Full Proposals for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Proposed IPY Activity Details

1.0 PROPOSER INFORMATION

(Activity ID No: 69)

1.1 Title of Activity
International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences VI in Nuuk, 2007-2008.

1.2 Short Form Title of Proposed Activity
ICASS VI

1.3 Activity Leader Details
Birger Poppel
Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland
Greenland

1.4 Lead International Organisation(s) (if applicable)
International Arctic Social Sciences Association, IASSA, located at Ilisimatusarfik (University of Greenland)
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1.5 Other Countries involved in the activity
* see 3.4
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1.6 Expression of Intent ID #'s brought together in this proposed activity
416

1.7 Location of Field Activities
Arctic

1.8 Which IPY themes are addressed
1. Current state of the environment
2. Change in the polar regions
4. Exploring new frontiers
5. The polar regions as vantage points
6. The human dimension in polar regions

1.9 What is the main IPY target addressed by this activity
1. Natural or social science

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2.0 SUMMARY OF THE ACTIVITY

ICASS VI will be held in Nuuk, Greenland in the International Polar Year 2007-2008, at the earliest at end of the first calendar year of operations for the IPY. To the international arctic social sciences community, ICASS VI will act as its major forum to review its contribution to the overall IPY effort; to discuss the status of the ongoing social programs under IPY 2007-2008; and to make plans for further actions
The working title for ICASS VI is “Circumpolar Social Changes: Opportunities and Challenges for Social Sciences in the International Polar Year 2007-2008.” Based upon the attendance at previous ICASS ventures (a triennial event), ICASS VI will bring together many hundred social scientists from every field of social and human research, advanced students from over 20 countries, as well as indigenous and non-indigenous stakeholders. We expect the attendance to be boosted by the presence of our project partners from physical and natural science disciplines, to make ICASS VI a fully interdisciplinary venture - much like the IPY 2007-2008 itself. The main goal of ICASS VI is to offer various venues for IPY scholars, other northern researchers, and local participants to analyze the progress of IPY 2007-2008 in social and human fields. This includes special project sessions, discussion panels, plenary presentations, invited talks by the leading IPY scientists and representatives of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic, public meetings. Sessions and panels at the ICASS VI will be framed along major IPY research fields and initiatives, with the broad international and interdisciplinary participation. For many international network projects, ICASS sessions will offer the only chance for face-to-face discussions, as participants from many countries and regions may have limited contacts in the field and across the boundaries. Special efforts will be made to ensure presence of as many project collaborators from arctic communities, as possible. Having ICASS VI held in Nuuk, the capital of the only indigenous self-governing Arctic country, will give an unprecedented voice to polar residents and indigenous peoples. Timing and location for this major scholarly meeting to review the progress of IPY 2007-2008 cannot be better selected. ICASS sessions will be open to representatives of northern governmental agencies, indigenous institutions, media people, and interested public to ensure broader input from northern practitioners and local communities. We envision ICASS VI also as a critical milestone to the IPY 2007-2008 outreach, public, and educational agendas, because of so many young Greenlandic students and educational institutions in town. The presence of social scientists from many countries, presentations on many projects across the circumpolar world will inspire the young generation of Greenlandic educators and leaders, and will give tremendous local publicity to polar research.

2.1 What is the evidence of inter-disciplinarity in this activity?
Based upon the attendance at previous ICASS ventures (a triennial event), ICASS VI will bring together many hundred social scientists from every field of social and human research, advanced students from over 20 countries, as well as indigenous and non-indigenous stakeholders. We expect the attendance to be boosted by the presence of our project partners from physical and natural science disciplines, to make ICASS VI a fully interdisciplinary venture - much like the IPY 2007-2008 itself.

2.2 What will be the significant advances/developments from this activity? What will be the major deliverables? What are the outputs for your peers?
All IPY themes with human dimensions will be discussed, and the “significant advances” to be expected reside in the synergies created by the possibility to meet, network, and discuss not only within IPY projects, but also across them. The format of the conference will be designed in order to foster such dialogues, with panels, workshops, and plenaries geared towards facilitating the IPY-related research.
If necessary funding can be raised it is the plan to publish keynote speeches and proceedings. At the same time it is the goal that continued discussions from the ICASS VI shall be encouraged and facilitated via the IASSA homepage.

2.3 Outline the geographical location(s) for the proposed field work (approximate coordinates will be helpful if possible)

2.4 Define the approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities?

2.5 What major logistic support/facilities will be required for this project?

2.6 How will the required logistics be supplied? Have operators been approached?

2.7 If working in the Arctic regions, has there been contact with local indigenous groups or relevant authorities regarding access?

