9529958 KENNICUTT Increasing public awareness of human impacts on the surrounding environment have intensified the call for appropriate monitoring of these effects to provide for sound resource management decisions. As one of the perceived last pristine regions on Earth, Antarctica has attracted substantial interest from the public in preserving and protecting its innate values and natural resources. The primary international mechanism for addressing environmental issues in Antarctica is through the Antarctic Treaty System. In 1994, the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting requested that the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research and the Council of Operations Managers of National Antarctic Programs jointly convene technical workshops to provide expert advice on the design and implementation of environmental monitoring programs. In response to this, an organizing committee was formed and two workshops will be held; the first in Oslo, Norway and the second in College Station, Texas. These international workshops will address a wide range of issues related to the development, design and implementation of a simple, realistic and effective continent-wide network of monitoring programs to gauge resource deterioration. To ensure the success of the deliberations a broad cross-section of experienced Antarctic practitioners (scientists, technologists, national operators, and policy makers) are being encouraged to attend. This award provides partial support for travel to both workshops and partial support to support the second workshop to be held at Texas A&M University.
