Background
The China-Nordic Research Center (CNARC) was established in Shanghai on 10th December 2013 by 10 Member Institutes, four Chinese and six Nordic, which all have capacities to influence and coordinate Arctic research. CNARC's purpose is to provide a platform for academic cooperation to increase awareness, understanding and knowledge of the Arctic and its global impacts, as well as to promote cooperation for sustainable development of the Nordic Arctic and coherent development of China in a global context. CNARC's research themes include: (1) Arctic climate change and its impacts, (2) Arctic resources, shipping and economic cooperation, and (3) Arctic policy-making and legislation.
CNARC activities will include (a) carrying out joint research projects in accordance with the research themes, (b) developing Arctic research networks and frontiers by providing opportunities for Chinese and Nordic scholars to conduct Arctic research through fellowships and scholarships, (c) convening regularly the China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium and other workshops, and (d) facilitating information sharing and cultural exchange between China and Nordic Countries in Arctic context. CNARC will offer fellowships for scholars and scholar-/ internships for students at Nordic and Chinese institutes to conduct collaborative research within CNARC network for a period of one to six months.
Symposia and meetings CNARC shall meet on a yearly basis in form of China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium on a predetermined topic with regards to the Arctic research. Member institutes shall take turns to host the Symposium, rotating annually between Chinese and Nordic member institutes. CNARC can also host workshops independently or jointly with other organizations.
CNARC is composed of an Executive Committee, Assembly of Member Institutes (hereafter named the Assembly), Directors and a Secretariat. The Executive Committee operates as a board of directors and supervises CNARC ́s activities. The Executive Committee consists of authorized representatives of the original CNARC founding members and operates according to the objectives and priorities of CNARC. The Executive Committee makes decisions based on consensus. The Executive Committee makes decisions of admission of new members. The Executive Committee may establish Sub-Committees and working groups as needed, e.g. when recommending candidates for fellowships. The Executive Committee has two chairs, one chairman nominated by PRIC and accepted by the Executive Committee and one Nordic co-chair. The Committee meets as needed, at least once a year normally on occasion of the annual China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium. The Executive Committee decides on location of symposia based on proposals. The Assembly consists of authorized representatives of all CNARC member institutes and shall recommend to the Executive Committee on direction of collaborative research priorities and projects; including fellowship, symposia and CNARC operation. The Director and Secretariat are hosted by PRIC. They are responsible for the operation of CNARC and carrying out advices for development from the Assembly.
The director is the executive leader according to the objectives and priorities of CNARC and has the duty to carry out recommendations offered by the member institutes. The director shall have responsibilities, to manage work programs approved, and to take initiatives and put forward proposals in order to ensure the efficient execution of CNARC's work. The director shall work in a neutral capacity and serve terms of two years. The role of vice-director(s) is to provide assistance to the director. Secretariat The Secretariat shall be located at the Strategic Studies Division, PRIC, in Shanghai and consist of a staff in charge of communication and coordination with Chinese and Nordic member institutes respectively. The duties of the Secretariat are to help coordinate work programs, facilitate information exchange, prepare annual report of CNARC, circulate CNARC newsletters, administer the fellowship and scholarship programs and coordinate symposia in cooperation with respective host institutes.
Terms of Reference
Terms of Reference
(Adopted by the Assembly of CNARC Member Institutes, 8 June 2016, an updated membership criteria adopted by the Executive Committee, 7 May 2019)
The China-Nordic Arctic Research Center (CNARC) is an international consortium initiated by the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC) in collaboration with respective institutes in the Nordic countries and China to promote and facilitate China-Nordic cooperation for Arctic research.
1. Aim
CNARC provides a platform for academic cooperation with the following aims:
- To increase awareness, understanding and knowledge of the Arctic and its global impacts.
- To promote cooperation for sustainable development of the Nordic Arctic and coherent development of China in a global context.
2. Membership
CNARC is open to participation from Chinese and Nordic institutes with capacities to influence and coordinate Arctic research. Member Institutes shall have a minimum of five years experience in active Arctic research. The total number of CNARC Member Institutes shall not exceed 30 members.
Decision of admission of new members shall be made by consensus of the Executive Committee.
Each member institute shall be willing to provide necessary resources to facilitate CNARC sponsored fellows and have representation at each annual CNARC gathering.
In case a member fails to be represented at two consecutive annual meetings, a notification will be sent out by the secretariat that its membership will be revoked if they do not participate in the consequent year
Membership application deadline is by the 1st of February each year and a pre- review is to be conducted by the 1st of March to get Chinese and Nordic nominations and determine whether to invite the applicant to the coming Assembly (when applicable) and Executive Meeting for a final decision.
3. Research themes and activities
Research themes may include:
- Arctic environment, climate change and its impacts.
- Arctic resources, shipping and economic cooperation.
- Arctic policy and legal studies.
CNARC member institutes are encouraged to engage in the following activities:
- Carrying out joint research projects in accordance with the research themes outlined above.
- Developing Arctic research networks and frontiers by providing opportunities for scientists affiliated with Chinese and Nordic institutions to conduct Arctic research through fellowships and internships.
- Convening regularly the China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium and other workshops, such as roundtables and cultural events.
- Facilitating information sharing and cultural exchange between China and Nordic Countries in Arctic context.
