Actions, and Nonlinear Processes.” The Final Report1
cial scientists, an effort that has become an increas-
contains the report of the Conference Chair (Oran
ingly prominent feature of Arctic research with the
Young of the Institute of Arctic Studies at Dart-
passage of time. The report also emphasized the
mouth) as well as reports of the Working Groups on:
importance of nonlinear processes affecting Arctic
(1) Effects of Increased Ultraviolet Radiation in the
systems. At the time, concepts that have become
Arctic; (2) Regional Cumulative Impacts—Barents
influential recently, such as tipping elements and
Sea; (3) Regional Cumulative Impacts—Bering Sea;
tipping points, planetary boundaries, and the idea of
(4) Mass Balance of Arctic Glaciers and Ice Sheets;
the Anthropocene were not familiar. But there was
(5) Terrestrial Ecosystems and Feedbacks on Cli-
an awareness of the importance of rapid and often
mate Change; (6) Arctic Marine/Coastal/Riverine
turbulent change in what is now known as coupled
Systems; (7) Disturbance and Recovery of Terres-
socio-ecological systems. In an important sense,
trial Ecosystems; (8) Dynamics of Arctic Populations
ICARP I not only provided an opportunity for groups
and Ecosystems; (9) Sustainable Use of Living Re-
of scientists to design coordinated research initia-
sources; and, (10) Environmental and Social Impacts
tives, it also helped to move Arctic science onto the
of Industrialization on the Arctic.
cutting edge of the broader effort to increase our
understanding of the dynamics of the Earth System.
A few general observations on the work of ICARP I
will help to put this effort in perspective. The title
It is difficult to measure the success or the effec-
of the final report captured several of the major
tiveness of an event like ICARP I. But there are at
themes running through the ICARP I process. Al-
least three dimensions by which it is possible to as-
though natural scientists dominated the work of
sess the success of the conference. To begin with,
IASC at the time, the conference drew attention
ICARP I provided IASC with a programmatic identity.
both to the role of anthropogenic drivers of large-
In the wake of the conference, it was much easier
scale developments in the region and to the im-
to specify where IASC fit in the expanding collec-
pacts of biophysical processes on the well-being of
tion of efforts to foster cooperation in the Arctic.
humans living in the Arctic. The result was an effort
ICARP I also helped strengthen the links between
to enhance collaboration between natural and so-
Arctic science and global science. In the intervening
Dartmouth College, Hanover
NH, USA, venue of the first
International Conference on
Arctic Research Planning
(ICARP).
Photo: IASC Secretariat
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02 IASC Initiatives