Past Events

The 2022 Arctic Beaver Observation Network (A-BON) meeting will be the first ever gathering of scientists, Indigenous groups, land managers, and local observers to discuss the arrival of beavers in the Arctic and implications for the natural resources of the affected Arctic regions.

The meeting was planned to be in person March 15-18 in Fairbanks, Alaska, but due to COVID-19 regulations the meeting has been shifted to a virtual platform.

The keynote speaker will be acclaimed Alaskan author Seth Kantner (Ordinary Wolves, Shopping for Porcupine, new book! A Thousand Trails Home), who will share his 60 years of observations related to climate change and beavers.

The meeting agenda will include presentations on the observed impacts of beavers in the tundra, on research methods for monitoring beaver population expansion, and on approaches to co-producing knowledge with academic researchers and Indigenous groups. Presentations will be followed by break-out groups to align priorities, share ideas, and collaborate more effectively on projects.

The meeting is supported by the National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs and the International Arctic Science Committee.

Gaute Eiterjord, formerly of Greenpeace Norway and Young Friends of the Earth, will speak on climate change litigation in Norway.

Gaute Eiterjord is a Norwegian climate activist. He has previously been the chair of Young Friends of the Earth Norway (Natur og Ungdom) and for several years worked with the climate lawsuit against the Norwegian state for allowing oil exploration in the Arctic. The case was the first of its kind in the Norwegian legal system, and brought widespread attention to the Norwegian paradox of wanting to be a climate leader but also being one of the largest exporters of greenhouse gas emissions. Although dismissed by the Norwegian Supreme court, the case is now filed to the European Court of Human Rights.

The next Landscapes Live online seminar of the Spring 2022 block will be by Ann Rowan. This seminar will be live on Zoom and open to anyone interested (with a limit of 300 participants). Register in advance for this meeting.

Abstract

Mountain glaciers respond rapidly to climate change and build ice-marginal (terminal and lateral) moraines that form a potentially valuable record of terrestrial climate across a wide range of latitudes and elevations. However, interpreting this palaeoclimate record relies on reconstructing past glacier volume, and so making assumptions about how glacier mass, erosion and sediment flux varied as climate changed. A different approach is to use forward modelling of the feedbacks between ice flow, sediment transport and deposition to interpret glacial landforms. From field observations of moraine sequences in the Everest region of Nepal, we demonstrate that careful interpretation of moraines can elucidate past glacier dynamics and Holocene palaeoclimate change.

The International Glaciological Society (IGS) and the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) are glad to announce the ‘International Symposium on Ice in a Sustainable Society’ (ISS). The ISS Symposium will be held at the Bizkaia Aretoa Convention Centre in Bilbao (Spain). This venue is located on one of the most emblematic sites of Bilbao, which opens out onto the estuary and the Guggenheim Museum. The Symposium will take place from Monday morning, 6 June, until the afternoon of Friday 10 June. On World Environment Day, Sunday 5 June, there will be several celebration activities and a pre-symposium icebreaker event at Bizkaia Aretoa. Different Social Events are scheduled thorough the Symposium.

During the ISS Symposium we will celebrate the 85th anniversary of IGS. The first official meeting of the ‘Association for the Study of Snow and Ice’ was held in April 1937. The Association would go through a few name changes through the years until it acquired its current name, ‘The International Glaciological Society’ in 1962. We will be celebrating the anniversary throughout the year, and of course during the ISS Symposium in Bilbao.

Important dates

• Opening of online abstract submission: 15 January 2022
• Opening of online registration: 21 February 2022
• Extended abstract submission deadline: 18 March 2022
• Early-bird registration deadline: 25 March 2022
• Deadline for full refund: 22 April 2022
• Late registration: 8 May 2022

Rick Thoman will review recent and current climate conditions around Alaska, review some forecast tools and finish up the Climate Prediction Center’s forecast for April 2022 and the early spring season. Join the gathering online to learn what’s happened and what may be in store with Alaska’s seasonal climate.

Please register to attend.

