Mission Statement

To identify and facilitate areas of synergy for an integrated and effective university Antarctic community

Key Functions

• To explore possibilities to integrate and coordinate university research programmes
• To coordinate Antarctic-related teaching within New Zealand and to establish links with relevant academic institutions overseas
• To support initiatives that build capacity and ensure succession development of university Antarctic research and teaching
• To identify and lobby for existing and future funding opportunities
• To provide a common voice for communication with external stakeholders including Antarctica New Zealand, CRIs, Royal Society and international bodies

Structure

The Alliance will be coordinated by a Committee of nominated representatives from each of the New Zealand universities. Nominees will be senio university researchers with a wide knowledge of Antarctic activities. Alternative nominees will be named. A chair will be elected from the membership for an initial period of two years, after which the tenure will be reviewed. Representatives from CRIs and Antarctica New Zealand will be invited as observers to act as a link with those organisations. Other observers can be co-opted as necessary. Universities will be asked to contribute $2,000 to fund meetings and cover infrastructural costs for the first two years of operation of the Alliance. The Committee will meet twice yearly with one of those meetings coinciding with the Antarctica New Zealand Annual Antarctic Conference.