International Arctic Research Center

The International Arctic Research Center was established in 1999 as a cooperative research institute supported by both the U.S. and Japanese governments. Funding comes from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the U.S. and from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

IARC serves as a focal point of excellence for international collaboration and provides the arctic research community with an unprecedented opportunity to share knowledge about science in the Arctic, with an emphasis on global climate change research. IARC's mission is to foster arctic research in an international setting to help the nation and the international community to understand, prepare for, and adapt to the pan-Arctic impacts of climate change. In order to fulfill that mission, IARC provides an integrated science and service program for the benefit of the arctic community.

Key elements of that program include analysis, synthesis and provision of Arctic climate information, including Arctic Ocean hydrographic information for scientists, students, decision-makers, and the public; support and coordination of Arctic system modeling; and serving as a "gateway" or arctic climate science coordination center for Alaska and the arctic research community with special attention to collaboration with international scientists and institutions.

IARC conducts an internationally popular summer school for young researchers and holds workshops on the integration and synthesis of research. IARC also supports several K - 12 outreach projects.

IARC is located in the Syun-Ichi Akasofu Building adjacent to the Elvey Building on the Fairbanks campus. For more information, call 907-474-6016 or visit www.iarc.uaf.edu.