- 13–15 May 2008
- National Association of Home Builders
- Washington, DC
- Final Agenda
The interconnectedness of the Arctic is demonstrated when a single change sends ripple effects throughout the arctic marine, terrestrial, atmospheric, socioeconomic, and global systems. These changes may be "tipping points" that represent a new, unknown, and potentially irreversible vanguard of arctic and global change. 2008 Arctic Forum sessions explored tipping points from environmental and socio-economic viewpoints, potential consequences and opportunities, and scientific, policy and management, and educational response strategies.
For more information about the Arctic Forum, watch this short outreach video.
Tuesday, 13 May 2008:
Opening Reception at the Finnish Embassy (7:00
p.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
Opening comments from Pekka Lintu, the Ambassador of Finland to the United States and Vera Alexander, President of ARCUS Board of Directors. Professor Paula Kankaanpää, Director of the University of Lapland's Arctic Centre, gave a presentation on Arctic Research in Finland.
Download Arctic Forum
Agenda (38K
- PDF)
Welcome and Introductions
Arctic Forum Co-Chairs
Craig Fleener
Gwich'in Council International
Martin Miles
Environmental Systems Analysis Research
Center
Arctic Climate Change: Where Reality Exceeds Expectations
Mark Serreze
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental
Sciences
How is climate change affecting the arctic environment? Do these changes represent tipping points to a new state of the arctic system? What are the possible future scenarios and connections to the globe?
Arctic Sea Ice Now and in the Future
Julienne Stroeve
National Snow and Ice Data Center
Marine Mammals and Diminishing Ice: Slow Science on a Faster Earth
Brendan P. Kelly
University of Alaska and the National Science Foundation
Climate Change and Marine Mammal Conservation Policy
Tim Regan
Marine Mammal Commission
Arctic Ocean Acidification: A Contemporary and Future View of Changes to the Marine Carbon Dioxide System
Richard Bellerby
Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research
Changes in Terrestrial Ecosystems in Response to a Decade of Warming
Mads Forchhammer
University of Aarhus
Panel Discussion: Environmental Tipping Points
- How do we know a tipping point when it is happening? Are the current changes a tipping point?
- How will the future Arctic be different?
- Why do we care? How will this influence the lives of people living outside the Arctic?
- What do we do about it? What new science and policy responses do we need to deal with the changes, and why?
Moderator:
Josh Schimel, University of California, Santa
Barbara
Panelists:
Caspar Amman, National Center For Atmospheric
Research
Martin Sommerkorn, WWF International Arctic
Programme
Craig Fleener, Gwich'in Council
International
Maribeth Murray, International Study of Arctic Change
Summary Remarks
Arctic Forum Co-Chairs
to
9:00 p.m.
Poster Session and Evening Reception: Poster presentations on a wide range of arctic research, education, and outreach activities, with hosted bar and appetizers. Opening Poster Session remarks by Vera Alexander, President, ARCUS Board of Directors. Entertainment by "Atlantic Echo," Traditional Finnish Vocal Quartet.
Continental Breakfast
Welcome and Introductions
Arctic Forum Co-Chairs
Craig Fleener
Gwich'in Council International
Martin Miles
Environmental Systems Analysis Research
Center
How is climate change affecting economic and social activity?
Well Adapted But Still Extinct: Norse Greenland in New Perspective
Tom McGovern
Hunter College
Arctic Health and a Changing Physical Environment: New Perspectives on Increased UVB, Ozone Depletion, and Increased Warming
Ed De Fabo
George Washington University
Coming to Terms with the Future of Northern Food Systems
Craig Gerlach
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Local Opportunities and Challenges from Arctic Climate Change: A Saami Perspective
Rune Fjellheim
Arctic Council Indigenous People's Secretariat
Russia’s North Sea Route and Northern Marine Transport
Lawson Brigham
U.S. Arctic Research Commission
Sovereignty and Security in the New Arctic: The Coming Blizzard
Robert Huebert
University of Calgary
LUNCH (Buffet lunch will be available for participants at NAHB)
Trip to AAAS Arctic Art Exhibition
The AAAS exhibit displays art by school children living in remote Siberian villages, including photographs and information on climate change in the Arctic. Traditional Siberian beaded vests were also on display. The works were part of the Woods Hole Research Center's Student Partners Project.
Young Investigator Career Development Lunch
An informal lunch meeting focused on career development issues for young investigators was scheduled from 11:35 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (NAHB)
What are the appropriate scientific, policy, outreach, and educational responses to potential tipping points?
New Approaches to Linking Scientific Synthesis, Policy, and Education
Charles Vörösmarty
University of New Hampshire
Development of Cyberinfrastructure During Rapid and Interconnected Change
Dan Lubin
National Science Foundation
Climate Change, Tipping Points, and the Media
Erika Engelhaupt
Environmental Science and Technology
U.S. Arctic Research Program Response to a Changing Arctic: Current and Future Goals
Mead Treadwell
U.S. Arctic Research Commission
Panel Discussion: Priority Actions and Response Strategies
What are the three (3) highest priority actions—scientific, educational, management, or political—we should take to improve our ability to respond to these observed and predicted changes?
Moderator: Peter Schlosser,
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Panelists:
Vera Alexander, University of Alaska
Fairbanks
Max Holmes, Woods Hole Research Center
Robert Huebert, University of Calgary
Anya Suslova, Sakha Republic (Yakutia) State
University
Simon Stephenson, National Science Foundation
Summary Remarks
Arctic Forum Co-Chairs
Arctic Forum Adjourns