The Ottawa Declaration of 1996 formally established the Arctic Council as a high level intergovernmental forum to provide a means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, with the involvement of the Arctic Indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.

The scientific work of the Arctic Council is carried out in six expert working groups focusing on such issues as monitoring, assessing and preventing pollution in the Arctic, climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, emergency preparedness and prevention in addition to the living conditions of the Arctic residents.

Website: http://www.arctic-council.org

The Arctic Portal provides a comprehensive gateway to the Arctic on the internet, increases co-operation between both public and private parties across the Arctic and grants exposure to Arctic related information.

The Arctic Portal is an endorsed IPY-Project lead by Iceland's Senior Arctic Official in consultation and co-operation with other members of the Arctic Council and its Working Groups, Permanent Participants, Northern Forum, U-Arctic, The Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland, The Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of Roshydromet, The International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry and others.

Website: http://new.arcticportal.org

The Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) is a non-profit corporation consisting of institutions organized and operated for educational, professional, or scientific purposes. To achieve its mission, ARCUS frequently provides support to workshops to facilitate discussion of important arctic research initiatives, produces workshop reports to publicize researcher recommendations for arctic science priorities, and assists the arctic research community with other publications and information distribution needs.

Website: http://www.arcus.org/

The Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board is an aboriginal-led co-management group working to conserve the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou herds of northern Canada for the benefit of traditional caribou-using communities, and others

Website: http://www.arctic-caribou.com/index.html

Established in 1991 as the lead agency in the area of polar research, the Canadian Polar Commission has responsibility for: monitoring, promoting, and disseminating knowledge of the Polar Regions; contributing to public awareness of the importance of polar science to Canada; enhancing Canada's international profile as a circumpolar nation; and recommending polar science policy direction to government.

In carrying out its mandate, the Commission hosts conferences and workshops, publishes information on subjects of relevance to polar research, and works closely with other governmental and non-governmental agencies to promote and support Canadian study of the Polar Regions.

Website: http://www.polarcom.gc.ca

The Dissertations Initiative for the Advancement of Climate Change Research, DISCCRS (pronounced "discourse") utilizes annual symposia, a Ph.D. Dissertation Registry, web resources, and a weekly electronic newsletter to catalyze interdisciplinary knowledge, collegial interactions and professional development around the theme of climate change and its impacts. The initiative actively engages natural and social scientists, mathematicians, engineers and other scholars.
Reports of recent activities are posted:
Program:  http://www.disccrs.org/reports/DISCCRS_II_IV_Program_Report.pdf
Symposium:  http://www.disccrs.org/reports/DISCCRS_IV_Symposium_Report.pdf

DISCCRS VI Announcement:  http://disccrs.org/disccrsposter.pdf

DISCCRS is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant numbers 0931402 and 0932916; additional support from  the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is pending.

DISCCRS: http://disccrs.org

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) is one of the federal government departments responsible for meeting the Government of Canada's obligations and commitments to First Nations, Inuit and Métis, and for fulfilling the federal government's constitutional responsibilities in the North. INAC's responsibilities are largely determined by numerous statutes, negotiated agreements and relevant legal decisions. Most of the Department's programs, representing a majority of its spending - are delivered through partnerships with Aboriginal communities and federal-provincial or federal-territorial agreements. INAC also works with urban Aboriginal people, Métis and Non-Status Indians (many of whom live in rural areas) through the Office of the Federal Interlocutor.

Website: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/index-eng.asp

For more information you can take a look at the website www.arcticportal.org/iasc or contact the secretariat through e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by telephone +49-331-2882214.

International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA) has objectives to promote and stimulate international cooperation and to increase the participation of social scientists in national and international Arctic research promoting communication and coordination with other research organizations, facilitating culturally, developmentally, and linguistically appropriate education in the North. IASSA equally lays importance in stimulating mutual respect, communication, and collaboration between social scientists and northern people.

