Program
Manager
Simon
Stephenson Research Support & Logistics
Manager
sstephen@nsf.gov
(703)
292-8029
Renee Crain
Research & Education Specialist
rcrain@nsf.gov
(703) 292-8029
See
also:
VECO Polar
Resources
Barrow Arctic Science
Consortium (BASC)
Toolik Field Station
Danish Polar Center
ARCUS (Arctic Research
Consortium of the U.S.)
ALIAS
(Arctic Logistics Information and Support)
Relevant
Publications
Principles for the
Conduct of Research in the Arctic
Logistics
Report, 2003:
Strategies
and Recommendations for System-scale Studies in a Changing Environment
Toolik Field
Station
Arctic GIS
Report
Opportunities for
Collaboration between the United States and Norway in
arctic research
The Future of an Arctic
Resource: Recommendations from the Barrow
Workshop
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The Arctic Research Support
and Logistics (RSL) Program supports the field
component of research projects funded through science
programs in the Arctic Sciences Section of OPP and
through other programs at NSF. The RSL program also
supports proposals that have benefits for the arctic
research community. Examples of current awards are
for the Arctic Logistics Contractor, VECO Polar
Resources, base support of the Arctic Research
Consortium of the United States, Toolik Field
Station, the Barrow Arctic Science Consortium,
procurement and maintenance of instrumentation on the
USCGC Healy and the development of a digital
elevation model of the Kuparuk Watershed in northern
Alaska.
Investigators should outline
and justify field support in the context of their
proposed work. We recommend briefly outlining the
field plan and associated costs within the proposal
and in the budget justification. Though costs should
not be itemized in the budget spreadsheet, the
primary means of accessing logistics support is by
describing logistics needs in the proposal.
Investigators are particularly encouraged to take
advantage of the following support, which can be
provided by logistics contractors funded by the
Research Support and Logistics program:
- increased access to
transportation to and within the Arctic (ship time,
helicopters, 4-wheelers, snow machines, small
aircraft, etc.);
- satellite-based global
phone networks for increased safety;
- trained field staff who
are experienced in field and boat safety and first
aid;
- participation in offered
safety courses;
- increased interactions
with local communities;
- and improved
equipment.
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U.S. Coast
Guard icebreaker Healy breaking ice during the
Shelf-Basin Interaction (SBI) cruise in the
Beaufort and Chukchi seas, 2002. |
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If a third party is
providing support, e.g., VECO Polar Resources or BASC
(see below), those costs do not need to be included
in the proposal budget, although the description of
the required support should be included. The manager
from the program supporting the research, in
consultation with the manager of the RSL program,
will determine the level of support that can be
provided by RSL. In some cases, OPP may determine
that several unrelated proposals can derive
significant cost benefits from a centrally managed
resource, e.g., helicopter support from a central
location. If so, NSF's Arctic Support Contractor
(VECO Polar Resources) or another entity will be
responsible for coordinating the support with the
principal investigators, consistent with the
agreements between the investigators and their
program managers. Work can also be proposed as a
large coordinated activity, supported by the science
team or a support contractor.
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Toolik
Field Station on the North Slope of the Brooks
Range in Alaska is the only Long-term Ecological
Research Station in the tundra. |
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Investigators are encouraged
to discuss their projects with the arctic contractors
— VECO Polar Resources, BASC, or others (see
below) — to get information on support options.
VECO Polar Resources provides proposal preparation
assistance for work anywhere in the Arctic. The
scope of field work should be outlined in the
proposal so NSF and logistics providers can plan for
support needs.
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Helicopter
waiting out an April snow storm at Toolik Field
Station, Alaska. |
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Third Party Logistics
Providers
- VECO Polar Resources ( VPR;
http://www.vecopolar.com/)
manages support at many Arctic sites, including use
of military airlift; support to and within Greenland;
and support in Arctic Alaska other than in Barrow and
at Toolik Field Station. VECO Polar Resources will
also provide information and/or coordination with
logistics providers from other nations, for example,
Canada's Polar Continental Shelf Program if
needed.
- Barrow Arctic Science
Consortium (BASC; http://www.sfos.uaf.edu/basc/)
supports work on Alaska's North Slope that is most
effectively handled from Barrow and supports work in
Chukotka, Russia.
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Toolik Field Station(TFS; http://www.arcus.org/TFS/index.html)
is operated by the Institute of Arctic Biology of
the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Reservations
are required to stay at the field camp, so please
contact TFS directly for arrangements.
The RSL program welcomes
feedback on the performance of Arctic Logistics
providers, and general input about Arctic Logistics
in support of research.
Work in Greenland
There are special requirements for fieldwork
in Greenland. Investigators considering work in
Greenland should obtain the Danish Polar Center
application form. A copy of the form should be
included with the proposal submitted to OPP. To
obtain a copy of this form electronically, visit
the Danish Polar Center website at http://www.dpc.dk
Logistics Contacts:
ALIAS -
The Arctic Logistics and Information System web
site is evolving into a single point for
information about all field sites for research in
the Arctic at http://www.arcus.org/alias.
Alpha Helix -
Complete a UNOLS ship request form on the UNOLS web
site at http://www.unols.org to
use this and other arctic research
vessels.
Arctic Research Consortium
of the U.S. (ARCUS) - A searchable directory of
arctic researchers, calendar of arctic meetings and
events, the ArcticInfo listserv, downloadable
publications, arctic science education
opportunities and more can be found on ARCUS' web
site at http://www.arcus.org.
Barrow Arctic
Science Consortium - Contact BASC for logistics
support and community and local educational
contacts in or near North Slope villages. BASC
maintains facilities in Barrow and Atqasuk and
supports facilities in the villages of Provideniya
and Lavrentiya, in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug,
Russia. http://www.sfos.uaf.edu/basc
Danish Polar Center - In
concert with VECO Polar Resources, the Danish Polar
Center will assist with planning field research in
Greenland. More information is on their web site at
http://www.dpc.dk.
Toolik Field
Station - Make your reservation and plan your
field season in close contact with the managers of
TFS. The necessary forms and contacts are available
on the TFS web site at http://www.uaf.edu/toolik.
University-National
Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) -
Scheduling and development of oceanographic vessels
for 64 universities and research laboratories is
coordinated by UNOLS on the web at http://www.unols.org.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
icebreakers - Complete a UNOLS ship request form on
the UNOLS web site at http://www.unols.org/
to use this and other arctic research
vessels.
VECO Polar
Resources - OPP's logistics contractor for the
Arctic region. Contact VPR for all regions of the
Arctic, all support needs, from proposal
preparation through the field season. http://www.vecopolar.com/
Other Information
Resources:
Alaska Native
Knowledge Network (ANKN)
Alaska Native
Science Commission (ANSC)
Arctic Research Consortium
of the US (ARCUS)
Forum of Arctic
Research Operators (FARO)
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