Past Events

The ICPG 2013 is an excellent platform to communicate your research in population geographies to the rest of the academic world. From September 1st, 2012 onwards it is possible to upload your abstracts. Completed papers as well as works in progress are welcome. Plenary sessions on Healthy Ageing and Population Decline will be organized. Special sessions on Healthy Ageing, Population Decline, Global Population Growth, Environmental Change and Migration, Arctic Population Geography, Highly Skilled Migration between the Global North and South and Internal Migration of Graduates and Regional Labour Markets will be hosted, so researchers in these fields are especially encouraged to come over and present.

Two keynote speakers for the conference include:

Professor Sarah Harper speaking on “Rethinking Global Ageing.” Professor Harper is Director of the Oxford Institute of Population Aging.

Dr. Cristina Martinez-Fernandez speaking on “The impact of demographic change on local labour markets: lessons from the Netherlands and OECD countries.” Dr. Martinez is Senior Policy Analyst at the OECD, located in Paris.

Developments in the Arctic have mostly been studied through defense studies, international relations, geopolitics, and to a lesser extent, economics. Public policies of arctic states in the High North have attracted far less attention, with the exception of Indigenous peoples' rights. This panel refers to the definition of the Arctic by the Arctic Human Development Report based largely on northern political units. Although the Arctic is not a homogenous region physically, economically, or politically, the arctic states face comparable challenges such as adapting to a warmer climate and the development of remote areas. Many parts of the Arctic are characterized by a harsh environment with little infrastructure, long distances, and ethnically diverse populations. While some regions are affected by out-migration, and others by in-migration, more transient workers are needed for mining and the hydrocarbon industries. The purpose of this panel is to analyze and discuss:

• To what extent climate change and the economic prospects in the Arctic have changed public policies;
• To what extent public policies are limiting or motivating economic development through legislation, infrastructure development, and direct or indirect subsidization, particularly in the mining and hydrocarbon sector and in transport (shipping);
• The capacity to act by the elected representatives at the local level, and to analyze to what extent citizens and communities are engaged in the development of public policies
• How conflicting interests between economic sectors are considered (e.g. tourism versus mining, petroleum activities versus fisheries and traditional subsistence);
• How social cohesion between various categories of the population (Indigenous/non indigenous, permanent/transient) appears as an issue in current public policies;
• If public policies are shaped by regional frameworks of cooperation and international agreements and norms;
• How arctic policy making can be seen as an imaginary and symbolic construction.

Comparative approaches of public policies in the Arctic are particularly welcome. In order to propose a paper, please send an abstract (300 words max.) directly to panel chair Cecile Pelaudeix (cecile.pelaudeix [at] sciencespo-lyon.fr).

Abstract submission deadline: Friday, 1 February 2013.

The growing focus on arctic oil/gas exploration and production has raised the need for new industry practices and standards for materials selection, qualification and design for structures. Challenges in arctic operations include low temperatures that are encountered (i.e. design temperatures down to -60°C) and large temperature variations between summer and winter. Yet another aspect is the potentially large deformations that may be imposed on pipelines and structures due to frost heave, thaw settlement, or iceberg scour. Due to the harsh weather and poor light conditions, transportation, installation and maintenance work can be very challenging. Emissions from the operation and large operational "foot-print" must be controlled to minimize environmental impact. In order to pursue exploration in arctic areas it is necessary to develop robust structures which are easy to deploy and maintain. Key factors in this picture are materials and welding technology. Thus, a special symposium is being organized to provide the scientific-industrial community an insight of new materials and technology development in the subject of "Arctic Materials".

Suggested Topics

• Materials development (steels, composites, etc.)
• Welding consumables
• Welding technology
• Low temperature properties
• Mechanisms of embrittlement
• Large deformations
• Testing and evaluation methods
• Modelling and simulation
• Design, safety and risks
• Codes and standards development

The conference will bring together some 1200 scientists from both fields to present and discuss the latest research in separate or joint sessions. A large variety of topics will be covered, from ice-sheet modelling to extreme climate events, from solar UV radiation to avalanche formation and permafrost – be sure to contribute and benefit from the possibility to extend your network and meet excellent scientists from a wide range of fields.

