[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 129 (Thursday, July 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31424-31425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14388]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Request for Feedback on the Interagency Arctic Research Policy 
Committee's Draft Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Request for public comment on Principles for Conducting 
Research in the Arctic.

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SUMMARY: The Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC), 
chaired by the National Science Foundation, is seeking comment from the 
public on newly revised Principles for Conducting Research in the 
Arctic.
    Researchers working in the Arctic have a responsibility to conduct 
ethical research, to respect Arctic residents and cultures, and to 
advance stewardship of the Arctic environment. The revised document 
updates the Principles for the Conduct of Research in the Arctic (1990) 
and renames them Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic, 
hereafter the Principles, to reflect current research disciplines and 
approaches in the Arctic. The draft revised Principles have been 
revised to provide guidelines for the equitable conduct of research, to 
better align with U.S. Arctic policy, to include changes in research 
methodologies, and to ensure the Principles are more effective and 
widely applied.
    A U.S. IARPC Principles Revision Working Group prepared these draft 
revised Principles after conducting a comprehensive literature review 
and seeking and receiving diverse input from Alaska Natives, Federal 
and State and local agency representatives, and researchers by a 
variety of methods, including listening sessions at scientific 
conferences, through a Federal Register notice, and targeted interviews 
with Alaska residents and researchers. The Working Group seeks public 
comment on the draft revised Principles, which will be finalized after 
approval of the IARPC agencies.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted no later than September 4, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Email comments to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5138302321322123383f3238213d3422113f22377f363e27"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a5ccc4d7d5c6d5d7cccbc6ccd5c9c0d6e5cbd6c38bc2cad3">[email protected]</span></a>.

[[Page 31425]]

    Address written submissions to Renee Crain, Office of Polar 
Programs, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, 
Alexandria, VA 22314.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information contact Renee Crain at 
703-292-4482 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d2a0b1a0b3bbbc92bca1b4fcb5bda4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e89a8b9a898186a8869b8ec68f879e">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All researchers working in the North have an 
ethical responsibility toward Arctic communities, their cultures, and 
the environment. The IARPC developed the Principles for the Conduct of 
Research in the Arctic to provide guidance for researchers in the 
physical, biological, behavioral, health, economic, political, and 
social sciences and in the humanities. The Social Science Task Force of 
the IARPC prepared the current Principles, with approval by the IARPC 
on June 28, 1990, and published by IARPC in volume 9, (Spring, 1995, 
pp. 56-57) of the journal ``Arctic Research of the United States'' 
(https://www.arctic.gov/publications/related/arotus.html).
    In June 2017, the IARPC Staff Group formed the Principles Review 
Working Group to look into revising and updating the current Principles 
to reflect advances in theory and in practice of community engagement 
in Arctic research. The revised Principles, entitled ``Principles for 
Conducting Research in the Arctic (2018)'' aim to (a) establish five 
core principles for conducting responsible and ethical research in the 
Arctic, (b) identify ways to strengthen community-researcher engagement 
across all stages of research design, data collection, analysis, and 
reporting, and (c) promote wide implementation and practice of the 
revised Principles. The audience for the Principles includes academic, 
federal, state, local, and tribal researchers and all other entities 
conducting research in the Arctic. The revised Principles encourage 
mutual respect and communication between scientists and Arctic 
residents. These principles may be applied to any interactions in the 
Arctic, from interactions with Arctic residents while travelling or 
transacting with local businesses, to developing deeper, longer-lasting 
research collaborations. Adhering to the Principles for Conducting 
Research in the Arctic is recommended for any person pursuing research 
in the Arctic.
    IARPC requests comments from the public on the revised Principles 
for Conducting Research in the Arctic (2018). IARPC is interested in 
all comments pertaining to the Principles and including the core 
principles that researchers are encouraged to adopt across all stages 
of research. The core Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic 
are:

<bullet> Be Accountable
<bullet> Establish Effective Two-way Communication
<bullet> Respect Local Culture and Knowledge
<bullet> Build and Sustain Relationships
<bullet> Pursue Responsible Environmental Stewardship

    Dated: June 29, 2018.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2018-14388 Filed 7-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P


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