SAON News
The Arctic Council is pausing: https://www.arctic-council.org/
SAON recognizes and values its relationships with both the Arctic Council and the International Arctic Science Committee as outlined in its founding documents. For the time being, the SAON Board and its committees will be following the pause.
SAON and the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) will be offering this year the first SAON-IASC Fellowship to support an early career researcher to get more involved in the work of SAON. As an open initiative uniting Arctic and non-Arctic nations and organizations, SAON holds a unique position in the facilitation of and planning for sustained Arctic observational networks in support of societal benefit. SAON has initiated the Roadmap for Arctic Observing and Data Systems (ROADS) as a planning framework to support its national and organizational partners. ROADS is at an initiating stage that presents many valuable opportunities to get involved. We envision that a ROADS Fellow could engage in the evolving governance of the ROADS Advisory Panel or support alignment and integration across pilot efforts that are beginning to form thematic Expert Panels under ROADS. The ROADS principle for equitable inclusion of Indigenous people presents further opportunities for shaping the governance of the ROADS process at its earliest stages.
More information is found here: https://www.apecs.is/news/apecs-news/iasc-fellowships-2022.html
Application deadline is Tuesday, 16 November 2021 at 13:00 GMT.
The diverse and distributed nature of observing systems in polar regions presents a fundamental challenge for assessment, planning, integration, and synthesis. There is an interest in creating overviews of these systems, since this, among other things, will allow more efficient use of facilities and allow for the understanding of where gaps in observation capacities exist. There is an interest in knowing answers to questions like “Who is going where? When are they going? What will they observe? What observing equipment will they have there? Who is responsible for organizing logistics?”, etc.
The purpose of this survey is to seek to create an overview of existing sources of information on polar observing facilities, systems and activities. This will allow the definition of procedures that can access these sources and compile the information from the various sources.
The survey is circulated to representatives from institutions, countries, initiatives and organisations that have an interest in polar observing, and it will seek to establish whether this information is already being coordinated and what interest there is in (further) developing the coordination of information about observing assets. The preamble of the survey emphasises the relationship with EU-PolarNet, but the we are encouraging all institutions, countries, initiatives and organisations (also outside Europe) to complete the survey. The resulting report will have a wider scope.
It should take no more than 10 min to complete the survey, and we should kindly ask you to do it by 1st August.
Link to survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLRzHLuXCTcfsfzeIv-wI3aZqirqe9jdrnOk31XUnjfcBDRA/formResponse
SAON is seeking nominations for the co-chair positions of SAON CON (Committee on Observations and Networks). The positions are dynamic, as engagement is required at the international level, participating in forums, networking with multi-sector organizations and events (e.g., Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) and Arctic Observing Summit (AOS)). Together the co-chairs provide leadership for a team of national, organizational and Arctic indigenous representatives on observation networks. Due to the highly interactive nature of the positions, SAON CON is seeking motivated individuals with interests in working at an international level, across sectors and organizations to support SAON goals on observing networks.
Positions will be held as two-year term appointments responsible for chairing the SAON CON. The SAON CON is a group made up of national representatives (appointed to reflect national arctic observational interests that connects with national networks) as well as organizations with Arctic observational roles (e.g. WMO) that have teleconferences bi-monthly (or as required). Positions work closely with the SAON Secretariat, reports to the SAON Board, will be part of the SAON Executive and participate in the associated monthly teleconferences of these groups. Through the SAON CON team and in partnership with the SAON Secretariat, the co-chairs are leads in facilitating means to support SAON CON workplans that respond to goals identified in SAON implementation plan.
There is requirement for engagement with other international organizations such as AOS and Arctic Council Working Groups, to foster and bolster existing partnerships towards SAON and SAON CON goals. Direction and priorities on activities to support goals are developed by the CON and SAON board, where the chair provides leadership on connecting teams to facilitate actions.
The co-chairs set the agenda for the bi-monthly CON meetings and supports objective and workplans directed by the SAON implementation plans. The co-chairs facilitate activities with the SAON community including supporting the ROADS process, and partnering on initiatives with the sister committee, the Arctic Data Committee (ADC). Due to the high level of engagement required, the positions are supported to travel and participate at the ASSW as well as the AOS.
We invite nominations from national representatives, organisation representatives, Arctic Council Permanent Participants and other Arctic indigenous representatives. We also encourage individuals from the early career sector who may benefit from opportunities of networking and expanding their professional interactions and opportunities. Compensation can be provided for individuals whose organizations may not have funding capacity to cover time dedicated.
Applicants should send their cv to info_at_arcticobserving.org by 1st September 2021.
For more information, contact SAON CON Chair Lisa Loseto (lisa.loseto_at_dfo-mpo.gc.ca) or SAON Secretary Jan Rene Larsen (info_at_arcticobserving.org).
Background information:
