Participation

MOSAiC is an international research expedition that welcomes broad participation from the research community. The initiative aims to foster collaboration and coordination to achieve significant advances in our understanding of central Arctic, coupled-system processes. This web page outlines the specific mechanisms and conditions for participation in the MOSAiC consortium. As the central partner in MOSAiC, and provider of the primary research platform (RV Polarstern), the Alfred Wegener Institute is administering this process in consultation with the international MOSAiC Project Board. Potential participants are encouraged to start this endorsement process as early as possible; the endorsement process is expected to take 3 weeks from the submission of the request for endorsement until endorsement is confirmed. There are three primary mechanisms for participation:

Scientists and research groups that are interested in direct participation in MOSAiC but do not have a need for a berth onboard Polarstern are welcome to join the consortium without any costs charged by MOSAiC. This includes scientists and groups willing to work with MOSAiC data or to supply data to the MOSAiC data base. Additionally, this group includes partners with inland stations or other observational systems. Endorsement will enable coordination of relevant activities, support partners in obtaining funding support, provide the participant with early access to MOSAiC data, and require the participant to agree to, and abide by, the MOSAiC data policy (under development). This type of partnership is managed with a short endorsement process without deadlines. Interested partners should submit a completed MOSAiC endorsement template to the MOSAiC coordination office ( mosaic-office@mosaic-expedition.org). The MOSAiC Project Board will evaluate the endorsement proposal and make a decision within 3 weeks, after which point successful applicants will receive an endorsement letter.

Scientists and research groups that wish to directly participate in MOSAiC via access to the Polarstern and/or core MOSAiC infrastructure must obtain endorsement to ensure that the scientific activities support the overall MOSAiC scientific mission and are appropriately coordinated with other MOSAiC activities. Partners allocated a berth onboard Polarstern will pay a daily berth fee of approximately 1500 €, to be covered by external project funding and/or via in-kind infrastructure support required by AWI. This type of endorsement will guarantee the participant the agreed upon berth space onboard Polarstern and access to standard project resources, and will provide the participant with early access to MOSAiC data. Additionally, this endorsement will obligate the participant to contribute to core measurement activities as part of MOSAiC working teams and agree to, and abide by, the MOSAiC data policy (under development), which will include public archival of MOSAiC measurements.

This type of partnership is managed with a two-step process:

First, interested partners should both consult with appropriate members of the MOSAiC Project Board and submit a completed MOSAiC endorsement template to the MOSAiC office ( mosaic-office@mosaic-expedition.org). The MOSAiC Project Board will evaluate the endorsement proposal, possibly consulting with the applicant for more information, and make a decision within 3 weeks. Successful applicants will thereafter receive an endorsement letter ensuring the participant the agreed upon berths on Polarstern. Due to the limited number of berths onboard Polarstern, this evaluation will be selective, will consider the relevance of the proposal to the MOSAiC Science Plan, and will consider the complement of projects that are already endorsed.

Second, within six months from the issue of the endorsement letter, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the MOSAiC Project Board and the partner must be signed. This MoU must include a binding agreement concerning the reservation of berth space onboard Polarstern and the applicable financial implications. If the MoU is not signed within six months from the issue of the confirmation letter, the promised berth on board Polarstern may be released again and made available for other partners. Depending on the schedule of relevant external funding agencies, this six-month period can be extended upon written request directed to the MOSAiC project office. The MOSAiC Project Board also proactively suggests and coordinates feasible cooperation with different partners to ensure a comprehensive scientific coverage and division of labor. In such cases a MoU must also be signed between the MOSAiC Project Board and the partner within a reasonable time-frame from the initiation of the partnership.

This kind of partnership is managed by a signing of individual MoUs specifying the cooperation with MOSAiC, and will be handled directly by AWI-MOSAiC leadership.

Status of document: 9 October 2017