DACA-13 offers a platform to discuss the latest developments in atmospheric and cryospheric research. The overall theme “Air, Ice & Process Interactions” implies that it has been recognized that many of the key challenges concerning global environmental change lie at the interface of traditional disciplines. The atmosphere and the cryosphere are particularly important and vulnerable in this context. Attention will therefore be given to atmospheric and cryospheric processes with the aim to also emphasize the many interactions that exist between the atmosphere and the cryosphere.

This year the BC3 Summer School (July 8th, 9th, 10th) entitled "Addressing Climate Change Challenges from a Multidisciplinary Perspective" will be structured similarly to IPCC (International Panel for Climate Change) assessment reports. For this purpose, we have invited researchers that can help us to better understand the biophysical part behind the economics of climate change. The course will have three main sessions/days, each of them focusing in one of the subjects of the IPCC Working Groups: climate science, adaptation and impact and mitigation of climate change. An IPCC-member scientist will be a keynote lecture for each session. After that, top leading invited speakers will cover in more detail the main key issues in the climate change research agenda.

The topics that will be covered this year are: arctic sea ice dynamics, ocean circulation models and its implications for state-shift events, see level rise projections and implications, impacts of climate change on water, food and health, mitigation options, technologies and cost, climate policies at global level and economic instruments.

The school is open to Master students, PhD students, postdoctoral fellows and other researchers as well as policy makers interested in acquiring a deep understanding of climate change and the policies designed to fight it.

PhD students and postdoctoral participants will have the opportunity to present their work in a specific poster session and get feedback from the faculty.

The 3rd Airship Workshop will follow up the achievements of last year's workshop by focusing on potential approaches and actions that would facilitate establishing strong cargo airship business commitments to serving customers in Alaska and other Northern areas. Workshops will consider specific actions that may be initiated.

Discussions will include:

• Establishment of one or more formal airship users groups to represent an aggregation of potential airship services users.
• Federal or State government contracting approaches that could provide cargo airship operators with formal commitments to use airship services.
• Public/private airship investment opportunities in airship infrastructure and airship developing companies to facilitate construction of necessary airships and their operational support facilities.

If you are interested in being a workshop sponsor, exhibitor, or speaker please contact:

Karen Felts
Project Assistant
AK Department of Transportation
907-266-2787 (Office)
Karen.felts [at] alaska.gov

Ron Hochstetler
Workshop Technical Chairman
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
703-725-0848 (Work Mobile)
hochstetlerr [at] saic.com

Canterbury Christ Church University is pleased to announce that it will be running a new short course in GIS. The intensive week-long course will run from 15th-19th July 2013 at its Canterbury campus, in Kent, UK.

The five-day course will introduce you to the basic concepts and principles of GIS and explains how this growing technology can bring real value to the work place. The course involves the practical use of ESRI software (ArcGIS, Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst) showing how key techniques can be applied to a range of situations. The course will also demonstrate how associated technologies, such as remote sensing (e.g. aerial photography, satellite imagery, and LIDAR) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) can be successfully integrated with GIS to provide powerful tools. The course assumes no prior experience of GIS and will be particularly beneficial if you:

• Would like to integrate GIS techniques within your current job;
• Are looking for employment that requires hands-on experience of GIS;
• Are a research student or academic who would like to apply GIS techniques for data analysis; and
• Have a general interest in GIS and would like to learn new skills.

The course will run over five days (10am to 4pm) and will include a mixture of short lectures and longer practical sessions. Students will also be encouraged to undertake self-learning through completing the online ESRI certified 'Virtual Campus' course to receive industry recognized accreditation. Each student will also receive a University certificate on completion of the course.

The cost of the course will be £560 per student. To keep costs down, refreshments are not included. However, there are several excellent on-campus facilities nearby.

The Short Course in GIS is open to any individual with a keen interest in GIS. There are no particular academic requirements, although a good level of computer literacy is essential. Please visit our website for further information and to download an application form: http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/social-applied-sciences/geographical-and-li….

Applications must be received no later than Friday 21st June 2013, applications will be on a first-come, first-served basis so we advise an early booking to avoid disappointment.