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3.0 STRUCTURE OF THE ACTIVITY

3.1 Origin of the activity
This is a pulse of activity during 2007-2009 within an existing programme

If part of an existing programme please name the programme – International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences, ICASS (triennial)

3.2 How will the activity be organised and managed? Describe the proposed management structure and means for coordinating across the cluster
The IASSA council (members from 5 Arctic countries) is responsible for organizing the International Congress of Artic Social Sciences, ICASS, on behalf of IASSA.
The council forms a research board that will be over all responsible for the ICASS VI.
An organising committee (to be established in the Fall) headed by the IASSA vice-president will be established in Nuuk with members from Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland and other Greenland research institutions. The ICASS VI Organising Committee will include both indigenous and non-indigenous researchers and the International Circumpolar Conference, ICC will be invited to take part in the work of the Organising Committee.

A secretary has been hired in the beginning of 2005 to support the organising committee. Later in the preparatory process a Secretariat will be established to run the ICASS VI.

Gradually, keynote speakers, session-chairpersons, and presenters of papers and poster sessions will be included in the preparatory process.

3.3 Will the activity leave a legacy of infrastructure and if so in what form?
No physical infrastructure.

3.4 Will the activity involve nations other than traditional polar nations? How will this be addressed?
IASSA members come from 30 different countries, whereof - by definition - most countries will be non-polar notions. In principle, ICASS VI will involve all countries where researchers engaged and interested in Arctic social sciences live and work.

3.5 Will this activity be linked with other IPY core activities? If yes please specify
The main goal of ICASS VI is to offer various venues for IPY scholars, other northern researchers, and local participants to analyze the progress of IPY 2007-2008 in social and human fields. Hence there will be sessions and workshops devoted to the discussion of ongoing international IPY projects.

3.6 How will the activity manage its data? Is there a viable plan and which data management organisations/structures will be involved?
The ICASS VI will not produce data in the sense referred to in the question, but will manage and publish presentations etc. (see 2. above). Although data collection, data dissemination, data sharing and other aspects of data management will be in focus in special sessions, and will also be included in presentations in different research fields.

3.7 Data Policy Agreement
Will this activity sign up to the IPY draft Data Policy (see website)
Yes

3.8 How will the activity contribute to developing the next generation of polar scientists, logisticians, etc.?
Students at different levels (masters- and PhD-students) as well as Post Docs generally attend the ICASS-events. Capacity building and inclusion of new scholars to Arctic Social Science will be important components to the ICASS VI too. Special initiatives will be taken to involve local students and to make the ICASS VI instrumental in communicating research questions and findings to a broader public. Special sessions on this topic will be suggested.

3.9 How will this activity address education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
We envision ICASS VI a critical milestone to the IPY 2007-2008 outreach, public, and educational agendas, because of so many young Greenlandic students and educational institutions in town. The presence of social scientists from many countries, presentations on many projects across the circumpolar world will inspire the young generation of Greenlandic educators and leaders, and will give tremendous local publicity to polar research. Special initiatives will be taken to involve local students and to make the ICASS VI instrumental in communicating research questions and findings to a broader public. Special sessions on this topic will be suggested.

ICASS sessions will be open to representatives of northern governmental agencies, indigenous institutions, media people, and interested public to ensure broader input from northern practitioners and local communities.

3.10 What are the proposed sources of funding for this activity?
So far the Greenland Home Rule Government (Dept of Culture, Education and Research) has granted DKK 300.000. All participants pay a conference fee. Supplementary funding will be applied for at national (public as well as private) and international research funding institutions.

3.11 Additional Comments
Nuuk has its special connection to the IPY history, since it was among 13 original observation stations operating during the First IPY of 1882-1883. Several sessions at ICASS may be held in Nuuk’s historic buildings and be dedicated to the preservation of IPY legacy, including old polar stations, their documentation, and various collections. This will strengthen the link between IPY 2007-2008, earlier polar science ventures, general public, and polar communities.

IASSA has developed an IPY Facilitation Initiative: a web site for researchers within the social sciences and interested researchers from other fields to present projects and project ideas and hence facilitating a debate among interested research colleagues and to exchange ideas, develop and mature research projects within the over all IPY framework.

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4.0 CONSORTIUM INFORMATION

4.1 Contact Details

Lead Contact
Mr Birger Poppel
Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland
P.O. Box 279
3900 Nuuk
Greenland

Tel:          +299 324522/157
Mobile:   +299 556266
Fax:         +299 324711
Email:       bipo@ilisimatusarfik.gl

Second Contact
Prof Yvon Csonka
Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland
P.O. Box 279
3900 Nuuk
Greenland

Tel:          +299 324522/115
Mobile:   +299 253703
Fax:         +299 324711
Email:      ycsonka@gmail.com

4.2 Other significant consortium members and their affiliation