João Canário, professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering (DEQ) and researcher at Centro de Química Estrutural (CQE) has been elected as one of the four Vice-President of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC). The announcement was made at IASC annual meeting held in Tromso, Norway, on March 30.

According to professor João Canário, this election “is an international recognition of the Arctic Research carried out in Portugal, in particular at CQE/IST, and also the success of the Arctic Science Summit Week 2021 conference that took place in Lisbon”. “I am truly honoured”, says the Técnico professor.

Portugal, through FCT, is one of the 24 countries represented in IASC, which, since 1999, holds an annual conference – the Arctic Science Summit Week.

The Técnico professor holds the national observer status at IASC since 2013. He was responsible for the document “Portuguese Strategy for Arctic Research”, which led to Portugal’s acceptance as the 23rd IASC member country, in 2015, and to his appointment by FCT as national delegate at IASC council.

Founded in 1990, the IASC is a non-governmental, international scientific organisation that aims to encourage and facilitate cooperation in all aspects of Arctic research, in all countries engaged in Arctic research and in all areas of the Arctic region.