A think tank for science policy and advocacy of the two poles
Climate change and technological advancement have acted as big contributors in providing greater accessibility to the Arctic and the Antarctica region. The rapidly changing polar realms initiate changes that cascade through the global system impacting weather, commerce and ecosystems in the more temperate regions. Linkages across disciplines, scales, and diverse knowledge systems must be addressed in future research activities. Political and economic changes in the world order have led to a considerable focus on the polar regions. Understanding the vulnerability and resilience of polar environments and societies requires increased international cooperation. Further, a proactive stance of the new regime in the foreign policy and its positive and emphatic presence in the international fora has necessitated relooking at our polar policy.
More effective use must be made of local and traditional knowledge, and the dissemination of this knowledge by ensuring appropriate access to research data and results. New markets for polar resources and associated activities, including trade, tourism and transportation, will likely emerge faster than the necessary infrastructures on land and sea. Sustainable infrastructure development and innovation to strengthen the resilience of these areas requires a collaborative approach involving scientists, communities, governments, and industry. In this context, a consortium of scientists, policymakers and activists need to put together varied notions of research and ideas in order to promote developing views on global environmental and geopolitical governance.
In tune with the need to relook our policy, we organised an International Conference on Science and Geopolitics of Arctic-Antarctic (SaGAA 2015), held at India International Centre, New Delhi, India during 29-30 September. Continuing the practice of previous two SaGAA (Science and Geopolitics of Arctic & Antarctic) conferences it again brought together; thoughts, experiences, researches and advocacies on cold regions. Various sessions—Geopolitics of the Polar Region; Global Climate Change: Polar Region and Third Pole; Living and Non-living Resources Potential: marine protected areas and geopolitics; Tourism Industry and the Poles were organised.
These sessions not only helped to build a better understanding of geopolitics but also brought new researches in front that is being carried around the globe to understand the dynamics and potential of these regions. Eminent scientists including scientists such as Dr P.S. Goel, Dr Shailesh Nayak, Dr M. N. Rajeeva, Dr Sanjay Chaturvedi, Dr Uttam Kumar Sinha, Dr R. Krishnan, Dr Geir Moholdt, Dr Anil V Kulkarni, Dr M.R. Bhutyani, Dr David E. Rheinheimer, Dr Ravishankar, Dr Rajan, Dr Rasik Ravindra, Thórir Ibsen, Marcus Holknekt, Grahame Morton and Sergey A Borovik contributed to the conference. It was an interactive conference with more than 100 cold region enthusiasts attending the Conference.
