IASC 25 years | Page 61

IASC Council Meeting at the Arctic Science Summit Week 2008 in Syktyvkar, Russia, March/April 208. Photo: IASC Secretariat In the beginning, the ASSW was organized as two ward-looking strategic actions to be taken to fulfill main events: a Science Day, organized by the host the IASC mission. In 2007 the Review and Strategy country, and a Project Day, organized by the Interna- Group submitted their report (International Arctic tional Coordination Group (ICG). The idea behind the Science: A Look Forward), in which the Group rec- Science Day and the Project Day was to increase the ommended four major changes to the IASC strat- scientific content of the ASSW, to attract more ac- egy and activities. One of the major changes was tive scientists to these meetings. The Science Day to reorganize and revitalize the ASSW as a major and the Project Day were often organized around cross-disciplinary venue. The Group highlighted that certain themes such as “Adaptation to Climate ASSW had become a drawn-out and repetitive event Change,” “Sustainable Development in the Arctic,” with many presentations being given multiple times “Arctic Science Initiatives, Developments and Ensur- to various organizations. They also noted that many ing Legacies,” to name a few. As would be expected, of the ASSW meetings were closed or overlapped, and in light of certain breakthrough events/activi- which impeded the sharing of information between ties within the Arctic/Polar research community at the various organizations. the start of the 21st Century, topics and/or activities like ACIA, the AHDR, ICARP and, last but not The Review and Strategy Group suggested the least, the IPY were inevitably on the ASSW agenda. following: - Organize major ASSW meetings every second There is no question but that the ASSW has been an ing the larger scientific community by providing implementing, communicating and enhancing part- a science forum meeting, replacing the project nerships and cooperation within Arctic research. and science days and serving as a kind of New ideas have emerged, new projects and pro- ‘mini ICARP’ focused on strategic science issues. grams have been initiated and new alliances have - In the off years, a smaller ASSW focused on the been established. business of the various organizations should In early 2006, IASC appointed a Review and Strat- be held. These would be run with an emphasis egy Group to study and evaluate the scope of IASC on inter-organizational meetings to identify activities over the years 1996-2005. The group critical issues and common objectives, and to plan was asked to suggest and justify any major chang- for the next science-focused ASSW the following es to be undertaken; and, in particular, suggest for- 60 year. These meetings should be aimed at attract- important venue and played a key role in initiating, year. 02 IASC Initiatives