Polar Program

The FCT Polar Program has been run and funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology since 2011. Its mission is to promote and support the development of excellent Portuguese polar science and thus contribute to improving our understanding of how the planet works and, in particular, responds to human pressures and the ability to predict potential effects for the future.

The Polar Program is responsible for monitoring national research in the polar regions, promoting the expansion of the national polar scientific community and the consolidation of its activities, as well as framing the country's participation in treaties, protocols and other international cooperation instruments in this area, These activities are carried out in close collaboration with its Scientific Advisors and the Portuguese Polar Program Coordination Committee (PROPOLAR), a partner program coordinated by five national research institutes whose mission is to promote research in polar science, facilitate international cooperation and operationalize polar logistics, enabling scientists to access the polar regions.

History

In December 2011, the FCT created the Polar Office (GP) as a support and monitoring structure for Portuguese polar research activities.

This Cabinet resulted from the convergence of the following set of factors:

The success of Portugal's first participation in the 3rd International Polar Year (March 2007 to March 2009), an event attended by around 50,000 scientists from more than 60 countries and in which FCT supported the activities of Portuguese researchers through the PROPOLAR project - Portuguese Polar Program.
Portugal joined the Scientific Committee on Antactic Research (SCAR) in 2006 and the European Polar Board (EPB) in 2008.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Portugal and Spain in January 2009 for joint participation in polar research.
Portugal's accession to the Antarctic Treaty in January 2010 - despite being a Non-Consultative Party to this international legal instrument, Portugal has since assumed responsibility for contributing to the development of scientific knowledge through international cooperation in Antarctic research.
The needs raised by the evolution of polar research carried out by the national scientific community, namely the high capital involved in cutting-edge technologies and complex infrastructures and logistics.
Recognition of the growing efforts of the Portuguese scientific community in the study and dissemination of polar regions.

In October 2016, the Polar Office was abolished to make way for the National Polar Program to continue contributing to improving our understanding of the climate system and ecosystems.

Objectives of the Polar Program

Establish a link between the FCT and the national scientific community interested in polar themes.
Promote, support and boost the development and internationalization of the Portuguese Polar Sciences, through the following actions:
1. Support for annual polar campaigns, in particular by opening Calls for support for research projects at the poles (Arctic and Antarctic).
2. Support for conferences, workshops and other dissemination and communication activities on Portuguese polar research.
3. Strengthening national and international cooperation by signing treaties, protocols, memorandums of understanding and other instruments in the area of polar research.
4. Definition and implementation of the rules and practices necessary to comply with the duties and obligations arising from the signing of treaties, protocols and other international cooperation instruments, in particular those arising from the signing of the Antarctic Treaty and the Madrid Protocol (Environmental Protection Protocol of the Antarctic Treaty).
5. Support for the construction and maintenance of a national polar database and its forwarding to the Antarctic Master Directory, within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative System.
6. Support for the creation and maintenance of a polar information library, comprising a library, a map library and a photo library.
7. Proposing and fostering partnerships between research institutions and companies in order to promote the transfer of technology and the economic valorization of knowledge.
Ensure liaison between sectoral ministries (ME, MNE, MAE) and other relevant public and private institutions (e.g. Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente, Agência Ciência Viva, Instituto Português do Desporto e Juventude) to promote polar sciences and ensure that national scientists are correctly included in international protocols.
Ensure national representation in the main international scientific and science management organizations.

International context

Portugal has sought to play an active role in the most important international organizations and networks associated with polar research and management, such as the following:

EPB - European Polar Board
SCAR - Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
IASC - International Arctic Science Committee
FARO - Forum of Arctic Research Operators
COMNAP - Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs

The coordination of the Polar Program also takes on the management of treaties, memoranda and cooperation protocols signed with other international polar programs, promoting the signing of new collaboration instruments that facilitate the development of national polar research.

Structure

The structure of the Polar Program includes coordination, a work team and two scientific advisors - Professors Gonçalo Vieira (IGOT/UL) and José Xavier (UC).