Lars H. Smedsrud has a wide experience in polar oceanography from Arctic and Antarctic waters. Smedsrud leads a network for polar researchers at the University in Bergen and is a professor II at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS). He is a member of the Scientific Steering Group in CliC (Climate and the Cryosphere) fra World Climate Research Programme, and is one of the coordinators in Arctic ECRA (European Climate Research Alliance).