about gios

Greenland plays a unique and central role in the global climate system. The purpose of GIOS is to develop a new research infrastructure providing a much-required sustained and long-term observation network of central climate, ecosystem and societal variables at a number of key sites around Greenland representing not only the entire Greenland but also a climate gradient representing the Arctic as a whole. At the same time, GIOS aims to reduce its carbon footprint by implementation of renewable energy systems in camps and observatories, and reduce fossil fuel emissions and costs by optimizing shared logistics between the Institutions. This initiative builds on a series of meetings over the past five years with the aim of strengthening collaboration between institutions within the Danish Realm on observations, research, education, infrastructure and logistics in Greenland. GIOS will represent an important contribution to international Arctic sustainable observation networks and will provide insight into the currently changing conditions. GIOS will also provide a much-needed data foundation for international remote sensing calibration and modelling efforts that are focused on understanding how changes within and around Greenland will influence global climate, sea level rise and living conditions for both Arctic communities and the population of the Northern Hemisphere and for future sustainable growth. The proposed infrastructures will enable coming innovative and state-of-the-art research and allow the Danish Realm to have a leading role in Arctic research.

GIOS organization

Organization and management: The GIOS consortium is composed of institutions which all have leading expertise in various areas of observations in Greenland. It includes all major universities and research institutions in the Danish Realm presently involved in physical, chemical and biological observations of climate change in Greenland. Combined they represent the world-leading expertise on Greenland monitoring. The organization structure is defined with specific roles for decision-making, executive and management and advisory bodies.

Figure 2 shows the structure of GIOS. It is set up for efficient management of the project and to provide good communication between the partners. With this in mind, and in order to ensure the continued operation of GIOS after the establishment, the organization is closely aligned with the existing coordinating body “Forum for Arktisk Forskning” (FAF) (Forum for Arctic Research) under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and the related Arctic gateway web portal Isaaffik.

Coordinator: Aarhus University is responsible for the daily management and coordination of GIOS and works closely together with the GIOS committee.

 

Committee: The Executive Committee is responsible for taking key decisions for the GIOS project as a whole. It is comprised of one representative of each institution. The GIOS Executive Committee will meet monthly. The members of the committee are:

 

Board of directors: In case of disputes in the GIOS Executive Committee the GIOS Board of Directors has the ultimate decision power. It consists of representatives from each Institution on management level (e.g. rectors, directors). The GIOS Board of Directors will be comprised of the same members seated in the existing coordinating body “Forum for Arktisk Forskning” (“FAF”) under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and the related Arctic gateway web portal Isaaffik. Only members from the Institutions will have voting rights. The GIOS Board of Directors will meet yearly at the Hindsgavls meeting or extraordinarily in case of disputes. The Hindsgavl meetings are held on yearly basis as workshop on arctic research and education at Hindsgavl Slot.

Advisory board: This panel is established to ensure scientific evaluation of the project and links to other programs and users. The Coordinator will ensure that the members of the GIOS Advisory Board enter into a confidentiality agreement if they will gain access to Confidential Information.

Institution / Advisory board representative:

  • AU: Kurt Nielsen
  • KU: Niels Kroer
  • DTU: Niels Andersen
  • GEUS: Flemming Larsen
  • AAU: Henrik Halkier
  • GINR: Klaus Nygaard

 

General Assembly: A yearly meeting for all participants and stakeholders in GIOS including young researchers will be held in connection to the annual Hindsgavl meeting. The GIOS General Assembly will ensure that interested national institutions not yet involved in the GIOS Project can become involved through the yearly GIOS General Assembly. The GIOS General Assembly is an open, informative, knowledge-sharing event. The GIOS General Assembly cannot make binding decisions for the GIOS project.

Infrastructure Access committee: This committee will be appointed by the Executive Committee if necessary and will ensure that the infrastructures in GIOS are accessible to the largest possible extent. Applications for access will be submitted through the GIOS portal with reference to Isaaffik.

Infrastructure Data Committee: This committee will be appointed by the Executive Committee if necessary and will provide guidelines for harmonizing data and ensuring access to data according to the FAIR principles.

GIOS PARTNERS