If you have any questions or require any further information then please do not hesitate to contact either Dr Alex Kent or Dr Katie Wooldridge by email at geography [at] canterbury.ac.uk or call 01227 782331.

This symposium links the functional importance of land and water ecosystems and their biocomplexity under an ecosystemic perspective in order to understand: the Antarctic trophic web; effects of human impacts such as the ozone hole, climate change, and the increase in tourism activities; the flexible boundaries and dynamic gradients in Antarctic ecosystem; and the Antarctic marine biodiversity through its patterns, processes, and trends. The symposium is organized around six themes:

• Terrestrial biocomplexity: Function and linkages in land and water ecosystems
• Integrated perspectives on Antarctic marine ecosystems: From krill to top predators
• Human impacts on Antarctic ecosystems: From global change to small scale impacts
• Physical and biogeochemical processes in the Antarctic ecosystem: Flexible boundaries and dynamic gradients
• Antarctic marine biodiversity: Patterns, processes and trends in an ancient ecosystem
• Outreach and Education

Abstracts are invited for poster and/or oral presentations relevant to one of these themes. Authors must be submitted online, and authors must indicate which theme's referees should evaluate the submission. Final session titles and paper allocation will be made by the Local Scientific Organizing Committee at the time of the final program composition.

Abstract submission deadline: 31 January 2013.

The U.S. National/Naval Ice Center (NIC) and the U.S. Arctic Research Commission (USARC) co-host this follow-on symposium to address the changing state of Arctic sea ice and associated environmental conditions vis-a-vis emerging or expected naval, maritime, and associated activities and operations in the region. Invited speakers include nationally and internationally recognized experts on Arctic observations, climate change, and maritime operations.

The Alaska State Society will convene again on Saturday, July 20, for another round of brunch and Qugruk conversation in the upstairs room at Mr. Henry's restaurant. This month's guest will be Fran Ulmer, the presidentially-appointed Chair of the United States Arctic Research Commission. As Alaskans know, Fran Ulmer has also been, at various times, the chancellor of UAA; the Lt. Governor of Alaska; an Alaska state legislator; and the mayor of Juneau. We'll brunch for 30 minutes, then give the floor to our speaker. Under the banner, "What happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic," Commissioner Ulmer will address Arctic shipping, research, climate change, and oil-spill prevention and response--all followed by questions and answers from the audience.

*The qugruk, or tundra swan -- like many AKSS members -- regularly flies between Alaska and Washington, D.C.

Ice in the polar region, including ice sheet, ice shelves and sea ice are in constant motions, which are closely related to global change. Sea-level rise (SLR) is one of the consequences result from of global change. Recent study on SLR budget indicate that the contribution from land ice has increased by ~60% in the past decade. This workshop on ice in motion will take place right before the Beijing 2013 IGS symposium and will concentrate on the recent advance in remote sensing and observation of the cryosphere, especially the ice. Over 10 invited talks will be given by internationally known scientists, including Prof. Robert Bindschadler, Ted Scambos, Christina Hulbe, Regine Hock, Weili Wang, Yuansheng Li, Bo Sun, and Rongxing Li, et al.

The workshop is organized by the College of Global Change and Earth System Science (GCESS), Beijing Normal University (BNU) and the State key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science (SLRSS).

The International Glaciological Society will hold an International Symposium on 'Changes in Glaciers and Ice Sheets: observations, modelling and environmental interactions' in 2013. The symposium will be held in Beijing, People's Republic of China, from 28 July–2 August 2013.

Glaciers and ice sheets are important components that control sea level change. In response to a warming climate, Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets have significantly lost mass during the last decade, and mountain glaciers worldwide have rapidly declined. Changes in mountain glaciers have direct impacts on human activities, especially in mid-latitude regions, where high-altitude snow and ice contribute to the hydrological controls of human activity. Therefore, the symposium specifically includes topics pertinent to the Earth's 'Third Pole' (the high-altitude plateaus of Central Asia). To improve our understanding of the dynamics of cryospheric change, interactions with the climate and impact on the living environment of mountainous regions, it aims to provide a general discussion of changes in these components of the global cryosphere with broader aspects from recent in situ observations, remote sensing measurements and modelling efforts.

