Antarctic Science and
Policy Advice in a Changing World
Strategic Plan 2011-2016
The Foundations
SCAR values the legacies of those that have gone before, applies lessons learnt from past experiences,
and capitalizes on the foundations built over the organization’s history.
“The loftiest edifices need the deepest foundations.”George Santayana (1863-1952)
Strategic Vision and Mission
VISION: A world where the science of Antarctica benefits all, excellence in science is valued and
scientific knowledge informs policy making.
MISSION: To be the leading non-governmental, international facilitator and advocate of research in
and from Antarctica, to provide objective and authoritative scientific advice, and to bring emerging
issues to the attention of policy makers.
“In strategy it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things.”
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The Strategic Plan
• To foster a sense of dedication and commitment in SCAR members and the community it serves to
ensure realization of the organization’s vision, mission and goals.
• To guide collective decision-making about priorities and resource allocation.
“In strategy it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things.”
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Why Antarctic Science? Why Now?
• The Antarctic region is a matchless “natural laboratory” for vital scientific research which is
important in its own right and impossible to achieve elsewhere on the planet.
• The study of Antarctica and its role in the global Earth system has never been more important as the
region is experiencing dramatic changes that have global implications.
“Excellence encourages one about life generally; it shows the spiritual wealth of the world.”
T.S. Eliot (1888 – 1965)
• Encourage excellence in Antarctic research by developing transformational scientific programs
that address issues of regional and global importance.
• Scan the horizon to identify evolving issues and emerging frontiers in Antarctic science.
• Explore the inclusion of the human and social sciences.
• Reward excellence through recognition.
Scientific Leadership
“Excellence encourages one about life generally; it shows the spiritual wealth of the world.”
T.S. Eliot (1888 – 1965)
• Provide opportunities to present the latest research results, exchange up-to-the-minute
scientific findings, and promote cross- and interdisciplinary communication.
• Promote an interdisciplinary philosophy and eliminating barriers to cross-fertilization of ideas.
Scientific Leadership
“Excellence encourages one about life generally; it shows the spiritual wealth of the world.”
T.S. Eliot (1888 – 1965)
Interdisciplinary Earth System Science
• Understanding the Earth system, its components, connections and feedbacks is a major endeavor
of contemporary Antarctic science and a focus of SCAR research.
• Scientific frontiers often lie at the interfaces between disciplines requiring interdisciplinary
approaches to advance knowledge.
• Promote an interdisciplinary philosophy that eliminates barriers to cross-fertilization of ideas.
“Excellence encourages one about life generally; it shows the spiritual wealth of the world.”
T.S. Eliot (1888 – 1965)
Emerging Frontiers
• Antarctica and Global Climate
• Deciphering Paleoclimate
• Organisms, Ecosystems and Biodiversity
• Ice Sheet Dynamics and Sub-ice Environments
• The Poles as a Vantage Point
• Observing Systems
“Excellence encourages one about life generally; it shows the spiritual wealth of the world.”
T.S. Eliot (1888 – 1965)
Southern Ocean Observing System
Scientific Research Programs
SALEATHENA
ICESTAREG-ICESTAR
2004-2010
ACE
AGCS
2004-2012
EBA
2005-2013
2010 -2014
AAA
2013- 2021(?)
AntECO
AntETR
Figs & photos: J. Gutt & W. Dimmler, Marum/AWI, J. Turner et al., G. Chapelle
PACE
SERCESOOS
ISMASS
PROGRAMS
Scientific Advice
• Provide objective and independent scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty System and other
organizations on issues affecting the conservation and management of Antarctica.
• Identify issues emerging from greater scientific understanding of the region and bring them to the
attention of policy makers.
“Wise people listen to advice.”Proverbs 12:15
• Provide objective, independent and authoritative scientific advice by partnering with other Antarctic
Treaty advisory bodies.
• Expand SCAR’s advisory sphere-of-influence on global issues to other audiences.
• Affiliation with organizations with complementary interests to address global issues.
“Wise people listen to advice.” Proverbs 12:15
Scientific Advice
Partnerships
• Partnerships with organizations with complementary skills, technologies and interests.
• SCAR partners with ICSU bodies, advisory bodies to the Antarctic Treaty System, organizations with
a polar mission, and global programs with polar interests.
• Partnerships to provide scientific advice, expand the advisory sphere-of-influence, develop
capacity, and promote cooperation with Arctic counterparts.
