3.4
ASSW in China. At that time, the scientific, econom-
IASC in Transition
Kristján Kristjánsson
(President 2006-2010)
ic and political realities of the North had changed
dramatically and several distinctive research frameworks had already outlined a wide array of topics
requiring research attention—ICARP II, ACIA, AHDR,
and IPY, for example. Furthermore, and in the more
I joined the IASC family in 1999 as the official repre-
political arena, the Arctic Council, established in
sentative for Iceland on IASC Council. However, the
1996, was promoting cooperation, coordination and
first IASC meeting I attended, was ICARP I held at
interaction in issues of sustainable development
Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, USA in 1995.
and environmental protection, which required grow-
The main reason for my participation in ICARP I and
ing attention from IASC. In this period of changes,
my somewhat premature encounter with IASC was
IASC was faced with many challenges but fortu-
simply that Magnús Magnússon, the IASC President
nately it managed to develop and maintain its role
at that time and my fellow countryman, decided to
as the leading Arctic science organization which,
introduce me to IASC and coach me in replacing him
to some extent, was due to good chairmanship by
as the Icelandic representative on IASC Council. As
highly competent persons like David Drewry and
I am a rather slow learner; it took Magnús nearly
Patrick Webber.
four years to coach me and prepare me for formally
joining the IASC family. Magnús Magnússon was a
The new problems and challenges arising through
fantastic mentor; he did a marvelous job and I am
the deca de 1995-2005 called for new or improved
forever grateful for his patience and dedication to
scientific knowledge, and an increased need for
safeguarding my participation and awakening my
knowledge about the Arctic region made interna-
interest in IASC. ICARP I was in many ways an inter-
tional cooperation more essential. It was there-
esting event for me to attend, as it was an import-
fore evident and necessary for IASC to meet these
ant milestone in IASC´s history. For the first time in
grand challenges, and in order to do this it needed
the history of Arctic research planning, IASC man-
to change its strategy. The most vital transition
aged to bring together, not only Arctic researchers
IASC has undergone since it was established was
from all over the World, but also representatives of
from 2006 to 2010. During this period, IASC went
the community of funders, managers and users.
through the most extensive changes in its struc-
The conference was a huge success and unques-
ture, and consequently managed to strengthen its
tionably elucidated in many ways the future and
position as the leading international organization
complex role of IASC in Arctic research.
of scientific expertise in the Arctic. I had the privilege of leading IASC through this transitional pe-
As mentioned above, I became the official Council
riod. Many controversial decisions were taken, and
representative for Iceland in 1999 and a few years
approved by Council, and I am convinced they were
later, in 2002, I was elected Vice-President. From
necessary in order for IASC to survive and advance.
1999 to 2006, I participated quite actively in many
significant IASC contributions to arctic research,
such as the establishment of PAG, the creation of
group of experts, the Review and Strategy Group,
ASSW, ACIA, the planning and coordination of ICARP
to evaluate IASC activities from 1996 to 2005, and
II, the creation of ISAC, and the planning of IPY. I am
to recommend strategies for the future. Members
particularly proud of taking part in engaging more
of this Review and Strategy Group were Tom Pyle
young scientists in IASC and supporting the estab-
(Chair), Hajime Ito, Anders Karlqvist, Igor Krupnik,
lishment of APECS. It was, however, in 2006, that
Hanne Petersen, Jörn Thiede and Sara Bowden (Sec-
my participation in IASC went up a notch, when I
retary). The group´s main recommendations were
was quite unexpectedly elected as President at the
80
In early 2006, IASC appointed an international
that IASC needed to adopt a new organizational
03 Contributions of Former IASC Presidents