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Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
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Useful Antarctic Links

Below is a compilation of websites that may be of use to US Antarctic scientists and others interested in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Categories of links are indicated to the left. This list is not complete, if you know of a resource/link that should be added to this Useful Antarctic Links page, use this form to send us your suggestion. Links in this list are long-term addresses and not short-term programs. If you want to advertise an event or initiative, please contact info@usscar.org to have an announcement sent through the US-SCAR mail list.

If you have questions about the use and intent of the Useful Antarctic Links page, contact Deneb Karentz, US Delegate to SCAR. [If you have questions about broken links, please contact Joe Souney, US-SCAR Webmaster.]

U.S. Research Funding and Support

  • NSF Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
    “The Office of Polar Programs promotes creative and innovative scientific research, engineering, and education in and about the polar regions, catalyzing fundamental discovery and understanding of polar systems and their global interactions to inform the nation and advance the welfare of all people. OPP exists to provide access to the Polar Regions and to support research and education ranging from core discipline to systems levels.”
  • US Antarctic Program
    Since 1956, Americans have been studying the Antarctic and its interactions with the rest of the planet. The investigators and supporting personnel are funded by various of US federal agencies and make up the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP). USAP carries forward the Nation's goals of supporting the Antarctic Treaty, fostering cooperative research with other nations, protecting the Antarctic environment, and developing measures to ensure only equitable and wise use of resources.
    (paraphrased from NSF)
  • Ice Drilling Program (IDP)
    “IDP is an NSF-funded facility. IDP conducts integrated planning for the ice drilling science and technology communities, and provides drilling technology and operational support that enables the community to advance the frontiers of climate and environmental science.”
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
    NASA’s Science Mission Directorate “funds research and technology development primarily through the omnibus solicitation called Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES), which is made up of many different calls for proposals,” some of which may be related to polar research.
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
    While not specific to polar research, NOAA’s Climate Program Office “manages competitive research programs in which NOAA funds high-priority climate science, assessments, decision support research, outreach, education, and capacity-building activities designed to advance our understanding of Earth’s climate system, and to foster the application of this knowledge in risk management and adaptation efforts.”
  • Office of Naval Research
    "The U.S. Department of Defense has been developing a Memorandum of Understanding with partner nations in order to improve defense and security capabilities in the Arctic. The International Cooperative Engagement Program for Polar Research (ICE-PPR) is the vehicle for this collaboration.”
  • Polar Geospatial Center (PGC)
    “The Polar Geospatial Center at the University of Minnesota provides geospatial support, mapping, and GIS/remote sensing solutions to researchers and logistics groups in the polar science community.”

Antarctic Data

Antarctic Sample Repositories

  • Antarctic Core Collection
    The Antarctic Core Collection at Oregon State University’s Marine and Geology Repository contains the “largest collection of geological samples from the Southern Ocean, with over 18,500 meters of deepsea core sediment from 7,370 core sites.”
  • Ice Core Facility
    “An NSF facility for storing, curating, and studying ice cores from the glaciated regions of the world,” operated by the US Geological Survey.
  • International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Gulf Coast Repository (GCR)
    "The IODP's GCR stores DSDP, ODP, and IODP cores from the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, and the Southern Ocean. One of the main functions of the GCR is to provide a service to the international scientific community. Scientists engaged in geoscience research are welcome to schedule a visit to the GCR to study or sample core, or to request samples to be taken and shipped by GCR staff."
  • Polar Rock Repository
    The Polar Rock Repository at Ohio State University “contains over 60,000 rock samples from Antarctica and the southern oceans along with small collections from South America, Africa, and Australia. The PRR collection also includes field notes, maps, thin sections, as well as an extensive media archive. Rock samples may be used for research by university scientists globally as well as for educational or museum use in the United States.”

