The International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) was established in 1990 as a non-governmental international membership organization that encourages and facilitates cooperation in Arctic research. Today IASC has 18 member countries, including the United States. This award provides support for the Principal Investigator to represent the U.S. Arctic science community in IASC. The Polar Research Board, under the U.S. National Academies, functions as the oversight committee for U.S. representation in IASC. The U.S. National Academies appointed Dr. Grebmeier as the U.S. Delegate to IASC in March 2006. As a Delegate, Dr. Grebmeier will convey the goals of the U.S. science community in international science planning efforts. It is vital to have representation in IASC at this critical time. The organization is responding to an external review that called for heightened transparency, greater visibility, inclusion of early career scientists, and enhanced interaction with international governmental bodies such as the Arctic Council.
and one of the four Vice-Presidents, PI Grebmeier’s role was to facilitate the interests of the United States Arctic scientific community in the international arena. IASC is an international scientific organization composed of 19 member countries and was established to encourage, facilitate and promote leading-edge multi-disciplinary research to foster a greater scientific understanding of the arctic region and its role in the Earth system. The NSF award supported PI Grebmeier’s efforts as the US delegate to IASC and covered her travel costs and participation in IASC Council meetings held annually during Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) to provide a forum for many international planning groups. She was also appointed to the IASC Executive Committee (Ex Com) and attended meetings held three times per year during her service. The IASC Ex Com is considered a "board of directors" of IASC and makes decisions on behalf of the IASC Council between annual meetings. IASC Ex Com meetings are normally held in the IASC Secretariat office that is supported by Germany, although periodic meeting were also hosted in other IASC countries, such as Korea, Denmark, USA and Canada over the last three years. As the US delegate PI Grebmeier provided updates on IASC activities, restructuring efforts, and future plans during the bi-annual Polar Research Board (PRB) meetings since the PRB is the US Arctic National Committee. As the US IASC delegate PI Grebmeier provided input and feedback to/from international partners on Arctic issues of relevance to scientists. As part of her IASC duties, she provided outreach activities on behalf of IASC to early career scientists and the national and international community related to collaboration in science planning. PI Grebmeier provided updates to the general science community and the public about IASC activities through participation in local, national and international presentations. IASC updated its structure in 2010, including initiating five working groups: cryosphere, atmosphere, terrestrial, marine, and social and human. Working Groups identify and formulate science plans, research priorities, encourage science-led programs, promote future generations of arctic scientists and act as scientific advisory boards to the IASC Council. PI Grebmeier wrote a travel grant and made travel arrangements for all 10 new US working group members, appointed by the National Academies, to attend the January 2011 IASC All Hands meeting in Potsdam, Germany. As the US Delegate she also prepared a NSF renewal proposal to support travel for the US working group members, along with Executive Secretarial support for 3 IASC working groups. She also attended various international group meetings during ASSWs, including IASC Council, Arctic Ocean Sciences Board (AOSB) (now the Marine Working Group of IASC), and the Pacific Arctic Group (PAG). In addition to briefing the PRB on IASC, PI Grebmeier also gave updates on IASC to the US National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, IARPC (Interagency Arctic Research and Policy Committee), and the US State Department, along with other interested agencies.
