBP), though
2010) and Sparrow (2010-) and IASC Executive
recent experience – for example, a joint presentation
Secretaries Rogne (1991-2005) and Rachold
by Rachold, Sparrow and Baeseman (from APECS)
(2006-). These officers are in regular contact, and,
to the 2010 ICSU General Assembly – suggest that
along with SCAR and IASC Presidents or their repre-
91
a higher profile within ICSU´s global programs (Earth
the amicable and cooperative linkages between
this is no longer the case.
04 Cooperation with Other Organizations