The role of the International Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC) is to advise the Board of Overseers and the Director on relevant issues of science and technology, including: IRI's research strategy and research priorities; the quality of IRI's scientific capability; the current status and future plans for the Institute's scientific activities and operations; the Institute's scientific and technical policies and procedures; the Institute's relationships with other scientific organizations and programs; and other specific scientific and technical problems and issues as identified by the Board.
The ISTAC membership represents a cross-section of appropriate expertise from the physical, natural and social sciences; individuals and institutions active in climate forecasting, interpretation and practical applications; the human dimensions research community; and scientific institution building. Members include representatives from academia, government, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and relevant national, regional and international climate research and forecasting programs and organizations.
Current Members include:
Professor Ed Sarachik (Chair), University of Washington, USA
Dr. Mark Cane, director, Climate and Society Masters Program, Columbia University; Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia Earth Institute, Palisades, USA
Dr. Shubham Chaudhuri, Senior Economist, World Bank
Dr. Sulochana Gadgil, Center for Atmospheric Science, Indian Institute of Science, India
Dr. Graeme Hammer, QDPI, CSIRO Agricultural Production, Toowoomba, Australia
Dr. R. Wayne Higgins, Director, NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Prof. James W. Jones, University of Florida, USA
