Field Operations Community of Practice

Coordinating and collaborating among organizations supporting field operations and campaigns to collect Arctic data

Scope of Activities

The Field Operations Working Group is reconstituted to facilitate coordination across federal agencies supporting fieldwork in the Arctic. The working group coordinates infrastructure resources and communications with local communities, promotes environmental compliance, and facilitates international access to field operations information and collaborations. The Field Operations Working Group promotes federal interagency cooperation by encouraging discussions and initiatives within and between Indigenous organizations, the state of Alaska, and local, national, and international Arctic research and logistic communities. Following the model of other interagency working groups, the Field Operations Working Group promotes collaboration by convening Arctic logistics resource and program managers to hold regular discussions about logistic needs, ideas, challenges, opportunities, best practices, and progress. The working group coordinates with other IARPC teams and efforts under the Arctic Research Plan to develop synergies and advance the goals of the plan.

Many of the Field Operations Working Group’s activities are federal-only. NSF and NOAA co-chair the group’s federal operations.

Non-federal members may join the Field Operations Working Group via the IARPC Collaborations website to stay informed about meetings, field operations concerns and other activities. At least twice per year, the Field Operations Working Group holds open meetings where individuals outside of federal organizations may join. As needed, sub-groups may be formed to work on specific activities.

Working Group Tasks

    • Maintain a regularly updated compilation of research expedition information.
    • Consider mechanisms (e.g., IARPC Collaborations, Arctic Research Mapping Application (ARMAP)) to enhance, maintain, and share a research vessel matrix.
    • Develop ways to effectively communicate research activity in the region, and to make it more accessible for multiple end-users, especially Indigenous and local communities.
    • Develop an approach for collecting and sharing information about aircraft deployments, uncrewed vehicles, and terrestrial field campaigns.
    • Serve as an organizing center for communication about field operations. The working group will not be a dispute resolution center.
    • Host pre- and post-season research cruise meetings with agencies and principal investigators or their representatives engaging in research during the research season to facilitate collaborations, exchange of information, and sharing of initial results.
    • Review and evaluate outreach efforts to ensure they are meeting the needs of federal agencies, the research community, and Indigenous and local communities where the research is being conducted.
    • Seek opportunities to collaborate on data acquisition, and on developing technology and operational capabilities.
    • Seek opportunities to share logistical platforms and promote environmental compliance.
    • Collect and develop information to share with the international Forum of Arctic Research Operators (FARO) at their annual meeting.
    • Meet on a quarterly basis and report to the IARPC Staff Group as needed (federal members only).

Products and Deliverables

This list of products and deliverables may be modified by agencies over time and items will be phased in as agencies and Secretariat are able.

    • Research vessel season overview
    • Research aircraft/UAV overview (to come)
    • Research field work overview (to come)
    • Public summary reports of agency field and research operations (to come)

Team Leaders

Renee Crain (Wagner)
Arctic Research Support & Logistics (Website)

David Allen
NOAA, GOMO/ Arctic Research Program (Website)

Katy Smith
QED

Mary Beth Armstrong
NOAA, GOMO, Arctic Research Program

Deliverables from the Arctic Research Plan

MOMP 3 Support coordination and engagement with Federal, State, international, and non-Federal partners who are conducting monitoring, observing, modeling, and prediction in the Arctic.

  • MOMP 3.2 Coordinate among state and federal agencies that support fieldwork and share information among researchers and Alaska communities through the research expedition vessel and mooring matrices and spring and fall public meetings focused on research season activities.

MOMP 4 Support best practices in field observations and modeling.

  • MOMP 4.1 Build on existing efforts within federal agencies to share resources and implement best practices for improving field safety culture and enforcing safe working environments in the field, including both physical safety while working in harsh and remote Arctic environments and emotional safety from harassment and hostile working conditions.

PILR 1 Fulfill Federal requirement to consult with Federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations.

  • PILR 1.2 Evaluate the Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic 2018, and update as needed based on the evaluation.

PILR 3 Develop guidance for agencies to consistently apply participatory research and Indigenous leadership in research.

  • PILR 3.1 Identify key elements of Indigenous leadership in research with Tribes, Indigenous organizations, and federal agencies. Integrate these elements into the Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic and develop guidance for federal agencies.
  • PILR 3.2 Share information among agencies about how to streamline contracting, agreements, and compensation processes to support co-stewardship and co-production of knowledge.
  • PILR 3.3 Convene, facilitate, and participate in discussions to identify mechanisms to foster pathways for Indigenous leadership in research.
  • PILR 3.4 To aid in agencies’ ethical engagement and meaningful work with Tribal governments and Indigenous communities and organizations, compile a list of resources and guidance, rules, protocols, and approaches that Tribal governments and Indigenous communities and organizations have put forward. Distribute the list to agencies and post publicly via the IARPC Collaborations website. Share the list with the Tribal governments and Indigenous communities and organizations to provide additional insights, pending their interest, to the federal workforce on implementing the guidance, rules, protocols, and approaches they have put forward.

RISK 1 Summarize currently available data and information requirements associated with hazard and risk mitigation, adaptation, and response efforts. Synthesize community-led activities and information to identify potential needs for future efforts.

  • RISK 1.3 Develop a network that brings together scientists, the emergency management community, and key agency contacts to share knowledge, identify new and emerging challenges, and inform decision-making and operations through research.

SYSTEMS 2 Observe, understand, predict, and project Arctic marine and terrestrial ecosystem change and its impacts on humans and the entire Earth system.

  • SYSTEMS 2.4 Continue coordinated interdisciplinary Arctic marine climate and ecosystem observations, and share data and promote synthesis of field observations. This includes generating accessible, public-facing tools and products that increase awareness of annual research activities and assets, as well as supporting enhanced collaboration, coordination, and transparency across research, federal, and local and Indigenous communities.

TIA 1 Survey federally funded research technology.

  • TIA 1.1 Strategically engage externally, across IARPC, and within the Technology Innovation and Application Collaboration Team.
  • TIA 1.2 Use the Technology Innovation and Application Collaboration Team to support and coordinate technology-related conversations and activities throughout IARPC Collaborations.
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