Acting Office Director: Dr. Jean Cottam Allen

The Office of Polar Programs promotes creative and innovative scientific research, engineering, and education in and about the polar regions, catalyzing fundamental discovery and understanding of polar systems and their global interactions to inform the nation and advance the welfare of all people.

OPP worked with its Advisory Committee to express in concise format its values in support of the NSF mission. OPP exists to provide access to the Polar Regions and to support research and education ranging from core discipline to systems levels.  STEM engagement and workforce development (education & people) are integrated into our portfolio as we strive to carry out our responsibilities in a sustainable and collaborative fashion with wide range of partners.  These include native Arctic communities, and Alaskan residents, and local, state, federal and international educational and research institutions and agencies.   

RELATED LINKS

(Additional related links are available on Polar's Related Polar Links page.)

NSF Links

• Polar organizational chart (PDF file, 131KB)
• Polar Programs Budget Excerpt (FY 2017 Request)
• Opportunities for Participation in the U.S. Antarctic and Arctic Programs
  • U.S. Antarctic Program
  • Arctic Research Program
• Government Performance Results Act (2000 - 2009 Reports)
• Polar Advisory Committee, 1998-2012
  • Report of the Polar OAC Subcommittee on U.S. Antarctic Program Resupply
  • Polar Office Advisory Committee Working Group on Implementation of Review Criterion 2
  • Polar-funded workshops
• Antarctic New Investigators Workshop, 2006

U.S. Antarctic Policy Links

• U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon Panel
  • More and Better Science in Antarctica through Increased Logistcal Effectivness (2012 report; PDF format, 9,507 KB)
  • NSF Response to the USAP Blue Ribbon report (PDF format, 2,448 KB)
• Future Science Opportunities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean (2011; Polar Research Board National Academy of Sciences)
• Committee on the Future of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Science — Background resources

Antarctic Treaty Policy Related Links

• U.S. Antarctic Program and Environmental Stewardship
  • Antarctic Conservation Act
  • Comprehensive Environmental Assessments
• U.S. Antarctic Treaty Exchange of Information (1997 — 2009)
  (The Exchange of Information is now compiled for all Consultative Parties on the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat site.)
• Antarctic Treaty Secretariat
• Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs
• Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research

Arctic Policy Related Links

• Arctic Research and Policy
• Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC)
  • IARPC Arctic 5-Year Research Plan, FY2017-2021
• National Strategy for the Arctic Region (2013)
• Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984
• U.S. Arctic Research Commission
• Arctic Research Consortium of United States (ARCUS)


• NSF International Polar Year Information
  • Polar IPY information
  • NSF IPY funding opportunities
  • NSF IPY awards list
    
    

Office of Polar Programs Site Map