For the 2022 edition of its International Online Conference, the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) has thus chosen to dedicate a 24-hour online conference, on 18 May 2022, for sharing experiences and knowledge on Polar and Alpine regions from various perspectives.

The idiom “All hands on deck” reflects the efforts that are currently needed to address the major environmental challenges of the current century. Knowledge in all forms and of all natures represent an essential component for designing a desirable and sustainable future both for Mankind and the Earth, along with the means to achieve such horizons. Knowledge inclusiveness, however, has not always been a concern in scientific and academic circles, although this could improve the ways we do research and interact with the rest of the society.

The conference contains five sessions drawing on multiple disciplines from the social to the natural sciences:

• Voices from Alpine and Polar regions
• Bridging knowledge from Polar ocean beneficiaries
• Polar regions in motion
• Methods and ethics in polar research
• Advances in cryospheric sciences

The organizers decided to make natural, humanities and social sciences meet in three of the five sessions (i.e., bridging knowledge from Polar ocean beneficiaries; polar regions in motion; methods and ethics in polar research) and retained transversal, open themes so as to allow a wide array of discussions. They also dedicated sessions to particular realms such as the ocean, the coasts and the cryosphere.

The APECS International Online Conference 2022 is giving room for alternative ways for expressing self through a call for stories and art contributions that, we believe, will considerably enrich the experience of the participants.

Submissions can thus take the form of three different formats:

• Stand-alone presentation
• Oral narrative
• Artwork

All Stand-alone presentation and Oral narrative proposals must be sent to Nicolas Champollion and Sophie Duveau by 20 March 2022 at 10:00 AM (UTC). All artwork proposals must be submitted via Google form by 01 April 2022 at 10:00 AM (UTC).

APECS (Association of Early Career Polar Scientists) International Polar Week 2022 is a celebration for everyone who has an interest in the coldest regions of our planet, a diverse and vibrant international community that includes students, researchers, teachers, artists, and members of Indigenous nations.

The main goal of this event is to engage the global polar studies community to share knowledge, experience, and fun from different perspectives. The organizers continue this great tradition through diverse activities such as photo contests, interviews with polar artists, researchers, and educators, participation in virtual polar games, the APECS podcast, and many more all around the world, thanks to their National Committees.

The conference has been postponed to 16-20 May 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (This conference was originally scheduled to take place 14-18 September 2020, then 16-21 May 2021, followed by 13-17 September 2021, and now moved to 16-20 May 2022.)

The symposium at the University of Alaska Fairbanks provides a platform for the exchange of current applied research and best practices, the presentation of new technology and further innovation, and the advancement of international cooperation in the circumpolar regions of the world. The organizers look to build on the more than 100 participants and the record 50% attendance by students and early career researchers at the 15th ICRSS.

This symposium deals specifically with remote sensing applications in the polar environments, both Arctic and Antarctic. Earth’s Polar Regions feature cold-climate environments characterized by unique landscapes, biota, and processes. Many of these features and dynamics are Cryosphere-driven and either are already subject to or have the potential for fundamental and rapid changes in a warming world. Earth observation technologies provide crucial tools to understand and quantify these changes.

This symposium will be of interest to scientists, scholars, and industry and government professionals involved in studying and quantifying Arctic and Antarctic Change, renewable and non-renewable resource management, and development of new technologies and methods targeting remote sensing observations of polar environments. The symposium will provide a platform for the exchange of current applied research and best practices, the presentation of new technology and further innovation, and the advancement of international co-operation in the circumpolar regions of the world.

The theme of the 16th ICRSS is Convergence at the Poles – Addressing urgent research questions and management needs through remote sensing in the Arctic and Antarctic.

The 16th ICRSS is being hosted at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Oral presentations will take place in the Wood Center Ballroom and various conference activities will be scattered through the greater University and Fairbanks community.

Important Dates

• Abstract submission (has been extended): 21 March 2022
• Abstract acceptance notification: 01 April 2022
• Registration deadline: 01 April 2022

The ICESat-2 Hackweek is a 5-day collaborative learning experience designed to coalesce people and resources around exploring, creating, and promoting effective computation and analysis workflows for the large and complex data returned by the ATLAS sensor on board NASA's ICESat-2 satellite. The organizers will bring together data managers, maintainers, and users to teach each other about open science practices and software during tutorials and contribute to centrally accessible, shareable tools during project work. The organizers vision includes creating an inclusive, open space that fosters networking, innovation, and sharing ideas.

During the hackweek, the organizers will explore ICESat-2 data and collaborative software infrastructure through tutorials and hands-on “hacking" projects. To best benefit from the program, participants are expected to have some experience with git/GitHub and Python/scientific programming or be prepared to participate in optional workshops in advance of the event to cultivate the technical skills to enhance participation during the event.

Application deadline: January 10, 2022 @ 11:59 p.m. PST.

The Alaska Wildland Fire Coordinating Group (AWFCG) will convene the 2022 Spring Operations meeting online only the week of March 21-25. The complete agenda can be found on the meeting's website. The meeting is open, and registration is not required.

• Mon through Wed morning: planning sessions for the Alaska Incident Management Teams (IMT),
• Wed afternoon through Fri: sessions for Agency Administrators and Fire Management Officers (AA/FMO)

Fire science content organized by the Alaska Fire Science Consortium (AFSC) will be coordinated with related management discussions during the AA/FMO sessions, including:

Wed, March 23: focus on fire weather and climate

• 15:15 - Welcome and Introductions, AFSC news and updates (Alison York, Mitch Burgard, Sarah Trainor, AFSC)
• 15:30 - Fire Weather, Predictive Services, Seasonal Outlooks (Heidi Strader, Eric Stevens, Chris Moore, AICC)
• 16:00 - BUI Forecast for fire season 2022 (Cece Borries-Strigle, UAF)
• 16:20 - Lightning Projects (Uma Bhatt, UAF)
• 16:40 - Fire and Climate: AK CASC post-doctoral fellowships (Chris Waigl, Adam Young, UAF)

Thurs, March 24: science you can use

• 09:45 - News you can use (Randi Jandt, AFSC)
• 10:30 - GIS and Alaska Known Sites Update (Jennifer Jenkins, GIS and Data management committee)
• 11:00 - Shovel Creek Story map (Zav Grabinski, AFSC)

Fri, March 25: focus on fuels

• 13:00 - Fuels, RX, and Prevention (Darren Finley, Casey Boespflug, Beth Ipsen, Dan Govoni, Fuels and Wildland Fire Prev/Educ committee)
• 13:45 - Statewide exposure metric (Jen Schmidt, UAA, Chris Moore, AICC)
• 14:25 - AK Geospatial Council Vegetation Maps (Timm Nawrocki, AGC, Lisa Saperstein, FWS)

Presentations listed above will be recorded and archived on the AFSC website.

The Arctic Exchange will address a plethora of topical subjects designed to educate, motivate and promote better business relationships.

The 7th Annual Arctic Exchange will look at securing a sustainable future for maritime commerce in the Arctic, understanding the importance of Arctic routes, the challenges and solutions for oil and gas exploration, production and transportation, whilst developing international relations and collaboration with government officials, executives, managers, scientists, engineers, and investors.

The Exchange is partnered by international professional societies, many of whom actively promote the Exchange to their communities, colleagues and peers, widening the reach of the event.

Riding on the success from the previous years, the organizers are working on making this Arctic Exchange the most unrivalled business to business higher north networking opportunity. There will be a mixture of presentations, round-table discussions and panel debates from leading experts worldwide including Governmental, Shipping, Seismic, Environmental, Ice Management, and Technology.

Key Focus

• Economical legislation
• Training Methods
• Oil Spill Response
• Arctic Indigenous Relations
• Autonomous Vessels
• Satellite Navigation
• Optical Cabling
• Yamal LNG
• Exploration Licensing Rounds North Sea
• Ice Management
• Shipping-Technology, Cruise, Tourism
• Environmental Safety
• Infrastructure
• Transportation
• Governmental Cooperation
• Pollution
• Arctic Broadband

The Arctic PASSION EU project starts its Online Seminar and Dialogue Series with a two-part kickoff seminar on science communication during the APECS International Polar Week. Seminar Part I will be on "Storytelling in Science" (22 March) and Part II on "How to produce media in the field" (24 March). Both seminars are independent of each other and either both or only one can be attended.

