ARCUS History

A Brief History of the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS)

ARCUS timeline photo

Founded in 1988, the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) was created to advance Arctic research through collaboration, coordination, and community engagement. This timeline highlights major milestones in ARCUS’s development—from early conceptual discussions in the 1950s to its establishment and organizational growth. It captures key events, strategic partnerships, policy contributions, and initiatives that have shaped ARCUS’s leadership role in Arctic science.

1958–1961

A meeting at Dartmouth College on the Organization of Polar Research proposed forming a university consortium. This led to the creation of the University Committee on Polar Research by the NAS Committee on Polar Research (now PRB), which advocated for coordinated support of Arctic and Antarctic research and a university-based polar research association.

1961–1987

Despite recognition of the fragmented and underfunded nature of Arctic research, few improvements were realized. In 1984, ARPA established the Arctic Research Commission (ARC) and the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC). Research priorities were identified by PRB, ARC, and IARPC, and NSF-DPP launched the journal Arctic Research of the U.S.

1986–1987

Jerry Brown and Mark Meier independently solicited feedback from the academic community on the structure of Arctic research. Responses indicated a need for greater coordination, ideally led by universities rather than federal agencies. These ideas were supported by the Polar Research Board (PRB) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). A draft prospectus was developed by Proenza, Meier, and Untersteiner.

1988

ARCUS was formally established at a January meeting in Boulder, Colorado, with participation from about a dozen institutions. The first membership meeting was held in October in Fairbanks, and a part-time Executive Director, Chris Shepherd, was hired.

1989

ARCUS published its first Program Plan and received its initial NSF grant. NSF requested ARCUS to develop a new program on Arctic Interactions, leading to the creation of the Arctic System Science (ARCSS) program. ARCUS also co-hosted a workshop on technology for Arctic development.

1990

Laura McCauley became Executive Director, and ARCUS headquarters moved from Boulder to Fairbanks. ARCUS organized workshops, publications, and interagency briefings related to ARCSS. It co-sponsored the International Conference on the Role of the Polar Regions in Global Change. NSF encouraged ARCUS to submit a proposal for core funding.

1991

ARCUS (Meier), PRB (Untersteiner), ARC (Johnson), and IARPC (Correll) testified before a Senate subcommittee on Arctic research needs, resulting in a $6.3M increase to the NSF Polar Programs budget. ARCUS advocated for the creation of an Arctic Section within DPP and received NSF task funding to further develop ARCSS. ARCUS transitioned to a full-time Executive Director and leased office space in Fairbanks. It began developing an Arctic educational initiative.

1992

Wendy Warnick became Executive Director. ARCUS, PRB, and ARC hosted the Assembly on the Arctic to highlight research needs to policymakers. NSF allocated $800k to upgrade Toolik Field Station, with ARCUS facilitating planning. The ARCUS Data and Information Resources Working Group published Arctic Information and Data: A Guide to Selected Resources. ARCUS briefly shut down due to funding challenges but was later awarded a fixed-price contract from NSF that stabilized operations.

1993

ARCUS continued support for ARCSS and Arctic research. It explored scientific potential at Toolik Field Station, compiled the ARCSS-LAII site survey, hosted an international northern studies meeting, and co-sponsored a discussion on the U.S. role in the circumpolar North. ARCUS adopted a new structure, hiring a full-time President. The first edition of Witness the Arctic was released.

1994

ARCUS was awarded its first NSF Cooperative Agreement. Arctic Forum, an annual scientific symposium held in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with the ARCUS Annual Meeting, takes place for the first time.

1996

ARCUS produced the first hardcopy Directory of Arctic Researchers and published the report Toolik Field Station: The Second Twenty Years, Recommendations on the Science Mission and the Development of Toolik Field Station.

1997

ARCUS published People and the Arctic, a research prospectus on the Human Dimensions of the Arctic System (HARC) for the National Science Foundation Arctic System Science Program. An ARCUS education workshop, brings together scientists, educators and others to recommend the systematic introduction of Arctic science into K-12 classrooms, using emerging technologies, contributions from Indigenous peoples, and collaborations between researchers and educators. ARCUS initiates a paper competition to award undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate exemplary work in Arctic research. Winning papers were presented by student authors at the Arctic Forum.

