Objective
To encourage collaboration among Canadian Arctic and non-Canadian Antarctic scientists wishing to undertake joint studies in the respective polar regions.

Background
Polar Continental Shelf Project (PCSP) currently provides logistics support on a no-cost, cost-shared, or cost-recovery basis to Canadian government, university and independent research scientists working in the Canadian Arctic. Services to scientists from other countries are provided on a full cost-recovery basis.

With Canada taking an increasing interest and role in the Antarctic scientific community, it is desirable that incentive be provided to Canadian Arctic and non-Canadian Antarctic scientists to undertake joint bi-polar research programs. The Canadian Arctic-Antarctic Exchange Program will help Canada to consolidate its international commitments in this area.

Encouraging Bi-polar Scientific Collaboration
PCSP will accept applications from Canadian scientists wishing to "sponsor" Antarctic partners.

If a proposal is approved by the Canadian Committee on Antarctic Research (CCAR) and PCSP's Scientific Screening Committee, the non-Canadian collaborators will be eligible for the same type of logistics support from PCSP as are Canadian scientists. In turn, the Antarctic partners involved in such programs must demonstrate a firm commitment to provide logistics support in kind to their Canadian partners while working in Antarctica; this exchange commitment will be a key selection criterion for the CCAR and PCSP review committees

How to Proceed
In order to avoid adding to the paper burden by requiring a separate application, Canadian scientists interested in taking advantage of this opportunity should indicate on page one of the enclosed PCSP Application for Logistics Support (Form 11) that they wish to participate in the exchange program. In addition, include a maximum two-page proposal along with the standard application forms required by PCSP indicating

• the nature of the collaborative work proposed
• how this collaborative work will enhance your ongoing Arctic scientific research
• the identity(ies) of your proposed Antarctic partner(s), a brief outline of their work in the Antarctic, and their professional credentials
• a well-defined plan indicating demonstrable benefits to the Canadian partner(s) - i.e., a firm commitment by the Antarctic partners to provide logistics "support in kind" to the Canadian scientists involved within a two-year period following completion of each of the Arctic field seasons under the exchange.

This information must be received by PCSP by the application deadline. The material will be compiled by PCSP and sent to the Chair, CCAR; CCAR will review the applications, rank them in order of priority and submit recommendations to PCSP. In early December, the PCSP Scientific Screening Committee, as part of its annual deliberations, will review requests related to the Canadian Arctic-Antarctic Exchange Program, taking into consideration the CCAR ranking.

PCSP reserves the right to make final decisions based upon resource availability and logistics feasibility. Applicants are informed of logistics decisions by PCSP through a Letter of Support, traditionally mailed out in February/March each year.

[Canadian scientists sponsoring Antarctic partners working in the Arctic are responsible for ensuring that all research collaborators abide by all terms and conditions, and legislative, regulatory and licensing requirements governing research in the Canadian Arctic.]