Groups Involved in Polar Issues

  • Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR)
    “The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) is a thematic organization of the International Science Council (ISC). SCAR is charged with initiating, developing, and coordinating high quality international scientific research in the Antarctic region (including the Southern Ocean), and on the role of the Antarctic region in the Earth system. The scientific business of SCAR is conducted by its Science Groups which represent the scientific disciplines active in Antarctic research and report to SCAR.”
  • Antarctic Treaty (ATS)
    “The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington on 1 December 1959 by the twelve countries whose scientists had been active in and around Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957-58. It entered into force in 1961 and has since been acceded to by many other nations. The total number of Parties to the Treaty is now 56.”
    • Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
      “The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) was established by international convention in 1982 with the objective of conserving Antarctic marine life. This was in response to increasing commercial interest in Antarctic krill resources, a keystone component of the Antarctic ecosystem and a history of over-exploitation of several other marine resources in the Southern Ocean. CCAMLR is an international commission with 27 Members, and a further 10 countries have acceded to the Convention. Based on the best available scientific information, the Commission agrees a set of conservation measures that determine the use of marine living resources in the Antarctic.”
    • The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
      "The Environment Protocol established the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) as an expert advisory body to provide advice and formulate recommendations to the ATCM in connection with the implementation of the Environment Protocol. The CEP meets every year in conjunction with the ATCM."
  • Asian Forum for Polar Sciences (AFoPS)
    “AFoPS is a non-governmental organization to encourage and facilitate cooperation for the advance of polar sciences among countries in the Asian region.”
  • The Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP)
    COMNAP is “an international association, formed in 1988, which brings together our Members - the governmental National Antarctic Programs. Those programs are the organizations that have the responsibility for delivering and supporting scientific research in the Antarctic Treaty Area on behalf of their respective governments and in the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty.”
  • European Polar Board (EPB)
    “The EPB is an independent organization focused on major strategic priorities in the Arctic and Antarctic. EPB Members include research institutes, logistics operators, funding agencies, scientific academies and government ministries from across Europe.”
  • International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO)
    “IAATO is a member organization to advocate and promote the practice of safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic.”
  • International Arctic Science Committee (IASC)
    “IASC is a non-governmental, international scientific organization” with “a mission of encouraging and facilitating cooperation in all aspects of Arctic research, in all countries engaged in Arctic research and in all areas of the Arctic region.”
  • International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI)
    “ICCI is a network of senior policy experts and researchers working with governments and organizations to create, shape and implement initiatives designed to preserve as much of the Earth’s cryosphere as possible.”
  • Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs (OPA)
    “The OPA is part of the State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES). OPA is responsible for formulating and implementing U.S. policy on international issues concerning the ocean, the Arctic, and the Antarctic.”
  • Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, The Polar Initiative
    The Polar Initiative addresses "some of the challenges related to the understanding and protection of polar ecosystems, with the objective to generate greater influence and impact benefiting the protection of the polar regions".
  • Southern Ocean Task Force
    “In the aim of reversing the cycle of decline in ocean health, the United Nations proclaimed a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) to globally strengthen the international cooperation needed to develop the scientific research and innovative technologies that can connect ocean science with the needs of society. By gathering stakeholders worldwide, the initiative intends to set up a common framework to ensure ocean science can fully support countries in achieving the sustainable management of oceans across the globe. Coordinated by SCAR, the Southern Ocean Task Force was set up to develop the Southern Ocean Action Plan.”
  • United States Polar Research Board (PRB)
    “The PRB exists to promote excellence in polar science and to provide independent scientific guidance to federal agencies and the nation of science issues in the Arctic, the Antarctic, and cold regions in general.”
  • Wilson Center, Polar Institute
    The Polar Institute is "a forum for discussion and policy analysis of Arctic and Antarctic issues".

Formal Polar Programs at U.S. Institutions

(Please help us expand this list by using this form to submit any programs that are missing.)

Polar Diversity and Inclusion

  • Accessibility in Polar Research
    “A group of disabled researchers promoting accessibility in the polar field.”
  • CryoCommunity
    CryoCommunity “seek[s] to involve the broader cryospheric community in positive change.” Their goal is to “generate, collate, and distribute best practices across a suite of academic processes and institution types.”
  • International Association for Geoscience Diversity (IAGD)
    “The IAGD is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to improving access and inclusion for people with disabilities in the geosciences.”
  • Polar Impact
    Polar Impact’s mission is “to support, connect, and highlight the stories of Black, Asian, Indigenous, people of color, and minority ethnic professionals in the polar research community.”
  • Pride in Polar Research
    “Brings together the LGBTQ+ community and allies to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in polar research.”
  • SCAR Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Group
    "The Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Group is tasked with broadly looking at how EDI issues can be effectively dealt with within SCAR, and what practical actions are relevant for the organization."
  • Women in Polar Science (WiPS)
    WiPS “aim[s] to build a strong network of women working in Polar Science and inspire others to become polar scientists.”

