Call for Interest: Canadian Social and Human Working Group Representative, International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) 

Call for Interest

Canadian Social and Human Working Group Representative, International Arctic Science Committee (IASC)

Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) is seeking letters of interest with supporting documentation to appoint up to two Canadian representatives on the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) Social and Human Working Group. The deadline for this opportunity is December 30, 2017.

IASC is an international scientific organization that encourages and facilitates cooperation and supports leading-edge Arctic research on a circumpolar and international level. For further information, please visit:http://www.iasc.info/. As Canada’s member organization to IASC, POLAR is responsible for appointing Canadian representatives to each of IASC’s Working Groups and appointing a Canadian Delegate to the IASC Council, which sets priorities and guides the work of IASC.

The main functions of the IASC Working Groups are to encourage and support science-led international programs by offering opportunities for planning and coordination. Each of the five IASC Working Groups is comprised of representatives from IASC’s 23 member countries.

Role of Canadian IASC Social and Human Working Group Representatives

Canadian IASC Social and Human Working Group representatives are expected to be active members of the Working Group, representing Canadian Arctic social sciences, health and/or humanities research interests and promoting increased international collaboration. This involves working with other members of the Social and Human Working Group and with members of IASC’s four other Working Groups (Atmosphere, Cryosphere, Marine, Terrestrial). More specifically, Canadian representatives will work with fellow Working Group members to:

Identify research areas where current social sciences, health, and/or humanities-related research is critically needed, with particular attention to areas where interdisciplinary actions can be taken;

Encourage and facilitate international research programs and initiate conferences, workshops and educational events, including those which are interdisciplinary where appropriate, to assist in addressing key research gaps, especially those which can benefit from international collaboration;

Encourage the exchange and dissemination of social sciences, health, and/or humanities research-related information, including with relevant international, regional and national Arctic science organizations;

Encourage the initiation and maintenance of observational systems and associated data, and coordination with other long-term observational programs in the Arctic and globally; and,

Provide scientific advice to the IASC Council and outside organizations upon request.

For further information about the Social and Human Working Group, please visit:,http://iasc.info/working-groups/social-human and https://iasc.info/working-groups/social-human/members. Dr. Gail Fondahl, Professor, University of Northern British Columbia, is Canada’s current representative on the IASC Social and Human Working Group.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible to apply, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident based at a Canadian institution or organization, and not be currently employed by POLAR or currently serving as a member of POLAR’s Board of Directors. Candidates must also meet the following criteria:

Significant Canadian Arctic social sciences, health and/or humanities research expertise that aligns with:

• The scientific scope of the Social and Human Working Group (for further details please visit: https://iasc.info/working-groups/social-human); and,
• The science priorities outlined in the IASC report Third International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP III) (for further details please visit: http://icarp.iasc.info/images/articles/downloads/ICARPIII_Final_Report.pdf).

Active involvement within the Canadian Arctic social sciences, health and/or humanities-related research community;

Experience representing Canadian Arctic social sciences, health and/or humanities-related research interests in a regional/territorial, national and/or international setting;

Ability to communicate effectively in English, given that English is the working language of IASC.

In order to successfully fulfill the duties as a Canadian representative on this Working Group, it is important that representatives be present at annual IASC Working Group meetings, which take place during Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW). Dates and locations of upcoming ASSW events are as follows:

15-26 June 2018 – Davos, Switzerland

2019 – Arkhangelsk, Russia (dates TBD)

27 March to 4 April 2020 – Akureyri, Iceland

2021 – Location and dates TBD

POLAR seeks to appoint one representative in advance of the 2018 Working Group meeting and a second representative in advance of the 2019 meeting. Please note that POLAR can provide only modest funds to assist with part of the travel-related costs. Therefore, it is imperative that candidates have the means to attend annual IASC Working Group meetings in person, through financial support from an affiliated institution or other sources.

Selection process

A selection committee appointed by the President of POLAR will review all letters of interest and supporting documentation and make a recommendation to POLAR.

Up to two Canadian representatives will be appointed, each for a 4-year term, with the possibility of renewal once, following a review after the first term. Given the broad scope of this Working Group, effort will be made to appoint representatives with expertise in different disciplines. For at least one of the positions, preference may be given to an Indigenous researcher from Canada’s North, and/or a researcher based in Canada’s North.

Process and closing date for this Call for Interest

The following documentation must be provided to Polar Knowledge Canada (info@polar.gc.ca) no later than December 30, 2017:

A letter which indicates your name, affiliation, area(s) of expertise, and how you meet the eligibility requirements, including confirmation of your ability and financial means to attend the annual IASC Working Group meetings.

A curriculum vitae that provides evidence of your Arctic research-related involvement, including, as relevant:

• Research- and/or policy-related activities in or about the Arctic
• Community-based research and/or outreach activities in the Arctic;
• Publications (articles, books, reports) on the Arctic;
• Membership in, and/or leadership positions held on regional/territorial, national or international Arctic committees; and,
• Relevant awards and distinctions.

For further information or questions, please contact Polar Knowledge Canada at: info@polar.gc.ca.