A Roadmap for Antarctic Science: Assessing the Effectiveness of the Antarctic Roadmap Challenges

• Main Authors: Glenny, Alison, Grayson, Stuart, Lee, KyungHo, Lord, Tom
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs; Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10092/14298

Between 2012 and 2014 the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, with input from the wider Antarctic community, carried out an inclusive and transparent horizon scan to identify the critical questions that Antarctic science will need to address in the next 20 years. To address the logistical and practical requirements to answer these questions, the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs undertook the Antarctic Roadmap Challenges (ARC) project to identify the corresponding technology, infrastructure, access, and logistical requirements. Together the two projects deliver the Roadmap for Antarctic Science, which sets the agenda for research and development by national Antarctic programmes in the medium-term future. This report examines the development of the Roadmap for Antarctic Science and discusses potential ways to assess its success in influencing the policies and activities of national Antarctic programmes. It identifies several key opportunities and challenges in the implementation of the Roadmap, including the fostering of increased links between the Antarctic and wider scientific communities, shared infrastructure, effective publicprivate partnerships, substantial and stable funding, the impact of greater international interest in Antarctic affairs and the unique political environment regulated by the Antarctic Treaty System. It also considers the usefulness of the ARC Framework in assisting interested counties to develop national Antarctic programmes. The report concludes that the significance of the Roadmap for Antarctic Science lies in its shaping of the discussion about the future of Antarctic science, and that continued and strengthened international cooperation remains key to Antarctic research.