US-SCAR News

US-SCAR is hosting a public Zoom meeting to recap decisions made at the SCAR 2024 business meetings for Geosciences, Life Science and Physical Sciences Groups along with updates from the SCAR Standing Committees on Antarctic Geographic Information and Antarctic Data Management; and a report from the 2024 SCAR Delegates Meeting. Continue Reading

The NSF Office of Polar Programs (OPP) is hosting an office hour on the OPP Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (OPP-PRF) program on November 14, 3-4 pm EST to discuss the program, eligibility, the application process, and NSF review criteria. Program officers will go over frequently asked questions and there will be plenty of time for attendees to ask their own questions. Continue Reading

The SCAR Delegates meeting recently approved a programme planning group for a proposed new SCAR scientific programme concentrating on all areas of biology and ecology, Changes in Circumpolar Antarctic Gradients in Ecosystems (C-CAGE). We now have two years to flesh out a full proposal. The aim of C-CAGE is to use the natural environmental gradients in temperature, ice cover, and other physical drivers that exist in different parts of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic (with latitude, longitude, altitude, and depth) to better predict the likely outcomes for life as the region’s habitats change. More reliable predictions of future ecological change will enable better management and conservation of Antarctica’s unique biodiversity and ecosystems (including marine, freshwater, ice, terrestrial, snow habitats). C-CAGE is at the programme planning group stage and looking for input from the scientific community. Continue Reading

Please note: US-SCAR was asked to make this announcement, but neither SCAR nor US-SCAR are involved with any aspect of this survey, or have any opinion about the survey outcomes. This information is provided as a public service to the US Antarctic community. This American Physical Society -Division of Particles & Fields (APS DPF) survey is intended to collect information regarding the impacts on science and the U.S. scientific workforce stemming from the National Science Foundation's Antarctic Infrastructure recapitalization plans, the associated delay of the Cosmic Microwave Background Experiment Stage Four (CMB-S4), and potential impacts to other physics research requiring Antarctic access. The information collected in this survey will be curated by the APS Office of Government Affairs and shared with the U.S. House of Representatives' Science, Space, and Technology Committee to help inform future decisions on Antarctic science. Responses received before October 4 would be most useful. Continue Reading

The National Science Board (NSB) U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Commission on Merit Review recently published a Request for Information to gather input from the public on perceptions and experiences with the NSF Merit Review process, criteria and policies. Responses will be accepted until 5:00 PM Eastern time on Friday, September 20, 2024. Responses will help the Commission robustly consider potential recommendations and suggestions to the NSB and NSF to keep NSF's Merit Review at the forefront of innovation and meet evolving challenges and opportunities of the research landscape. Continue Reading

Applications for SCAR fellowships are due by Sept 9. There will be 4-5 awards up to $15,000 each. Continue Reading

The U.S. National Science Foundation is seeking a qualified candidate for an Interdisciplinary Antarctic Research Support Manager in the Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Section within the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), Office of Polar Programs (OPP). The qualified candidate will be responsible for the planning, development, and coordination of operational support plans for over one hundred scientific projects that annually take place on the continent of Antarctica and on research vessels in the Southern Ocean. A good working knowledge of science support techniques and technologies is required, including but not limited to, aircraft and surface logistics, marine research, field laboratory systems, data processing, and communications Continue Reading

In October and November 2024, the U.S. National Science Foundation will gather a group of selected participants to discuss research directions of climate intervention: its risks, impacts, and successes, best practices of governance and ethics, and where we need to know more. NSF is looking for social scientists, ethicists, natural and life scientists, and engineers to join the conversation on shaping the governance framework around climate change, focusing on Solar Radiation Management and Carbon Dioxide Removal technologies. While these technologies may offer intriguing and exciting approaches to mitigating climate change, they can result in unintended environmental and societal consequences that require an interdisciplinary approach, weighing the risks of implementing versus the risks of inaction. Continue Reading

The U.S. National Science Foundation has released a new Dear Colleague Letter (DCL): Strengthening the Evidence Base Related to Broadening the Participation of LGBTQI+ Individuals in STEM. This DCL aims to advance NSF’s Vision of a "nation that leads the world in science and engineering research and innovation, to the benefit of all, without barriers to participation", which is closely aligned with the NSF 2022-2026 Strategic Plan and the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Data Action Plan. Continue Reading

US-SCAR is happy to announce the next installment of our US Antarctic Interview Series. This feature of our website provides the opportunity for us to highlight a pair of researchers involved in the US Antarctic Program - someone with an established career along with an early career collaborator. The newest interviews are with Chuck Kennicutt (past SCAR President) and Andrew Klein both from Texas A&M University. The interviews were conducted and written by US-SCAR intern, Isabel Dove (University of Rhode Island), and we would also like to acknowledge our webmaster, Joe Souney (University of New Hampshire), for making the interviews available on line. Continue Reading

US-based and Chile-based polar early career researchers attending the 2024 SCAR Open Science Meeting are welcome to apply to attend a workshop on establishing international collaborative relationships! International collaboration is imperative to the successful exploration of the big scientific questions concerning the Antarctic. However, building these meaningful collaborations requires intentionality in creating a welcoming and inclusive space for partnerships to grow. Yet, guidance on how to establish international collaboration relationships does not regularly take place in the polar sciences. This workshop will be followed by remote collaboration-encouraging meetings facilitated by the Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO) and APECS Chile and has the potential to lead to longer-term, collaborative research relationships amongst attendees. Chile-based and US-based polar researchers early in their careers are welcome and invited to apply to attend. Apply to attend here by July 24th, 2024. Continue Reading

