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NSF External Collaborations


Image: Allyson Woodard (PolarTREC 2018), Courtesy of ARCUS

The Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) It is the intent of ARCUS to enhance the engagement of Arctic Indigenous communities, organizations, and peoples in research, recognizing that much research occurs within Indigenous communities, on their land, and/or utilizes Indigenous knowledge; that Indigenous Knowledge holds its own methodologies, validation, and evaluation processes; the need for Indigenous community-driven research; and that Indigenous communities are a vital part of the "research community".

Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) The Foundation is one of 14 Federal agencies that sponsor or conduct arctic science, engineering, and related activities. As mandated by the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984, interagency research planning is coordinated through the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC), which is chaired by NSF. Researchers are strongly encouraged to engage in IARPC activities through the IARPC Collaborations Portal. Further information on other agency programs is presented in the U.S. Arctic Research Plan.

International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) IASC is a non-governmental, international scientific organization. The Founding Articles committed IASC to pursue a mission of encouraging and facilitating cooperation in all aspects of Arctic research in all countries engaged in Arctic research and in all areas of the Arctic region. NSF supports the participation of US researchers and academics in the activities of IASC. Overall, IASC promotes and supports leading-edge interdisciplinary research in order to foster a greater scientific understanding of the Arctic region and its role in the Earth system.

Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) SEARCH is a collaborative program of Arctic researchers, funding agencies, and others that facilitates synthesis of Arctic science and communicates our current understanding to help society respond to a rapidly changing Arctic. Funded by NSF, SEARCH currently focuses on how shrinking land ice, diminishing sea ice, and degrading permafrost impact Arctic and global systems. The convening power of SEARCH enables SEARCH’s interdisciplinary action teams, as well as the wider Arctic research community, to listen to and inform agencies, policy- and decision-makers, and Arctic residents.

The US Arctic Research Commission (USARC) is an independent federal agency created by the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984. Principal duties include establishing the national policy, priorities, and goals necessary to construct a federal program plan for basic and applied scientific research with respect to the Arctic; working with NSF and other federal partners as the lead agency responsible for implementing the Arctic research policy and to support cooperation and collaboration throughout the federal government; and interacting with Arctic residents, international Arctic research programs and organizations, and local institutions, including regional governments, to obtain the broadest possible view of Arctic research needs.