Website: http://www.iassa.gl/index.htm

The International Polar Year is a large scientific program focused on the Arctic and the Antarctic from March 2007 to March 2009. IPY, organized through the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), is actually the fourth polar year, following those in 1882-3, 1932-3, and 1957-8. In order to have full and equal coverage of both the Arctic and the Antarctic, IPY 2007-8 covers two full annual cycles from March 2007 to March 2009 and will involve over 200 projects, with thousands of scientists from over 60 nations examining a wide range of physical, biological and social research topics. It is also an unprecedented opportunity to demonstrate, follow, and get involved with, cutting edge science in real-time.

Website: http://www.ipy.org

International non-governmental organization, with members, adhering bodies and affiliates throughout the circumpolar regions. There has been a long-standing need for the exchange of medical knowledge, as well as the results of recent research and demonstrated solutions to problems for the benefit of humankind. Arctic communities, with the general and specific medical and health problems found in this region, obviously share this need with the rest of the world. The health problems and needs of northern peoples has become the focus of the only organization of its kind dedicated to the health problems of the circumpolar regions - the International Union for Circumpolar Health.

Website: http://www.iuch.net/

Founded in 1977 by the late Eben Hopson of Barrow, Alaska, the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) has flourished and grown into a major international non-government organization representing approximately 150,000 Inuit of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Chukotka (Russia). The organization holds Consultative Status II at the United Nations. The principal goals of ICC are to

• strengthen unity among Inuit of the circumpolar region;
• promote Inuit rights and interests on an international level;
• develop and encourage long-term policies that safeguard the Arctic environment; and
• seek full and active partnership in the political, economic, and social development of circumpolar regions.

Website: http://www.inuitcircumpolar.com

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, formerly Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, is the national voice of Canada's Inuit. Founded in 1971, the organization represents and promotes the interests of Inuit. In its history, ITK has been effective and successful at advancing Inuit interests by forging constructive and co-operative relationships with different levels of government in Canada, notably in the area of comprehensive land claim settlements, and representing Inuit during the constitutional talks of the 1980s.

Website: http://www.itk.ca

Official Nordic co-operation is channelled through two organisations: the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Nordic Council was formed in 1952 and is the forum for Nordic parliamentary co-operation. The Council has 87 chosen members, representing the five countries and three autonomous territories. The members of the Council are members of the national parliaments, who are nominated by the parliament on the recommendation of the party groups. There is thus no direct election to the Nordic Council. The Council is unique in that parliamentarians and members of the governments meet for political discusssions at the annual Sessions. The Nordic Council, which is led by a Presidium, has met at an ordinary Session every autumn since 1996. Special sessions on specific themes are organised in between. On-going political work in the Nordic Council is conducted through committees and party groups. To learn more, visit their website.

The Nordic Council of Ministers has funded the APECS Virtual Poster Session through a proposal to their Arctic Co-Operation Solicitation.

The Organisation has been set up to provide comprehensive information about the Polar regions, and consequently wants to see the resources of those regions used and sustained in a way that benefits its natural inhabitants and the planet as a whole. Compared to other charities and organisations, PCO is much broader than simply global warming and polar bears. Although PCO realises just how important these issues are, we are also interested in indigenous peoples' rights, national sovereignty issues, and the conservation of the Polar Regions, the environment, political role models for cooperation, and more. The Polar Conservation Organisation would like to be recognised as the focal point for information, discussion and political and public opinions about the Polar Regions. Our ambition is for PCO to become recognised as the organisation that aggregates and facilitates information, discussion and political and public opinion forming in Europe. A key milestone is the establishment of a common EU policy and the appointment of a Commissioner for Polar Policy.

Website: http://www.polarconservation.org

Polar Continental Shelf Project (PCSP) coordinates support for, and offers expert advice to Canadian government and university scientists and independent, private sector and non-Canadian researchers working in isolated areas throughout the Canadian Arctic. Funded by the Canadian Government, the support PCSP can offer includes transportation, communications, accommodation, field equipment and related services.

