The Scientific Committee provides scientific advice in response to requests from the Council and at its own initiative if it has identified an issue of concern (see the overview document with the list of requests and answers in the library).

The Committee meets annually and its deliberations and decisions can be found in the publicly available meeting reports.

It is comprised of researchers appointed by the Member Countries. Each country may appoint up to six members to the Scientific Committee. Members of the Secretariat are also ex officio, non-voting members of the Committee.

The Rules of Procedure that govern the Committee’s functions can be found under Agreements and Governing documents.

A large portion of the work of the Scientific Committee takes place within Working Groups.

Scientific Committee Members

Faroe Islands:
Bjarni Mikkelsen, Marine Research Institute; Faroe Islands

Greenland:
Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
Fernando Ugarte, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
Lars Witting, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
Sascha Schiøtt, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources

Iceland:
Bjarki Þór Elvarsson, Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Iceland
Guðjón Már Sigurðsson, Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Iceland
Sandra Granquist, Marine and Freshwater Research Institute &  Icelandic Seal Center, Iceland

Norway:

Anne Kirstine Frie, Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Christian Lydersen, Norwegian Polar Institute
John-André Henden, Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Kjell Tormod Nilssen, Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Martin Biuw, Institute of Marine Research, Norway
Ulf Lindstrøm, Institute of Marine Research, Norway

Current Chair and Vice-Chair:

Iceland currently holds the Chair of the Scientific Committee and Norway holds the Vice-Chair.