“Friendship is essentially a partnership.”Aristotle (384-322 BC)
Partnerships
Elements of the Antarctic Treaty
System
Scientific Bodies of ICSU
Capacity Building, Education And Training
• Develop scientific capacity in its Members, emerging National Antarctic programs, and
students and early career scientists.
• Promote and facilitate the incorporation of Antarctic science in education at all levels and
communicate scientific information about the Antarctic region to the public.
“The turning point… was when I really realized that you can do it yourself.”
Timothy Blixseth (1950- present)
• Encourage and support emerging national Antarctic programs participation.
• Recruit countries that have not traditionally participated in Antarctic research.
• Inform the public and the media of the importance of the knowledge gained by the study of Antarctica
and the Southern Ocean.
• Update the Capacity Building, Education, and Training Plan.
Capacity Building, Education And Training
“The turning point… was when I really realized that you can do it yourself.”
Timothy Blixseth (1950- present)
Martha T. Muse Prize
“The turning point… was when I really realized that you can do it yourself.”
Timothy Blixseth (1950- present)
2009 - Steven Chown
2010 - Helen Fricker
Data and Information Management
• Promote free and unrestricted access of data and information regarding the Antarctic region.
• Become a portal to data repositories of Antarctic scientific data and information.
“It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.”Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930)
Communications
• Timely and frequent contact with various communities and entities.
• Inform the public and the media of the importance of the Antarctic region
• Communicate SCAR’s mission, relevance and accomplishments
• Increase public understanding of the benefits of Antarctic science
• Communicate the importance of Antarctic science to those that fund science.
• Improve SCAR’s Web presence.
“Communication works for those who work at it.”John Powell (1960 – present)
•Provide opportunities to present the latest research results, exchange up-to-the-minute
scientific findings, and promote cross- and interdisciplinary communication.
•National Committees - important partners in improving communication with the Antarctic
scientific community.
•Improving the visibility of Antarctic science.
•Update the Communications Plan.
“Communication works for those who work at it.”John Powell (1960 – present)
Communications
Organization and Management
• Committed to continuous improvement in the effectiveness, efficiency and flexibility in the
structure, procedures and practices of the organization.
• Encourage the widest participation in decision-making.
“The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual.”
Vince Lombardi (1913 – 1970)
Michael Sparrow Renuka Badhe Rosemary Nash
Executive Director Executive Officer Administrative Assistant
Resources
• Match available funds with the demands for resources while maintaining a healthy and vibrant
organization.
• Adherence to the highest accounting and ethical standards in all of its dealings.
• Leverage by volunteer time and the in-kind support provided by its Members.
• Create a Development Council
“Literature was formerly an art and finance a trade; today it is the reverse”
Joseph Roux (1725-1793)
Momentum and Continuity
• The strategic plan sets SCAR on an ambitious path for the next six years.
• Preserve and build on the legacies of the IPY 2007-2008.
• The next decade will be a critical time for SCAR as voluntary enterprises and organizations face
significant cost pressures.
• SCAR must carefully choose its priorities in a context of budgetary constraints.
“(SCAR) acquires momentum as (SCAR) advances.”modified from Virgil (70BC-19BC)
Strategic Goals
• Transition to a new generation of transformative Scientific Research Programs.
• Facilitate the establishment of a Southern Ocean Observing System Secretariat.
• Institute a “Scanning the Horizon” assessment of future directions and emerging frontiers in
Antarctic science.
“What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.”Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
• Expand SCAR’s role in providing objective and independent scientific advice to the Antarctic
Treaty Parties and other organizations on issues affecting the conservation and management of
Antarctica and global issues such as climate change.
• Enhance existing and develop new partnerships with ICSU bodies, advisory bodies to the Antarctic
Treaty System, organizations with a polar mission, and global programs with polar interests.
Strategic Goals
“What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.”Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
• Promote unrestricted access to Antarctic data and information through open and accessible archiving practices and become a portal to data repositories.
• Update the SCAR Capacity Building, Education and Training Plan and the SCAR Communication Plan.
• Enhance SCAR’s web presence, improve communication with National Committees, and
advance the visibility of Antarctic science.
Strategic Goals
“What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.”Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
SCAR is an organization of members and those that
choose to lead and volunteer.
The future of SCAR will be determined by the depth and breadth of your
participation!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!
QUESTIONS???