4. Fellowship and Internship
In accordance with research priorities, CNARC will offer fellowships for scholars at Nordic and Chinese institutes to conduct collaborative research within CNARC network for a period of one to six months.
Upon recommendation from the Assembly of member institutes, CNARC may offer scholarships and internships to postgraduate students and young scholars. Preference will be given to academic exchange between Chinese and Nordic institutes.
5. Symposia and meetings
CNARC shall meet on a yearly basis in form of China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium on a predetermined topic with regards to the Arctic research.
Member institutes shall take turns to host the Symposium, rotating annually between Chinese and Nordic member institutes.
CNARC can also host workshops, such as roundtables and cultural events, independently or jointly with other organizations.
6. Organization
Composition
CNARC is composed of:
- Executive Committee
- Director
- Assembly of Member Institutes
- Secretariat
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee operates as a board of directors and supervises CNARC ́s activities. The Executive Committee consists of authorized representatives of the original CNARC founding members and operates according to the objectives and priorities of CNARC.
The Executive Committee makes decisions based on consensus. The Executive Committee makes decisions of admission of new members. The Executive Committee may establish Sub-Committees and working groups as needed, e.g. when recommending candidates for fellowships.
The Executive Committee has two chairs, one chairman nominated by PRIC and accepted by the Executive Committee and one Nordic co-chair. The Committee meets as needed, at least once a year normally on occasion of the annual China-Nordic Arctic Cooperation Symposium.
The Executive Committee decides on location of symposia based on proposals.
Director
The Director is nominated by PRIC and accepted by the Executive Committee. The Director shall work in a neutral capacity and serve terms of two years.
The Director shall have responsibilities, to manage work programs approved, and to take initiatives and put forward proposals in order to ensure the efficient execution of CNARC’s work.
The Executive Committee may elect vice-director(s) by consensus. The role of Vice-Director(s) is to provide assistance to the Director.
Assembly of Member Institutes
The Assembly consists of authorized representatives of all CNARC member institutes and shall recommend to the Executive Committee on direction of collaborative research priorities and projects; including fellowship, symposia and CNARC operation.
Secretariat
The Secretariat shall be hosted at the PRIC, in Shanghai and consist of a staff in charge of communication and coordination with Chinese and Nordic member institutes respectively.
The duties of the Secretariat are to help coordinate work programs, facilitate information exchange, outreach and maintain a website, prepare annual report of CNARC, circulate CNARC newsletters, administer the fellowship and internship programs and coordinate symposia in cooperation with respective host institutes, as well as undertake other duties assigned by the director.
The secretariat shall make day-to-day decisions for CNARC’s normal daily operations and coordination.
Member institutes may contribute to Secretariat’s activities by in-kind support for specific tasks and projects.
7. Budget
PRIC shall provide a budget covering fellowships, scholarships, and the Secretariat’s operation and personnel
The host institute of the Symposium shall provide necessary budget for local costs in relation to the Symposium.
Additional funding to CNARC’s activities is encouraged.
8. Amendments
Amendments to these terms of reference shall be agreed upon by the Executive Committee
Older Terms of Reference
Secretariat
Directors
Yang Huigen
Director
Dr. Yang Huigen is the professor of Polar Research Institute of China, director of the China-Nordic Arctic Research Center, editor-in-chief of the Advances in Polar Science.
He was the director general of PRIC, vice president of IASC and chief scientist for several Chinese National Antarctic/Arctic Research Expeditions.
His research interests include atmospheric and space physics, observing technology and instrumentation and international cooperation in polar regions.
Yang Jian
Deputy-Director
Yang Jian is Vice President and Senior Fellow at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), Director of the Institute for International Organization and Global Governance at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and Vice Chairman of the Pacific Society of China.
He is also Deputy Director of the China-Nordic Arctic Research Center, a member of the Arctic Circle Mission Council on Global Arctic and Chairman of the Academic Steering Committee of the Polar Research Center at South China Business College (SCBC).
Deng Beixi
Deputy-Director
Dr. DENG Beixi is Associate Professor within the Division of Polar Policy Studies in Polar Research Institute of China, and Deputy-director of China-Nordic Arctic Research Center.
He was a visiting researcher at Center for Arctic Policy Studies of University of Iceland (2014) and participated in China’s first transit via the Northwest Passage (2017).
His research specialization focuses on Arctic and Antarctic geopolitics and security, China’s polar strategy and policy, Arctic shipping, etc. Among his scholarly publications are: “Arctic Security Studies” (Ocean Press, 2020), “Shipping Matters: Role of Arctic Shipping in Shaping China’s Engagement in Arctic Resource Development”, The Arctic Yearbook (2018), “The Impact of U.S. – Russian Relations on Chinese-Russian Cooperation in the Arctic”, Russia in Global Affairs (2016), etc.
Secretariat
Liu Han
Executive Secretary of CNARC / Assistant Researcher, Division of Strategic Studies, PRIC
tel: 86-21-58717243
Material
To download the CNARC brochure and The Evolution of CNARC 2013-2018 please click on the photos. The CNARC brochure is written in both English and Chinese.
Research
CNARC's main research focus is on the following three themes:
- Arctic climate change and its impacts
- Arctic resources, shipping and economic cooperation
- Arctic policy-making and legislation
