19,3171The International Directory of Arctic Social Scientists (IDASS) establishes a tool to aid in creating interdisciplinary and/or multi-national research teams. The IDASS represents a significant contribution by providing a mechanism to involve several disciplinary perspectives, transcend national research priorities, and expand the participation of indigenous peoples in
Arctic social science research.

The compiling of the directory has started at the address: http://www.arcticcentre.org/idass

Background:
It is now over ten years since the publication of the International Directory of Arctic Social Scientists compiled by Ernest S. Burch, Jr.  and supported by NSF (Burch 1997). Burch's paper directory was an important resource not only for those researchers attempting to build networks, but for those seeking a comprehensive view of the characteristics (e.g. education) of social science research in the Arctic.

Although only slightly older than a decade the directory is now out of date, not searchable in its present form, and it serves more as a historical document than a living database of Arctic social scientists.  Since its publication, several developments have occurred that make a second version of the directory necessary, not the least of which is a rise in online, interactive media.

Instead of creating another print version, however, the new directory will be an organic data base easily accessible and updatable. The combination of a more comprehensive and more user friendly directory provides an important research tool to help build bridges across national, ethnic and disciplinary borders.

The directory's final completion would be timed so that it will be unveiled at the International Congress of Arctic Social Scientists in Nuuk, Greenland during late summer 2008.

The project is funded by the US National Science Foundation and the project partners are: IASSA, Arctic Centre, Barents Centre of the Humanities (Kola Science Centre), Centre for Sami Research at Umeå University, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Elizabthtown College (USA), Greenland Home Rule, Scott Polar Research Institute.

More information from Arctic Centre Website.