New Program
US Subglacial Antarctic Lake Environments Program (SALE)
For further information, please contact:
Chuck Kennicutt, SALE Program Office
E-mail: m-kennicutt [at] tamu.edu
Subglacial Antarctic lake environments (SALE) have attracted great
scientific and lay public interest in recent years. SALE will be a focus
of scientific and engineering exploration and research in Antarctica for
the next decade or more. It is also highly likely that SALE will be a
major focus for the IPY 2007-2009 scientific theme - "exploring new
frontiers". Now is the time for the US Antarctic science community to
better organize and coordinate their efforts in this important and
emerging arena of polar science, engineering, and education.
In the US, a strong and diverse community has developed that has
interest in SALE exploration and research. While many workshops and
meetings have been conducted, US SALE interests would benefit from
better coordination and advocacy. To this end a small group, who have
been deeply involved in establishing the SALE agenda in the US and
internationally, have joined together to form the US SALE Program.
To better organize US efforts, Texas A&M University has agreed to
establish a SALE Program Office (PO) to provide focus and coordination
for all aspects of SALE exploration and research. The SALE Program
Office will create synergy by not only serving the US community, but
also the recently approved SCAR international Scientific Research
Program - SALE and the agreed IPY coalition of six countries -
SALE-UNITED (SALE UNified International Team for Exploration and
Discovery). The SALE PO will act as a clearing house for US SALE
interests providing a direct conduit to the international community
through SCAR SALE and the ICSU/WMO Joint IPY Committee. The SALE PO will
be directed by Chuck Kennicutt. Shortly a web site will be launched to
provide a central location for SALE activities.
The structure of the US SALE Program follows that of many other
successful programs and includes an Executive Committee (US SALE ExCom)
and creates a US SALE Science and Technology Steering Committee
(USSSTSC). The SALE ExCom and USSSTSC will provide a focus for advice,
coordination, and leadership in all aspects of SALE exploration and
research in the US while also coordinating education and outreach
activities. The US SALE Program itself will consist of a series of
science, technology, education, and communications/public relations
committees. The USSSTSC will consist of the US SALE ExCom and the
Committee Chairs.
US SALE Executive Committee (ExCom) - Robin Bell (LDEO), Chuck Kennicutt
(TAMU), John Priscu (MSU), Berry Lyons (OSU), Ross Powell (NIU) and Joan
Fitzpatrick (USGS).
US SALE Science and Technology Steering Committee
- Robin Bell (LDEO) rbinb [at] ldeo.columbia.edu
- Chuck Kennicutt (TAMU) m-kennicutt [at] tamu.edu
- John Priscu (MSU) jpriscu [at] montana.edu
- Berry Lyons (OSU) lyons.142 [at] osu.edu
- Ross Powell (NIU) ross [at] geol.niu.edu
- Joan Fitzpatrick (USGS) jfitz [at] usgs.gov
- Stefan Vogel (NIU) vogel.118 [at] osu.edu
- Slawek Tulaczyk (UCSC) tulaczyk [at] ucsc.ecu
- Brian Lanoil (UCR) brian.lanoil [at] ucr.edu
- Brent Christner (MSU) bchristner [at] montana.edu
- Michael Studinger (LDEO) mstuding [at] ldeo.columbia.edu
The Committee Chair is expected to lead the committee, recruit committee
members, and communicate with the broader community. It is expected that
the topical committees will operate relatively autonomously responding
to requests for advice, organizing workshops/meeting as appropriate to
set the SALE agenda in each focus area, and coordinating activities in
each area. The Chair will also be expected to identify funding
opportunities and lead, or assist, community responses to them. The
Chair will also liaise with other SALE committees and organizations to
develop cross-disciplinary connections and promote venues to consider
common issues.
Everyone with interests in SALE research and exploration is invited to
contact the SALE Program Office (m-kennicutt [at] tamu.edu).