Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
Encyclopedia
The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) is an interdisciplinary body of the International Council for Science
(ICSU). It was established in February 1958 to continue the international coordination of Antarctic scientific activities that had begun during the International Geophysical Year
of 1957-58. SCAR is charged with the initiating, developing and coordinating scientific research in the Antarctic
region. The scientific business of SCAR is conducted by its Standing Scientific Groups. SCAR also provides scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings and other organizations on issues of science and conservation affecting the management of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. In that role, SCAR has made numerous recommendations on a variety of matters, very few of which have been incorporated into Antarctic Treaty instruments.
SCAR meets every two years to conduct its administrative business at the SCAR Delegates Meeting. An Executive Committee elected from the delegates is responsible for the day-to-day administration of SCAR though its Secretariat at the Scott Polar Research Institute
in Cambridge
, England. The Executive Committee comprises the President and four Vice-Presidents. The SCAR Secretariat is staffed by the Executive Director, Executive Officer and an administrative assistant.
SCAR also holds, prior to the Delegates Meeting, a major Open Science Conference to draw attention to Antarctic issues, along with meetings of the Standing Scientific Groups that are designed to finalise the Science Programmes for eventual approval by the Delegates.
In 2002 they received the prestigious Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation
International Council for Science
The International Council for Science , formerly the International Council of Scientific Unions, was founded in 1931 as an international non-governmental organization devoted to international co-operation in the advancement of science...
(ICSU). It was established in February 1958 to continue the international coordination of Antarctic scientific activities that had begun during the International Geophysical Year
International Geophysical Year
The International Geophysical Year was an international scientific project that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. It marked the end of a long period during the Cold War when scientific interchange between East and West was seriously interrupted...
of 1957-58. SCAR is charged with the initiating, developing and coordinating scientific research in the Antarctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
region. The scientific business of SCAR is conducted by its Standing Scientific Groups. SCAR also provides scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings and other organizations on issues of science and conservation affecting the management of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. In that role, SCAR has made numerous recommendations on a variety of matters, very few of which have been incorporated into Antarctic Treaty instruments.
SCAR meets every two years to conduct its administrative business at the SCAR Delegates Meeting. An Executive Committee elected from the delegates is responsible for the day-to-day administration of SCAR though its Secretariat at the Scott Polar Research Institute
Scott Polar Research Institute
The Scott Polar Research Institute is a centre for research into the polar regions and glaciology worldwide. It is a sub-department of the Department of Geography in the University of Cambridge, located on Lensfield Road in the south of Cambridge ....
in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, England. The Executive Committee comprises the President and four Vice-Presidents. The SCAR Secretariat is staffed by the Executive Director, Executive Officer and an administrative assistant.
SCAR also holds, prior to the Delegates Meeting, a major Open Science Conference to draw attention to Antarctic issues, along with meetings of the Standing Scientific Groups that are designed to finalise the Science Programmes for eventual approval by the Delegates.
In 2002 they received the prestigious Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation