SCAR is an inter-disciplinary committee of the International Council for Science (ICSU). SCAR is charged with initiating, developing and coordinating high quality international scientific research in the Antarctic region, and on the role of the Antarctic region in the Earth system. The scientific business of SCAR is conducted by its Standing Scientific Groups which represent the scientific disciplines active in Antarctic research and report to SCAR.
SCAR focus on biology is through its Standing Scientific Group on Life Sciences (http://www.scar.org/researchgroups/lifescience/), which includes research focused on understanding the impact of past, current and predicted environmental change on biodiversity and the consequences for adaptation and function and through multidisciplinary collaborations, understanding the complexities of the Antarctic environment and predicting the consequences of change.
SCAR also has a Scientific Research Programme, Evolution and Biodiversty in the Antarctic (http://www.eba.aq/), which seeks, amongst other aims, to understand the evolution and diversity of life in the Antarctic.
In addition to carrying out its primary scientific role, SCAR also provides objective and independent scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings and other organizations on issues of science and conservation affecting the management of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. In that role, SCAR has made numerous recommendations on a variety of matters, most of which have been incorporated into Antarctic Treaty instruments. Foremost amongst these have been the advice provided for the many international agreements which provide protection for the ecology and environment of the Antarctic.