Contribution to collective works (Parts of books)Footprints on changing polar ecosystems Processes, threats, responses and opportunities for future generations
Wilmotte, Annick; Erkinaro, Jaako; Pedros Alio, Carlo et al.
2019 • In Biebow, Nicole; Quesada, Antonio; Vaughan, David (Eds.) The EU-PolarNet White Papers
Title :
Footprints on changing polar ecosystems Processes, threats, responses and opportunities for future generations
Commentary :
Last autumn 50 international polar experts gathered in La Cristalera, a town in the outskirts of Madrid, Spain. Over the course of five days, their task was to draft a set of polar white papers. These policy documents should highlight issues in both the Arctic and Antarctic that urgently needed to be addressed – and to which European polar research could make significant contributions. The workshop brought together natural scientists, social scientists, humanities researchers, representatives from indigenous peoples and the business domain. Jointly, they were to co-create white papers outlining polar issues crossing the many different disciplines and professions, worldviews, cultures and knowledge systems. And they did so successfully. At the end of the intensive workshop, the drafts of five white papers had emerged. Since then, the experts have continued their dedicated work and produced the final five documents, which we proudly present to you today. 5 things you might want to know about the white papers…
Whom are the white papers addressed to?
Policy makers and funding agencies, including the European Commission, belong to the main receivers of these white papers.
What input are the white papers based on?
The white papers were developed after preparatory work conducted in two stages: First, an assessment of existing prioritised objectives, as expressed in published documents describing international, national and institutional policies and strategies of polar research. The results are outlined in the Report on prioritised objectives in polar research. Second, an online survey in 2017 allowed the identification of a public perspective on key polar research priorities. In this process, over 550 responses were obtained, representing institutions, companies, communities and individuals. The answers were categorised and sorted, and provided the basic foundations upon which the white papers were built.
How were the experts selected?
Each member of the EU-PolarNet consortium was requested to name two experts for each overarching category: Climate & Cryosphere, Polar Biology, Natural Resources and Human Impact, People and Societal Issues, New Technologies. The nominations were based on a person’s expertise in a specific research field or other domain, his or her experience in international projects and strategic research planning, as well as his or her ability to approach an issue from an interdisciplinary perspective. Based on these nominations, EU-PolarNet’s External Expert Advisory Board selected seven to eight experts per category, taking gender and nationality balance into account and including early career scientists.
Are the white papers peer reviewed?
No. The EU-PolarNet white papers are first and foremost policy documents and not scientific publications. However, the contents have been reviewed by the entire EU-PolarNet consortium as well as by EU-PolarNet’s External Expert Advisory Board.
What happens next with the white papers?
The white papers have now been presented to the European Commission and could serve as a basis for future calls for polar research programme in the EU’s funding programmes of Horizon2020 and Horizon Europe. Further, the white papers build one basis for the Integrated European Research Programme that EU-PolarNet will deliver by the end of 2019.