Please submit your abstract online and register your interest to attend at http://www.igsoc.org/symposia/2013/beijing/

I also encourage you to investigate your visa requirements. A detailed description of what is required can be found on the Local Organizing Committee's website http://iscgis.csp.escience.cn/dct/page/70014. Please note in particular what is required if you are planning to visit Tibet.

Please contact the LOC (iscgis [at] itpcas.ac.cn ) for further information.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) announces that the Advanced Study Program 2013 summer colloquium will be held 29 July - 16 August 2013 in Boulder, Colorado. Entitled "Carbon-Climate Connections in the Earth System," the program will fund travel and living expenses for about 25 graduate student participants.

This colloquium is designed for graduate students who have completed at least one year in a field related to biogeochemistry or Earth system modeling. The colloquium will focus on the physical, biological, and chemical mechanisms that regulate the global carbon cycle. It will feature lectures from international experts on key aspects of the carbon cycle and its representation in Earth system models. Lectures will address both terrestrial and ocean biogeochemical systems, and include observational and modeling perspectives. Furthermore, lectures will be given on coupled climate modeling and analytical techniques relevant to carbon cycle science. Tutorials and computer-based exercises will provide experience working with models spanning a range of complexity. Student projects will examine the behavior of cutting-edge Earth system models in simulations submitted to phase five of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5).

Attendees will obtain an integrated conceptual understanding of the processes regulating the global carbon cycle. Students will learn state-of-the-art modeling approaches used in Earth system models and recognize key elements contributing to uncertainty in future projections. Student will gain hands-on experience working with model output and the observational data sets used to calibrate and evaluate the models.

Application deadline: Friday, 15 February 2013.

Presentations, roundtable discussions and workshops are held as part of the Week of the Arctic, varied in form to reach different audiences and achieve multiple goals. The Robert O. Anderson Sustainable Arctic Award dinner is the signature event for the Week of the Arctic. In recent years, the Award has been given to Red Dog Mine (2012) and Jacob Adams (2011). The award was created in 2000 to recognize individuals and organizations that make outstanding contributions toward sustainable development in the Arctic. Join us as we present CH2M Hill this year's Award. The Week of the Arctic culminates on Sunday, August 18 with a champagne toast in celebration of the Governor Walter J. Hickel Day of the Arctic.

Snow remote sensing has been a 40-year effort, with some successes, but some big challenges remaining. This is not because of lack of effort, but rather because snow remote sensing is hard to do, and because what society needs to know ranges from assessing regional and hemispheric climate impacts of snow to specific basin runoff forecasts for water management. But there are new technologies, and innovative ways of working with older technologies, that are showing great promise today. In addition, data assimilation methods and modeling snow stochastically and physically have come a long way. The time is ripe to galvanize the community, provide a blueprint for action to stakeholders and agencies that is inclusive, comprehensive, and addresses multiple needs, and which can help accelerate the pace of delivering practical snow remote sensing products to a wide range of users. Please think about attending the NASA Snow Remote Sensing Workshop in Boulder CO. August 14–16, a key step in achieving these goals.

For more information contact:
Dr. Matthew Sturm (matthew.sturm [at] gi.alaska.edu)
Dr. Chris Derksen (Chris.Derksen [at] ec.gc.ca)
Dr. Mark Serreze (serreze [at] nsidc.org)
Dr. Jared Entin (jared.k.entin [at] nasa.gov)

Join us in Edmonton for the Canadian Quaternary Association biannual meeting August 18-21, 2013. The meeting will be joint with the Canadian Geomorphology Research Group and hosted at the University of Alberta. The meeting includes 18 special sessions covering diverse areas of Quaternary science.

There will be also two pre-conference field trips:

• Jasper and the Athabasca glacier August 17-18 Led by Nat Rutter (University of Alberta) and Dan Utting (Alberta Geological Survey)
• Glacial geomorphology of paleo-ice streams of Southern Alberta August 16-18. Led by David Evans (University of Durham)

Abstract Deadline: 15 April 2013

Organizers of the conference entitled, "Climate Change in Northern Territories: Sharing Experiences, Exploring New Method,s and Assessing Socio-Economic Impacts," announce a first call for abstracts for general participation and young researchers. The conference, organized by the European Observation Network (ESPON)/Evidence in a North European Context (ENECON) in cooperation with the Northern Research Forum (NFR), will convene 22-23 August 2013 in Akureyri, Iceland.