Polar Early Career Resources

Community

  • Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS)
    “APECS is an international and interdisciplinary organization for undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, early career faculty members, early career professionals, educators and others with interests in Polar and Alpine regions and the wider cryosphere.”

    US Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (USAPECS) "is the national committee representing United States members of the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS). Our aims as USAPECS are to stimulate inclusive collaborations and connections between early career researchers and polar organizations."
  • Ice Core Young Scientists (ICYS)
    "Ice Core Young Scientists (ICYS) is an informal, international network of early career scientists dedicated to the study of polar and alpine ice cores and ice core-related sciences. Our purpose is to foster personal connections among young scientists from around the world, in order to build a supportive ice core science community and to inspire future collaborations."
  • Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO)
    PSECCO’s mission is “to empower and elevate early career scientists in the Polar Sciences, support a vibrant community, provide opportunities and resources, offer skill trainings and work together towards a more just, inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible polar science environment.”

Fellowships and Internships

  • CCAMLR Scientific Scholarship
    “Scholarships are available to facilitate participation in CCAMLR Scientific Committee workshops or working group meetings, relevant preparatory meetings, and exceptionally, meetings of the Scientific Committee, over a period of two years.”
  • COMNAP Antarctic Research Fellowship
    This fellowship “is intended to allow people from a COMNAP Member National Antarctic Program country to undertake short-term visits to major international laboratories, field facilities, and/or home institutions in or operated by other COMNAP Member National Antarctic Programs.”
  • IAATO Antarctic Fellowship
    “The Antarctic Fellowships are an investment in the professional development of talented early career scientists and researchers and aim to strengthen international capacity and cooperation in the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty.”
  • IASC Fellowship Program
    “The IASC Fellowship Program is meant to engage early career researchers in the work of the IASC Working Groups: Atmosphere, Cryosphere, Marine, Social & Human, and Terrestrial. At times, IASC also offers special joint Fellowships in cooperation with other partners.”
  • Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN)
    “NSF's INTERN program provides graduate students with experiential learning opportunities through research internships in non-academic settings.”
  • NSF OPP Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (OPP-PRF)
    “Supports postdoctoral researchers performing interdisciplinary polar research that develops partnerships across polar regions or with nonpolar research communities. Fellowships also support researchers who have had limited access to polar research resources.”
  • SCAR Fellowship Programme
    “The SCAR Fellowship Programme is for PhD students, or those within five years of having completed a PhD, to undertake research at major international laboratories, field facilities, and/or institutes in or operated by SCAR member countries with the goal of exposing them to recent advances in research and to develop long-term scientific links and partnerships.”

Education and Training Resources

  • Inspiring Girls Expeditions
    "Inspiring Girls* Expeditions empowers young women to lead and succeed through science, art, and outdoor exploration.
    * Inspiring Girls* Expeditions welcomes cisgender girls and transgender, agender, Two Spirit, nonbinary, intersex, and genderqueer youth."
  • Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP)
    "The Juneau Icefield Research Program's mission is to provide an unrivaled educational and expeditionary experience in the stunning Coast Mountains of Alaska and British Columbia. We give students a wide range of training in Earth sciences, wilderness survival, and mountaineering skills, and provide unique opportunities for team building and personal growth."
  • PolarPASS
    “PolarPASS connect[s] polar-focused material with innovative teaching methods to advance STEM undergraduate education and increase polar knowledge.”
  • PolarTREC
    PolarTREC “promote[s] science education and outreach by enabling educators to work alongside scientists in the field, in the Arctic and Antarctica.”
  • SCAR Educational Resources
    Includes art, books, documentaries, podcasts & audio, tools for educators, videos, and more.

Miscellaneous Antarctic Resources

Polar Mailing Lists