The EU Project “Arctic PASSION” aims to build a coherent Arctic Observing System that is adjusted to societal needs based on a co-design of knowledge. The Arctic PASSION Online Seminar and Dialogue Series is a tool to communicate project’s topics, share ideas, plans and results, and to initiate an inclusive and proactive dialogue with people from different groups, backgrounds and career levels. It is targeted to Arctic and Indigenous Youth, Early Career Scientists and other interested audiences.

Online seminar part 1: Storytelling in Science

Have you ever wondered why certain research projects get picked up in the news and not others? Or how some researchers manage to produce science content that goes viral on social media? Sure, part of it is luck, but another part of it is storytelling. By framing your research in a different way, you can increase the chances that your story gets picked up, or that your social media gains a following.

This webinar will give you the tools to tell stories about your research intentionally, identifying newsworthy stories, who’s your audience, what medium best fits your story, and considering whether you want to pitch your story to journalists, or perhaps using your own media production skills, and posting it to social media.

Please register for the Arctic PASSION Seminar Series on Science Communication - Part 1

Can other Northern nations, cities, and communities embrace full-scale renewable energy and move away from fossil fuels given the seeming lack of optima opportunities?

The Arctic is at a crossroads: continue to develop new sustainable technologies or take advantage of the vast fossil fuel reserves that the region contains? The question remains complex as many challenges remain on the path towards sustainability in Arctic energy production. While southern European countries continue to grow their renewable energy production, there is still a prominent reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear power - noted by the total renewable energy production across the EU at only 20% in 2019.

How can Arctic communities implement renewable technologies in remote communities, given the challenging physical and infrastructural barriers? While the case of Iceland´s dominant use of renewable energy sources may be perceived as a model solution, Iceland´s progress is based on its ideal geological location to harness geothermal energy. Similarly, certain Canadian Arctic communities are optimally situated to harness hydroelectric power.

This session will explore the possibilities to achieve a fully renewable grid in the region and what technologies and approaches will need to be embraced to make a complete departure from fossil fuels possible.

The Alaska Ocean Acidification Network announces their Spring Discussion Series with four specialized dialogue sessions from March through May, with the intention to:

• Address and explore topics within ocean acidification that are of most interest to Alaskans
• Discuss ideas and identify priorities
• Document key issues and needs so they can be communicated to funding sources, policymakers and potential collaborators

These dialogue sessions are spaces for you to both learn and provide input. Each session will run from 1-3pm AK time, beginning with a 30 minute presentation by topic area experts, followed by interactive discussion and breakouts. (The dialogue series will also be recorded and made available to registrants after each event).

Topics and Schedule

• March 23 – Regional Conditions: What do we know about ocean acidification conditions around the state, what parts are expected to change most rapidly in the future, and what areas may be most sensitive to change?
• April 5 – Species Response #1: OA and Local Communities: What does ocean acidification mean for mariculture and subsistence?
• April 20 – Species Response #2: Commercial Species: What does ocean acidification mean for commercially harvested species including groundfish, salmon, and crab?
• May 4 – Adaptation and Mitigation: How can carbon dioxide removal, carbon sequestration, and natural climate solutions help us adapt to or mitigate climate change and ocean acidification?

Sea ice models have shown significant improvements over the past decade as targeted research to better understand physical processes related to sea ice evolution were incorporated into the models. This has been driven by the rapid changes in sea ice and the impacts on communities and transportation activities in the Arctic. This is also increasing the need for expanded and improved sea ice forecasting capabilities from the US National Ice Center (USNIC) and the Alaska Sea Ice Program (ASIP). Historically due to lack of operational sea ice guidance on both short and long time scales, sea ice forecasts were a rather manual process based largely upon analogs. With new operational models and improving ice guidance, the ice centers wanted to see how this information could be leveraged to improve sea ice forecasts and potentially expand sea ice services in the future. A Sea Ice Guidance Evaluation Project led by the Arctic Testbed and Proving Ground was initiated to help answer some of these questions and to facilitate feedback between the ice centers and the sea ice modeling community to further improve the guidance. An overview of the project will be presented.

