Rannis is excited to announce that Iceland has extended support for the IASC Secretariat to be located in Akureyri, Iceland for a further 5 years. This secures the work of the IASC Secretariat through the end of 2026
In 2016, the Icelandic Government decided
to offer to host the Secretariat of the International Arctic Science Committee(IASC) from 1 January 2017 until 31 December 2021. Hosted by the Icelandic Centre for
Research, Rannis, the IASC Secretariat moved from Potsdam, Germany to Akureyri
on January 1 2017.
Iceland funds the full-time Executive Secretary, a part-time Executive Officer, and a part-time Communications Manager, in addition to an operating budget for the Secretariat. Hosting by Rannís also provides essential infrastructure, financial, and staff support resources. Funding comes from the Icelandic Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture.
Akureyri is an ideal home for IASC. Being located in northern Iceland allows IASC to better cooperate with the many Arctic scientists and Arctic science organizations located in Akureyri, including the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network , the CAFF and PAME working groups of the Arctic Council, the Stefansson Arctic Institute, the University of Akureyri, and many more.
IASC main scientific activities centers on five working groups: Atmosphere, Cryosphere, Human and Social, Marine Science and Terrestrial. For an overview of Icelandic membership in IASC Working Groups, pls. see below:
| IASC Working Group | Icelandic members |
| Cryosphere | Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir, professor, University of Iceland, chair |
| Atmosphere | Guðrún Nína Petersen, meteorologist, Iceland Met Office |
| Marine | Anna Heiða Ólafsdóttir, marine biologist, Marine and Freshwater Institute |
| Terrestrial | Jón S. Ólafsson, limnologist, Marine and Freshwater Institute |
| Human and Social | Catherine Chambers, academic director, University Centre of the Westfjords |
| SAON; joint initiative of IASC and Arctic Council | Jórunn Harðardóttir, research director, Iceland Met Office |
