resources, and the need for information on a variety of topics 

 ranging from the effects of technological development on 

 Native peoples to the status of fish and wildlife populations. 

 Coordination of scientific research and cooperative use of 

 research platforms and facilities would improve the contribution 

 of Arctic science to resolving Arctic problems and to world 

 science. The scientific community thus has long sought to 

 establish an international body to coordinate research and to 

 organize the exchange of information regarding Arctic science. 



In June 1986, the Chairman of the Arctic Research Commis- 

 sion hosted a meeting of Arctic scientists who were partici- 

 pating in an Antarctic scientific meeting in San Diego, Cali- 

 fornia, to discuss possible interest in establishing an inter- 

 national Arctic science committee. Participants agreed on 

 the desirability for such a group and for further discussions. 

 Subseguently, representatives of Canada, Denmark (for Green- 

 land) , Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Union of Soviet 

 Socialist Republics, and the United States met in Oslo, Norway, 

 in February 1987 and in Stockholm, Sweden, in March 1988, and 

 agreed to develop a proposal for an International Arctic 

 Science Committee. Representatives from the National Science 

 Foundation and the Arctic Research Commission participated in 

 the meeting. The meeting report notes that the objectives of 

 the committee would be to: maximize the scientific knowledge 

 of the Arctic necessary to develop resources and manage the 

 environment; determine priorities for Arctic research; increase 

 the efficiency and effectiveness of scientific resource and 

 facility use; promote interdisciplinary programs; improve the 

 cooperation and exchange between scientists; and ensure that 

 Arctic research contributes to world science. Discussions 

 also included the possible roles, guiding principles, structure, 

 and scientific agenda for the proposed international scientific 

 organization. A Planning Group, composed of representatives 

 of five of the eight countries previously noted, was established 

 to develop founding articles for the organization. It subse- 

 quently met in Moscow, U.S.S.R., in July 1988 and in Stockholm, 

 Sweden, in October 1988. An expanded Planning Group composed 

 of representatives of all eight countries met in Leningrad, 

 U.S.S.R., on 6-8 December 1988 and completed draft founding 

 articles for the organization. 



Although the proposal calls for a non-governmental organ- 

 ization, there was interest in the U.S. Arctic scientific 

 community in involving appropriate governmental bodies in the 

 negotiations to assure full and open communication of ideas 

 and issues regarding the possible establishment of the commit- 

 tee. The Interagency Arctic Policy Group staff, including a 

 Commission representative, was asked to review documents and 

 provide advice on substantive matters related to the formation 

 of the Committee. A representative of the National Science 

 Foundation was asked to head the U.S. delegation and report 



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