The Virtual Alaska Weather Symposium (VAWS) is a collaboration between ACCAP, the Geographic Information Network of Alaska, and the NOAA National Weather Service. The organizers present cutting-edge technologies in satellite remote sensing, forecasting, and modeling to a statewide audience through this webinar series.

Registration is required.

At the moment, the organizers plan the AGM 2022 to be a physical meeting in Munich. However, if pandemic conditions deteriorate, the organizers might have to switch to a fully virtual conference. They will also accept virtual contributions via an online platform. Given these uncertainties, the organizers would like to invite all interested people to join us for two days of scientific presentations and discussions 24 and 25 March 2022 in Munich and online.

The meeting will serve as a forum for presenting new scientific work related to mountain glaciers from the Alps and elsewhere in relation to environment and climate. Especially early career scientists are welcome to present their ideas and projects. Oral presentations should not exceed 15 minutes. For the posters we will organise an open discussion forum. Online contributions are also welcome, but the organizers prefer a physical presence, in order to allow in-depth discussions.

Abstract deadline is 25 February 2022.

International scientific cooperation is fundamental to the implementation of the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, involving science and decisionmaking institutions involved with governance mechanisms and built structures. The changing Arctic has increasingly important global consequences, generating strategies that involve Arctic and non-Arctic States along with Indigenous Peoples' Organizations to enhance international cooperation with science.

Research and action contributions with science in the Arctic are highlighted by the 2017 Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation that is binding among the eight Arctic states and the Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM) process that began in 2016 among Arctic and non-Arctic states with Arctic Indigenous Peoples' Organizations. This holistic (international, interdisciplinary and inclusive) project will address the inevitable question:

What are the relationships and synergies between the Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM) process and the 2017 Arctic Science Agreement, both of which involve ministries and science?

The theme of this project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan is Enhancing International Scientific Cooperation: Arctic Science and Technology Advice with Ministries and will consist of 3 integrated webinars that are each framed around questions:

• First Webinar: What is Arctic Science? - 21 February, 2022, at 13:00 GMT (04:00 AK / 07:00 CST / 08:00 EST / 14:00 CET/ 15:00 EET / 16:00 Moscow / 22:00 Japan).
• Second Webinar: How can science transform data into evidence for informed decisionmaking? - 10 March, 2022, at 13:00 GMT (04:00 AK / 07:00 CST / 08:00 EST / 14:00 CET/ 15:00 EET / 16:00 Moscow / 22:00 Japan).
• Third Webinar: What international efforts/processes are needed to facilitate progress in understanding the Arctic system and its global impacts? - 24 March, 2022, at 13:00 GMT (04:00 AK / 07:00 CST / 08:00 EST / 14:00 CET/ 15:00 EET / 16:00 Moscow / 22:00 Japan).

The three webinars with this project are open to Arctic scientists, decisionmakers, experts and residents as well as other interested individuals, inclusively. Registration is required.

Separate from the invited plenary presenters and breakout- session moderators, if registration exceeds capacity, priority will be given to individuals who register for all three webinars.

Registration closes on 24 March 2022.

Webinar 3 Speakers

• Dr. Andrey Bryksenkov: Deputy Director, Russian State Hydrometeorological University; Co-Host ASM4.
• Dr. Hiroyuki Enomoto: Vice Director-General, National Institute for Polar Research, Japan; Co-chair ASM3 Science Advisory Board, Japan; Vice-President, IASC.
• Dr. Anne Puech: Deputy Director of Department on Ecology, Agronomy, Environment, Earth and Universe Sciences Sector, Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation; Co-Host ASM4.
• Hon. Fran Ulmer: Former Lt. Governor, Alaska; Former Chair, US Arctic Research Commission; Senior Fellow, Arctic Initiative, Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School.
• Amb. Anton Vasiliev: Russia's Senior Arctic Official 2008-2014; Ambassador to the Republic of Iceland 2014-2020.