The draft South Pole Station Master Plan (SPSMP) has been made available for public comment via the United States Federal Register. Public comments will be collected, which the NSF will use to inform the final Master Plan. Comments may be submitted to SPMasterPlan@nsf.gov and via the Federal Docket Management System on the Federal Register webpage. The deadline for comments is July 17. You can comment individually. If you have any questions or would like to join a community response, please contact Al Weatherwax at wxwax@mit.edu. To learn more about the draft plan visit NSF.gov. Continue Reading

The U.S. National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs is seeking a qualified individual to join the Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics (AIL) Section as Program Liaison, U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) Ombudsperson. The purpose of the position is to serve as the primary resource for all USAP participants to raise issues, recommend solutions, ask questions, and provide feedback directly to the National Science Foundation about USAP operations. Individuals interested in applying should submit an application on USAJobs by July 25, 2024. It is open to U.S. citizens only. Continue Reading

The National Academies’ Polar Research Board, in collaboration with the Board on Earth Sciences and Resources and Ocean Studies Board, are seeking nominations for planning committee members to organize a workshop that will explore research and monitoring areas for U.S. involvement in the Fifth International Polar Year (IPY5). We invite you to submit all nominations by July 19, 2024. Continue Reading

US-SCAR announces the posting of interviews with Diana Wall and Abby Jackson as the most recent additions to our US Antarctic Interview Series. Diana was interviewed in 2023, and unfortunately her story is being published posthumously. The US Antarctic Interview Series is structured so that there are two interviews in each installment, one interview is with an established US Antarctic scientist and the second interview with an early career collaborator. As the US Antarctic Interview Series expands, we hope to provide a good cross-section of the people and the science that make up the US Antarctic Program. Continue Reading

The Antarctic Environments Portal (www.environments.aq) is a web-based resource that supports evidence-based management of Antarctica’s environment, by placing the best available scientific knowledge at the fingertips of Antarctic decision makers. There is a current call for applications for a new editor for the Antarctic Environments Portal. Follow the link for information about the position and how to apply. This is a part time (1-2 days/week) paid position that has flexible hours and work can be done remotely. The Portal supports the work of the Antarctic Treaty System – in particular the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) – by providing peer reviewed, policy-relevant syntheses of key scientific topics, accompanied by simple infographics. The Portal’s outputs are unbiased and apolitical and aim to present information in an accessible form for a non-expert audience. Application closing date: Sunday, 8 September 2024. Continue Reading

We welcome all to a second "Office Hours" session to learn more about US Antarctic data and sample repositories; and what to expect when you want to post data, contribute samples, or access either. This Office Hours event includes four NSF-supported Antarctic data and sample repositories: U.S. National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility (NSF-ICF), Polar Geospatial Center (PGC), EarthScope, and Antarctic Meteorological Research and Data Center (AMRDC). The expectations surrounding research data collected and produced by field projects have evolved (and continue to evolve!). Access to Antarctica has also changed and highlights the importance of opportunities for scientific discovery through our existing repositories. The Office Hours will be held Tuesday, June 18 @ 8 am HST, 10 am AKDT, 11 am PDT, 12 pm MDT, 1 pm CDT, 2 pm EDT. Curators from these facilities will briefly cover the basics of what services they provide, how to deposit data and samples, and how access the resources that are currently available. The session will then be open to questions and discussion from online participants. We are excited to hear from you and answer your questions, so come to this meeting to learn the latest from us. Continue Reading

We welcome all to a second "Office Hours" session to learn more about US Antarctic data and sample repositories; and what to expect when you want to post data, contribute samples, or access either. This Office Hours event includes four NSF-supported Antarctic data and sample repositories: U.S. National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility (NSF-ICF), Polar Geospatial Center (PGC), EarthScope, and Antarctic Meteorological Research and Data Center (AMRDC). The expectations surrounding research data collected and produced by field projects have evolved (and continue to evolve!). Access to Antarctica has also changed and highlights the importance of opportunities for scientific discovery through our existing repositories. The Office Hours will be held Tuesday, June 18 @ 8 am HST, 10 am AKDT, 11 am PDT, 12 pm MDT, 1 pm CDT, 2 pm EDT. Curators from these facilities will briefly cover the basics of what services they provide, how to deposit data and samples, and how access the resources that are currently available. The session will then be open to questions and discussion from online participants. We are excited to hear from you and answer your questions, so come to this meeting to learn the latest from us. Continue Reading

PSECCO is a community-building and support effort for early career scientists focused on promoting community building, accessibility and inclusion and supporting diversity in the polar sciences, funded by NSF and housed at the University of Colorado. PSECCO invites US-based early career polar scientists to apply to serve on the PSECCO Advisory Board. The advisory board provides strategic guidance to help shape PSECCO activities supporting the early career polar science community, are available as a resource for the PSECCO Director, and serve on PSECCO selection committees. Board members will serve a two-year term and are expected to participate in quarterly board meetings. Polar is defined here as folks who work in or with matters pertaining to Antarctic, Arctic, or high alpine regions. Continue Reading

A new NSF-funded faculty travel grant to James Madison University will support up to 50 early-to-mid career faculty from under-resourced U.S. undergraduate-focused institutions, such as Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs), Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and community colleges (2YCs) to attend the fall AGU24 annual meeting in Washington, D.C., in person. Travel grant awardees will receive a $1,700-travel stipend. Additionally, they will participate in professional development workshops as well as networking and social events; review student presentations for Outstanding Student Participation Awards; and potentially co-chair sessions. Please share with your communities as application window is open now. Continue Reading