ABOUT AFOPS

Who are we?

The Asian Forum for Polar Sciences

The Asian Forum for Polar Sciences (AFoPS) is a non-governmental organization established in 2004 to encourage and facilitate cooperation for the advance of polar sciences among countries in the Asian region.

The Forum consists of its 6 Members, national polar research institutions representing China, Japan, South Korea, India, Malaysia and Thailand. AFoPS also has 4 observers: Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

Prof. Dato’ Dr. Azizan Abu Samah, Director of National Antarctic Research Centre (NARC), serves as the Chair of AFoPS for the next two years till 2022.

Members

AFoPS Members

China Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC) Website
India National Centre for Polar and Ocean Reserch (NCPOR) Website
Japan National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) Website
Korea Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) Website
Malaysia National Antarctic Research Center (NARC) Website
Thailand Polar Science Consortium of Thailand (PSCT) Website

AFoPS Observers

Indonesia Philippines Sri Lanka Vietnam

National Representatives and Coordinators

China

Honorary Member
Dr. Yang Huigen
Director of Key Laboratory of Polar Science of MNR, Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC)

E-mail: yanghuigen@pric.org.cn
Representative
Dr. Liu Shunlin
Director General, Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC)

E-mail: liushunlin@pric.org.cn
Telephone: +86-21-58712601
Fax: +86-21-58711663
Coordinator
Dr. Luo Wei
Scientist, Polar Bioscience Division, Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC)

E-mail: luowei@pric.org.cn
Telephone: +86-21-50385104
Fax: +86-21-58711663

India

Honorary Member
Dr. Rasik Ravindra
Secretary General, 36th International Geological Congress

E-mail: rasikravindra@gmail.com
Telephone: +91-9999518129
Representative
Dr. Thamban Meloth
Director, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research Ministry of Earth Sciences Headland Sada, Goa-403804 INDIA

E-mail1: meloth@ncpor.res.in
E-mail2: director@ncpor.res.in
Coordinator
Dr. Rahul Mohan
Scientist, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)

E-mail: rahulmohan@ncpor.res.in
Telephone: +91-832-2525531
Fax: +91-832-2520877

Japan

Honorary Member
Dr. Kazuyuki Shiraishi
Professor Emeritus, National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR)

Representative
Dr. Takuji Nakamura
Director-General, Professor, National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR)

E-mail: nakamura.takuji@nipr.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-42-512-0601
Fax: +81-42-528-3164
Coordinator
Dr. Satoshi Imura
Professor of Bioscience;Vice Director-General, Head of International Affairs and Research Development office, National Institute of Polar Research(NIPR)

E-mail: imura@nipr.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-42-512-0602
Fax: +81-42-528-3164

Korea

Honorary Member
Dr. Yeadong Kim
Chair, Korea National Committee on Polar Research

E-mail: ydkim@kopri.re.kr
Telephone: +82-32-760-5401
Fax: +82-32-770-8429
Representative
Dr. Sung-Ho Kang
President, Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI)

E-mail: shkang@kopri.re.kr
Telephone: +82-32-770-8401
Fax: +82-32-770-8429
Coordinator
Mr. Jihoon Jeong
Head, Office of International Cooperation
Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI)

E-mail: jj@kopri.re.kr
Telephone: +82-32-770-8431
Fax: +82-32-770-8609

Malaysia

Representative
Dr. Siti Aisah Alias
Director, National Antarctic Research Centre (Assoc. Prof.)

E-mail: saa@um.edu.my
Telephone: +603-7967-6947
Fax: +603-7960-5935
Coordinator
Dr. Wan Mohd Rauhan Wan Hussin
Deputy Director, National Antarctic Research Centre

E-mail: rauhan@umt.edu.my
Telephone: +609-668-5026
Fax: +609-668-4949

Thailand

Representative
Prof. Pairash Thajchayapong
Chairman, Polar Science Consortium of Thailand (PSCT)

E-mail: pairash@nstda.or.th
Telephone: +66-2-564-7000 Ext. 81874
Fax: +66-2-644-8134
Coordinator
Dr. Voranop Viyakarn
Vice Chairman, Polar Science Consortium of Thailand (PSCT)

E-mail: voranop.v@chula.ac.th, psct@nstda.or.th
Telephone:+66-2-564-7000 Ext. 81874
Fax: +66-2-644-8134

Structure

AFoPS Committee

AFoPS Committee comprises one representative and one coordinator from respective Members. The Committee is headed by Chair, a representative selected normally by rotation among the Members, with two-year term of service. The coordinator from the same institution with Chair serves as Secretary. The Committee operates on the basis of consensus and meets at least once a year prior to the AGM, to decide AFoPS’ major issues including:

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held at least once every year to discuss the matters of Members’ common interests. Representatives, coordinators, WG members and chairs, observers, and other designated invitees by the Chair meet at AGMs. The Chair hosts and arranges AGMs, where new research proposals for AFoPS and WG reports are considered.

Working Groups / Action Groups

Working Groups / Action Groups are to promote and coordinate research and logistic cooperation among the AFoPS Members. AFoPs Committee endorses WG/AG chairs to plan and execute issue-specific cooperative programs. WGs/AGs are expected to report their activities to AFoPS Committee annually. The following WGs are stipulated in the current Term of Reference:


We are currently in transition to forming more theme-oriented Action Groups.