International scientific cooperation is fundamental to the implementation of the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, involving science and decisionmaking institutions involved with governance mechanisms and built structures. The changing Arctic has increasingly important global consequences, generating strategies that involve Arctic and non-Arctic States along with Indigenous Peoples' Organizations to enhance international cooperation with science.

Research and action contributions with science in the Arctic are highlighted by the 2017 Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation that is binding among the eight Arctic states and the Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM) process that began in 2016 among Arctic and non-Arctic states with Arctic Indigenous Peoples' Organizations. This holistic (international, interdisciplinary and inclusive) project will address the inevitable question:

What are the relationships and synergies between the Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM) process and the 2017 Arctic Science Agreement, both of which involve ministries and science?

The theme of this project funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan is Enhancing International Scientific Cooperation: Arctic Science and Technology Advice with Ministries and will consist of 3 integrated webinars that are each framed around questions:

• First Webinar: What is Arctic Science? - 21 February, 2022, at 13:00 GMT (04:00 AK / 07:00 CST / 08:00 EST / 14:00 CET/ 15:00 EET / 16:00 Moscow / 22:00 Japan).
• Second Webinar: How can science transform data into evidence for informed decisionmaking? - 10 March, 2022, at 13:00 GMT (04:00 AK / 07:00 CST / 08:00 EST / 14:00 CET/ 15:00 EET / 16:00 Moscow / 22:00 Japan).
• Third Webinar: What international efforts/processes are needed to facilitate progress in understanding the Arctic system and its global impacts? - 24 March, 2022, at 13:00 GMT (04:00 AK / 07:00 CST / 08:00 EST / 14:00 CET/ 15:00 EET / 16:00 Moscow / 22:00 Japan).

The three webinars with this project are open to Arctic scientists, decisionmakers, experts and residents as well as other interested individuals, inclusively. Registration is required.

Separate from the invited plenary presenters and breakout- session moderators, if registration exceeds capacity, priority will be given to individuals who register for all three webinars.

Registration closes on 24 March 2022.

The Arctic PASSION EU project starts its Online Seminar and Dialogue Series with a two-part kickoff seminar on science communication during the APECS International Polar Week. Seminar Part I will be on "Storytelling in Science" (22 March) and Part II on "How to produce media in the field" (24 March). Both seminars are independent of each other and either both or only one can be attended.

The EU Project “Arctic PASSION” aims to build a coherent Arctic Observing System that is adjusted to societal needs based on a co-design of knowledge. The Arctic PASSION Online Seminar and Dialogue Series is a tool to communicate project’s topics, share ideas, plans and results, and to initiate an inclusive and proactive dialogue with people from different groups, backgrounds and career levels. It is targeted to Arctic and Indigenous Youth, Early Career Scientists and other interested audiences.

Online seminar part 2: Media Production in the Field

So, you’ve identified your story and how you want to tell it, but now you’ve got to actually go out there and gather the media, on top of doing your actual research. In part 2 of the Polar Week sci comms seminar the organizers will go over how to gather media in the field. They will cover how to identify your story’s needs and how to put together a production plan that allows you to work smarter, not harder. They will also go over some basic photography and videography best practices, what kinds of shots to gather, how to prepare for an interview, and some tips on how best to record audio.

Please register for the Arctic PASSION Seminar Series on Science Communication - Part 2

In this informational webinar and Q&A session, speakers will provide an overview of ACCAP’s (Alaska Center for Climate Assessment & Policy) new Small Grants Program, which aims to build resilience and climate adaptation capacity in regional and statewide nonprofit organizations serving Alaska Native peoples. This new program will provide funding support for activities that enhance the capacity of nonprofit organizations to meet the needs of Alaska Native peoples in the areas of response, resilience, and adaptation to climate change. This webinar will include a Q&A session for prospective applicants.