1998

ARCUS published the proceedings of the Arctic Forum science symposium for the first time and received a second NSF Cooperative Agreement. The Building Partnerships in Polar Research and Education workshop report is published. ARCUS begins providing coordination and program assistance to the National Science Foundation Teachers Experiencing Antarctica and the Arctic (TEA) program.

1999

ARCUS published the report [Arctic Social Sciences: Opportunities in Arctic Research] for the National Science Foundation's Arctic Social Sciences Program.(https://zenodo.org/records/15611901) as well as the report Marine Science in the Arctic: A Strategy as a follow-up activity to a 1997 National Science Foundation planning group convening.

2000

ARCUS convened an Arctic Science Education Working Group to develop recommendations to the National Science Foundation for the implementation of research-centered Arctic science education programs to engage teachers, students, and Arctic residents in scientific research. An Arctic Visiting Speakers' Series was initiated to foster international scientific exchange as well as science education at the local level.

2001

ARCUS received a third NSF Cooperative Agreement, organized the Human Dimensions of the Arctic System (HARC) workshop, and launched the Arctic Alive education program. ARCUS also convened a community workshop to assess current capabilities and identify infrastructure and information needs for the use of GIS in Arctic research, resulting in the release of the report Recommendations for a Geographic Information Infrastructure to Support Arctic Research: Outcomes of the Arctic GIS Workshop.

2002

ARCUS published the report Arctic Science Education: Recommendations from the Working Group on Arctic Science Education. The Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) program office was moved to ARCUS and received NSF support.

2003

ARCUS released Arctic Research Support and Logistics: Strategies and Recommendations for System-scale Studies in a Changing Environment.

2004

ARCUS received funding to launch the PolarTREC education program.

2005

ARCUS revised its organizational bylaws.

2006

ARCUS and Senator Lisa Murkowski's office hosted a Congressional Science Briefing on Arctic Environmental Change briefing where researchers presented findings on Arctic climate trends. Senator Murkowski delivered a keynote speech titled Advancing Arctic Research Through Policy and Science Advocacy at the ARCUS Arctic Forum annual meeting.

2007

ARCUS supported International Polar Year activities and received NSF funding for PolarTREC. Researchers presented a Congressional Briefing on Arctic environmental changes and societal impacts. Speakers included Donald Perovich, Mark Serreze, Andrea Lloyd, and Maribeth Murray. Attendee List (PDF)

2008

ARCUS received a fourth NSF Cooperative Agreement supporting multiple Arctic science programs. Experts again host a Congressional Briefing on Socioeconomic Tipping Points to address Arctic climate change impacts on infrastructure, security, and communities. Attendee List (PDF)

2009

ARCUS organized an Arctic Observing Network PI meeting. Wendy Warnick stepped down as Executive Director after 20 years of service.

2010

Susan Fox became Executive Director. ARCUS hosted the State of the Arctic Conference and received new NSF funding for PolarTREC.

2012

ARCUS organized the U.S. Arctic Observing Network Coordination Workshop and published the final report.

2013

ARCUS supported the launch of the Sea Ice Prediction Network (SIPN) and received NSF funding to aid in the development of the network's sea ice forecast reports.

2014

ARCUS received additional NSF support for PolarTREC and SEARCH. ARCUS became the grant administrator for IARPC’s secretariat under a fifth NSF cooperative agreement.

2015

Robert Rich became Executive Director. ARCUS organized the Arctic Observing Open Science Meeting.

2016

ARCUS co-hosted the Arctic Science Ministerial Side Event in Washington, DC, alongside national and international partners.

2018

ARCUS received renewed NSF support for SIPN and PolarTREC.

2019

Helen Wiggins became Executive Director. ARCUS hosted the Arctic Futures 2050 Conference. ARCUS concluded its role as the SEARCH program office. A final NSF award for PolarTREC was received. ARCUS was also awarded a sixth cooperative agreement.