The ENECON project addresses challenges and opportunities facing territorial development and spatial planning policies, and practices, particular to the vast territory of the very northern part of Europe. The goal of the conference is to turn attention to territorial challenges and the need for future research in the northernmost regions of Europe and the Arctic; and the challenge of translating scientific knowledge into action. The conference aims to bring together researchers who have similar backgrounds but focus on different problems and different methodological approaches. Regional and local stakeholders as well as state politicians and policymakers are also target groups for the conference.

Sub-themes of the conference include:

• Territorial socio-economic impacts of climate change,
• Methodologies for assessing socio-economic impact, and
• Adaptation to climate change in regions and local communities--examining methods and sharing knowledge.

Abstract submission deadline: 28 February 2013.

The International Arctic Research Center (IARC) of the University of Alaska Fairbanks announces a summer school on climate change in the Arctic Ocean. The class is intended for PhD students, postdocs, and early-career scientists. It will be conducted jointly with an arctic expedition as a part of the Nansen and Amundsen Basin Observational System (NABOS) project onboard the Russian research vessel "Akademik Fedorov." The National Science Foundation funds both the summer school and NABOS expedition.

The one-month summer school will bring graduate students and young scientists together with specialists in arctic oceanography and climate to convey to a new generation of scientists the opportunities and challenges of arctic climate observations and modeling. Specifically, young scientists will gain:

• Hands-on experience during the field campaign;
• Perspectives on the key issues in arctic climate from observational, diagnostic, and modeling perspectives; and
• Exposure to the methods used in addressing arctic climate and climate change.

The summer school will consist of background lectures, participation in fieldwork, and mini-projects. The mini-projects will be performed in collaboration with summer school instructors and members of the expedition. Key topics to be covered in the lectures include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Arctic climate: key characteristics and processes;
• Physical processes in the Arctic Ocean;
• Sea ice and the Arctic Ocean;
• Trace gases, aerosols, and chemistry: importance for climate changes;
• Feedbacks in the arctic system (e.g., surface albedo, clouds, water vapor, circulation);
• Arctic climate variations: past, ongoing, and projected; and
• Global climate models: an overview.

The 33-day long NABOS expedition will start on 22 August 2013 from Kirkenes, Norway, and return to Kirkenes on 23 September 2013. Participants will need to arrive at least one day before the departure and book return tickets at least one day after the ship's scheduled return. All participants will be accommodated onboard Akademik Fedorov in cabins for 2 or 4 people. IARC will issue partial travel grants for travel to/from Kirkenes, with amounts determined through an application process.

Application packages should include a curriculum vitae, a letter of interest, and a letter of support from the applicant's supervisor. The cover letter should include estimates for the participant's travel expenses to/from Kirkenes (including lodging in Kirkenes).

Application deadline: Wednesday, 15 May 2013.

Please send applications electronically, to: Tohru Saito Email: saito [at] iarc.uaf.edu

Set in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Goldschmidt 2013 will be able to offer an outstanding science program alongside the opportunity to enjoy the many cultural riches the city has to offer.

Based in the heart of the city, the Firenze Fiera Congress and Exhibition Centre, will host all the scientific sessions in one complex. With two international airports within easy reach and an integrated public transport system, visiting the historic city of Florence is simple.

Abstract submission is now open, with the abstract submission deadline being April 12th (23:59 GMT) 2013. Registration, exhibition bookings and accommodation information is also available from the relevant pages on the site. Field trips and some Workshop registrations are also available on the site. Field trips must be booked by April 12th and bookings for workshops will close on June 25th.

We would like to announce a workshop on Subglacial Hydrology organized by the Nordic Centre of Excellence SVALI (http://www.ncoe-svali.org/) at the Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland 26-30 August 2013 with excursion 31.8-1.9 2013.

The aim of this workshop is to give a thorough introduction on the theory, observations and modeling in the field of glacial hydrology. Students and researchers with interest in glaciology and hydrology are encouraged to join the course.