The Role of Antarctic Research in Australian Science and Policy Advice

Australian Academy of Science (AAS)
National Committee for Antarctic Research (NCAR)
and the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD)

The Role of Antarctic Research in Australian Science and Policy Advice

11-12 NOVEMBER 2004
THE SHINE DOME, AAS, GORDON ST., CANBERRA, ACT

FIRST CIRCULAR

Australia runs a large and diverse program of scientific research in the Antarctic and in the high latitude Southern Ocean. This research contributes to National research priorities and supports the Australian Government's role in the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS). In particular the Antarctic science program provides the scientific advice upon which Australia bases its contributions to the Commission for Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the International Whaling Commission (IWC), the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), and to a suite of climate and environment related policies and international agreements (such as the Climate Action Partnership). The Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Co-operative Research Centre (ACECRC) provides advice for the AGO, and AFFA, as well as to DEH. As a leading member of the Committee for Environmental Protection within the ATS, Australia undertakes significant applied research into the environmental effects of human activity in the Antarctic.

A thorough external evaluation of the Antarctic research, conducted in 2003 on behalf of the Antarctic Science Advisory Committee (ASAC), found that that Australia is "well served by its Antarctic science program", and that "the strengths in the individual components of the program be maintained". ASAC recommended a restructuring of these program components to address the following priority themes:

• Ice, Ocean, Atmosphere and Climate
• Southern Ocean Ecosystems
• Adaptation to Environmental Change
• Impacts of Human Activities in Antarctica.

This conference on "The role of Antarctic research in Australian science and policy advice" is organised by the National Committee on Antarctic Research (NCAR), a committee of the Australian Academy of Science, and the Australian Antarctic Division.