The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) is a thematic organisation of the International Science Council (ISC). SCAR is charged with initiating, developing and coordinating high quality international scientific research in the Antarctic region (including the Southern Ocean), and on the role of the Antarctic region in the Earth system. The scientific business of SCAR is conducted by its Science Groups which represent the scientific disciplines active in Antarctic research and report to SCAR.

SCAR provides objective and independent scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty System and other international bodies such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). SCAR identifies issues emerging from greater scientific understanding of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean region and brings them to the attention of policy makers.