Website: http://polar.nrcan.gc.ca

Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) is public organisation that aims to protect human rights, defend the legal interests of indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East, and assist in finding some solutions to the environmental, social and economic problems, and the problems of cultural development and education. RAIPON works to guarantee the right of protection of native homelands and traditional way of life as well as the right to self governance according to the national and international legal standards.

Website: http://www.raipon.org

SDSC Data Central provides and supports a wide range of data resources, as well as computing resources dedicated to data analysis and mining. Resources are available through a peer-reviewed process to academic researchers in the U.S.

Website: http://www.sdsc.edu/

Website: http://www.scp.byu.edu/

To meet the objective of developing scientific capacity in all SCAR Members, especially with respect to younger scientists, and promoting the incorporation of Antarctic science in education at all levels, SCAR will take the following strategic approach:

• works towards building human and institutional capacity for Antarctic science by a variety of means;
• promotes education of the public and of students so as to increase awareness of the value of Antarctic science; and
• promotes the development of Antarctic science through appropriate means.
• provides fellowships to encourage the active involvement of early career scientists and engineers in Antarctic scientific research, and to strengthen international capacity and cooperation in Antarctic research.

For more information, visit http://www.scar.org or contact the secretariat by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone +44 1223 336550.

SCOR is the leading non-governmental organization for the promotion and coordination of international oceanographic activities. SCOR does not have the resources to fund research directly; therefore, SCOR science activities focus on promoting international cooperation in planning and conducting oceanographic research, and solving methodological and conceptual problems that hinder research. Scientists from the thirty-five nations participate in SCOR working groups and scientific steering committees for the large-scale ocean research projects.

Website:http://www.scor-int.org/about.htm

A five-year (1995-1999) scientific research program involving a collaboration between the U.S. Navy and academic researchers from a variety of different universities. The object of study was geophysical and oceanological conditions in the Arctic Ocean. The Navy made available a nuclear submarine for each research cruise.

Website: http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/pi/SCICEX/

The aim of this project is to assess and improve the performance of coupled global atmosphere-sea ice-ocean models in reproducing sea ice in the high southern latitudes. This will be achieved by

• deriving data sets of sea ice concentration and motion using remote sensing techniques,
• performing selected runs with a sophisticated high-resolution dynamic-thermodynamic sea ice model, which will be optimized with the data sets derived within this project, and
• analyzing the output of coupled global atmosphere-ocean general circulation model (AOGCM) runs

Website: http://www.iup.physik.uni-bremen.de/iuppage/sealion_ed1.html

The Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas (SSILA) was founded in December 1981 as the international scholarly organization representing American Indian linguistics, and was incorporated in 1997. Membership in SSILA is open to all those who are interested in the scientific study of the languages of the native peoples of North, Central and South America. The Society has approximately 900 members, more than a third of them residing outside the United States.

Website: http://www.ssila.org

Website: http://www.irc.nl/page/7120

and in Russian: http://www.hydrology.ru

Website: http://www.sparc.sunysb.edu/default.htm

Website:  http://www.unaami.noaa.gov/

The scientific objectives of SHEBA include: (1) To develop accurate physical and mathematical relationships between the state of the ice cover and albedo, for any given incident short-wave radiation (2) To determine how the state of the ice cover changes in response to forcing from the atmosphere and the ocean (3) To relate the surface forcing to conditions within the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers (4) To extend the relationships determined in Objectives 1-3 from local scales to the aggregate scales suitable for climate models (5) To establish a basic data set suitable for developing and testing climate models that incorporate the processes SHEBA is proposing to study.

Website: http://www.eol.ucar.edu/projects/sheba/

The Sustainable Development Working Group is a working group of the Arctic Council. The Council is a high level forum to provide a means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, with the involvement of the Arctic indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common arctic issues, in particular issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.