Scientists together in the cold - Antarctica: Global Science from a Frozen Continent - page 257

Figure 9.2 Five of the first six Presidents of SCAR. Left to
right: George Knox (New Zealand, 1978 - 82); Torre
Gjelsvik (Norway, 1974 - 78); Jim Zumberge (United
States, 1982 - 86); Georges Laclavère (France, 1958 - 63);
Gordon Robin (United Kingdom, 1970 - 74); Larry Gould
(United States, 1963 - 70) is absent.

current snapshot of what is a rolling programme, some elements of which will
change at every biennial SCAR meeting. Details of most of SCAR s programmes,

including results and reports, are available on the SCAR website at www.scar.org .
SCAR also has committees of specialists with interests in data and information
management, in Antarctic geographic information, and in the provision of advice to
the Antarctic Treaty System, as well as a small group dealing with the history of
Antarctic research.
SCAR

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s seed corn funding assists all the groups in the development of activities,
such as workshops and websites, especially where there could be concrete outcomes,
such as scienti

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c papers in journals, meeting reports, databases, maps and other
products. Less tangible but no less valuable outputs are the recognition of
international excellence through the awards of fellowships to young researchers and
the medals for outstanding scienti c achievements and international cooperation.

Whilst supporting collaboration between individuals SCAR itself works in
partnership with the national operators, who are responsible for logistics and who
work together through the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes
(COMNAP). SCAR also works in partnership with global scienti c organisations

with a regional interest in the Antarctic, such as the World Climate Research
Programme (WCRP). Since 2004 SCAR has also partnered its Arctic counterpart,
the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), in several areas of bipolar
interest, especially climate change. Through these links SCAR is currently
developing plans for the observing systems that will capture the knowledge of
oceanic and ice systems in the Antarctic that we need as the basis for improved
forecasts of change.
Not all member countries have large and experienced Antarctic communities, and
so there is a need to share expertise and access to specialised equipment to improve
national capabilities. For young scientists, the SCAR Fellowship Programme,
launched in 2003, provides an opportunity to work in another country whilst the
biennial Open Science Conferences, launched in 2004, provide a regular major