COMNAP Symposium 2016First Circular & Abstract Submission Form

“Wintering-over Challenges”

Friday 19 and Saturday 20 August 2016Goa, India

COMNAP AGM XXVIII

Goa, India

“Wintering-over Challenges”Context

COMNAP is the international association, formed in 1988, which brings together its Members, who are the National Antarctic Programs. National Antarctic Programs are those organizations that have responsibility for managing and delivering scientific research in the Antarctic Treaty area on behalf of their respective governments and in the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty.

COMNAP’s purpose which can be found in its Constitution is to “develop and promote best practice in managing the support of scientific research in Antarctica".

Many national Antarctic programs are operating wintering/year-round stations and data collected in Antarctica during the winter months is important for global studies of the Earth System. Some currently seasonal/summer-only stations, may, in the future, transition to a wintering/year-round station with personnel on-site for all 12 months of the year. Wintering-over is challenging. The challenges are of an operational and technical nature, but also of a personnel nature. The Symposium will explore these challenges and others.

The objective of the Symposium is to discuss and share information to overcome winter-over challenges.

Purpose

To share information and ideas related to the winter-over situation in Antarctica in order to identify and overcome winter-over challenges.

Keynote Speaker(s)

The Symposium Steering Committee wishes Managers of National Antarctic Programs (MNAPS) or Deputy MNAPS to provide possible suggestions for keynote speaker(s) of international standing to open the Symposium.

Can you please send any recommendations to Javed Beg at mjbeg@ncaor.gov.in

Session themes & topics (Oral and Poster)

The human element

Recruitment issues (including technical and science expertise) Retainment issues (ensuring good personnel return for multiple seasons) Pre-deployment personality screening Pre-deployment team building & training Remote medical capacity and expertise Psychology of people in isolation, during an emergency situation and during "routine"

operations Importance of food, light, contact with the outside world Impact of e-communication in “routine” and “crisis/emergency” situations

The built element

Communications technologies Medical technologies Hydroponics Sustainable energy choices and their robustness in a winter-over station Back-up facilities (emergency shelters, power supplies, food and water) Winter transportation options (inter- and intra-Antarctic) Mid-winter emergency situations and infrastructure to support or response

The future

Identifying and enhancing the value of over-winter science and observations Learning from and building on the experiences of established national Antarctic

programs with a long history Projecting ARC deliberation and outcomes on winter-over observation and capabilities More future options for Antarctic winter-over; jointly run stations, winter international

science projects and collaboration (including understanding cultural differences) How can we share the lessons and knowledge across national Antarctic programs for

decision-making in future

Symposium Review Committee

Javed Beg, Symposium Convener (NCAOR) Hyoung Chul Shin (COMNAP Vice Chair, KOPRI)Robb Clifton (AAD)Brian Stone (NSF) John Guldahl (NPI)Tijun Zhang (PRIC)

Key Dates 2016

05 March: First Circular20 March: Call for Abstracts (Oral presentations and posters)1 May: Deadline for Abstracts10 June: Selection of Abstracts/Speakers10 August: Full Paper or Extended Abstract Submission19-20 August: SymposiumEarly 2017: Publication of Symposium Proceedings

Abstract Submission FormTo submit an abstract for the Symposium, fill in this form and email it before [1 May 2016] to mjbeg@ncaor.gov.in. It must be completed in English and provided in a form that can be edited (for example OpenOffice or MS Word format – NOT in PDF or JPG). For more details on the symposium and copies of this form, see: https://www.comnap.aq/SitePages/Symposium2016.aspx

General Information

Title, Authors and Associated ProgrammeTitle:Author(s):Corresponding Author (including email address):National Programme(s):

Topic

Symposium Topic Under Which You Submit This Proposal: (Tick)

The Human Element(please list specific topic from that list):

The Built Element(please list specific topic from that list):

The Future(please list specific topic from that list):

Other – if so, specify topic below (note that selected topics have priority)

Type of Communication

How you propose to give this communication (Tick)Keynote presentationPaper with oral presentationPoster

Abstract

Please provide in half a page a summary description of your proposed communication. If possible, indicate its relevance to the symposium’s theme “Winter-over Challenges”