Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

national representatives". A Quaternary G of S would become a G of S on Late
Cenozoic Studies of the Antarctic, Dr Zinderen Bakker as convenor
The Executive Committee meeting in July l973 moved towards formalizing the G
of S in the form that is normal today. There were now 3 such groups - on the Ice Shelf
Drilling Project under Zumberge; late Cenozoic Studies under Zinderen-Bakker; and
Seals, under myself. The Executive also received a report of a meeting to establish an
International Glaciological Programme for the Antarctic Peninsula (GAP)
At XIII SCAR, at Jackson Hole, USA (1974), a WG on Human Biology & Medicine
was formally constituted with M J Rivolier as Secretary, bringing the number of WGs
to ten. A G of S on Scientific and Technical Problems affecting Antarctic
Telecommunications was disbanded having completed its task. In future such
matters would be considered by the WG on Logistics (then known as SCARLOG). A
SCOR-SCAR Polar Oceans Conference (May l974) recommended that "efforts should
be made to encourage marine ecosystem studies" (SCOR is the ICSU Scientific
Committee on Oceanic Research).
The Executive Committee met in June l975 and two significant developments
were recorded: it discussed the formation of a new G of S on living Resources of the
Southern Ocean (convenor El Sayed); and it agreed to respond to a request from VIII
ATCM for information on the possible environmental effects of mining operations. I
was to become closely involved in both of these initiatives.
XIV SCAR, in Mendoza, Argentina (l976), discussed a report from the G of S on
Living Resources of the Southern Ocean and agreed to establish the BIOMASS
Programme (Biological Investigations of Marine Antarctic Systems and Stocks); I
became very closely and actively involved in this. It also agreed to establish the G of
S on Environmental Impact Assessment of Mineral Resources Exploration and
Exploitation in the Antarctic (EAMREA) with J H Zumberge as convenor - on which I
also served. The WG on Logistics reported on discussions on an American proposal
for a Cooperative Air Transport System for Antarctica (CATSA). (It should be noted
that the proposals, based on a generous US offer, were never put into effect, and
whole question was revisited in April l995 at a SCALOP.
At XV SCAR, in Chamonix, France (1978), the Federal Republic of Germany
(FRG) and Poland were admitted as members of SCAR, the first new members since
SCAR was established in l958 by the original countries taking part in the IGY.
Executive Committee met in June l979,and the resignation of P Welkner as Vice-
President prompted discussion of need to increase size of Executive and to widen the
eligibility of election to it beyond the Permanent Delegates.
The l980s
At XVI SCAR, at Queenstown, New Zealand (l980), the German Democratic
Republic (GDR - East Germany) was admitted as Member of SCAR subject to
establishment of a National Committee. The meeting decided to replace G of S on
EAMREA with new G of S on Antarctic Environmental Implications of Possible
Mineral Exploration and Exploitation (AEIMEE), with R H Rutford as convenor. The
Executive Committee meeting in September l981, urged all National Committees to
appoint Alternate Delegates and to send both Delegates to meetings, beginning with
XVII SCAR, Leningrad. At XVIII SCAR, at Bremerhaven, FRG (l984), there was a
proposal for having Associate Members of SCAR discussed for first time; Brazil and
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