International Arctic Science Committee (IASC)
The International Arctic Science Committee is a non-governmental organisation. Its aim is to encourage and facilitate cooperation across the entire spectrum of Arctic research in all countries involved in such research and in all areas of the region. The members of the IASC are national scientific organisations spanning the wide range of Arctic research. The IASC was founded in 1990 by organisations from the eight arctic countries. The IASC now comprises 19 members.
Germany is at the forefront of international polar research. The following examples are worth particular mention:
On Spitzbergen (Svalbard), Germany's Alfred-Wegener-Institut maintains the important polar research station Koldewey together with France.
Das Forschungsschiff "Polarstern".
Das beheizte Zelt ist das Markenzeichen der Meereisgruppe des Alfred-Wegener-Instituts. Hier wird die Elektronik für das Unterwasserfahrzeug "Alfred" beherbergt, das die Lichtverhältnisse unter dem Eis vermisst.
With the research vessel "Polarstern" Germany has been making important contributions in the field of polar research ships for many years.
The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources has considerable expert knowledge of polar geology as well.