Past Events

Mini-Workshop Wednesday November 29, 2023 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. AKT

The Permafrost Discovery Gateway (PDG) is hosting a 1.5 hour mini-workshop. They would like to hear feedback from end users on what geospatial data and tools are needed to support planning for communities in Alaska affected by ice-rich permafrost, both from the community to the State level.

During the mini workshop, they look to obtain specific suggestions on: (1) what to improve on existing tools (ImageryViewer); (2) what type of additional tools/features would be useful; and (3) the type of data being produced; and (4) what existing data to add to the PDG.

PDG invites people who contribute to planning for communities in Alaska affected by ice-rich permafrost, both from the community to the state level, and people with knowledge of what type of tools & data are useful for planning effort in communities affected by permafrost thaw. This mini-workshop is open to all.

Learn more: https://arcticdata.io/catalog/portals/permafrost/Stay-Connected

Event: https://woodwellclimate-org.zoom.us/j/88360480104?pwd=UeGyy8bnxxvN7n7dT…

The Strait Science Series lectures are presented by UAF Northwest Campus and Alaska Sea Grant to promote understanding between citizens of the Bering Strait region and the researchers who frequent the Seward Peninsula.

Microplastics are tiny plastic waste found across oceans and eaten by many marine organisms. The stomachs of spotted seals harvested for subsistence near Gambell and Shishmaref during 2012 and 2020 were examined for microplastics. Come learn the results of microplastics in seals between locations, years, and ages. Do different prey types determine the amount of microplastics eaten?

Alexandria Sletten is a master’s candidate with the UAF Marine Biology program and works for ADF&G.

Zoom Link - https://tinyurl.com/5n6kas9p
Meeting ID: 875 1974 8383, Passcode: 719050
Or call: 253-215-8782

Hosted in Iqaluit, Nunavut 4–7 December 2023, the ArcticNet Annual Scientific Meeting 2023 (ASM2023) is a hub for Arctic and northern research in Canada. The ASM2023 brings together researchers from the natural, health, and social sciences to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing Arctic region. This conference will push the boundaries of our collective understanding of the Arctic and strengthen our ability to address the issues of today and tomorrow.

Interdisciplinary cooperation and knowledge sharing, across the Arctic and the North, as well as innovative and evidence-based research, are key in achieving climate change adaptation and proposing sound mitigation strategies. As a hub for Arctic research in Canada, the ASM brings together a broad range of research in and about the Arctic and northern regions of Canada and the world. The ASM2023 advances our collective understanding with an inclusive view of the North spanning from Inuit Nunangat, across the Canadian territories and provinces, circumpolar Arctic regions, and beyond.

The recently released Fifth National Climate Assessment examines how climate change affects various aspects of our society, from health and livelihoods through our built environment and our security. During this webinar, Henry Huntington and several co-authors will discuss the Alaska chapter, which examines the many ways that Alaska communities and others are adapting to a changing environment.

Register on our website for the online event - https://uaf-accap.org/event/nca5-alaska/

Building on the scholarship of three cohorts of the Fulbright Arctic Initiative, Fulbright Arctic IV will bring together a network of professionals, practitioners and researchers from the United States, Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and Sweden for monthly webinars, thematic group collaboration, three in-person meetings and an individual exchange experience to advance Arctic knowledge systems and policies through an interdisciplinary framework.

The Fulbright Arctic Initiative will provide a platform for scholars from across the Arctic region to engage in collaborative thinking, analysis, problem-solving and multi-disciplinary research in three main thematic areas:
• Climate Change and Arctic Resources
• Arctic Security and Governance
• Mental Health and Well-Being

Selected scholars will participate in an individual Fulbright exchange of a minimum of six weeks up to three months, as well as in-person seminars, monthly webinars and ongoing virtual communication, all supporting the scholars’ collaborative group projects. Awards will begin in September 2024 and run for 18 months, through spring 2026.

Faculty, researchers and practitioners from the eight Arctic Council member states may now apply for this collaborative research program. The application will close on March 1, 2024.

Applications OPEN through Dec 6th for Indigenous Stewardship & Meaningful Collaboration - an 11-week course for professionals and students!

The Northern Latitudes Partnerships is pleased to partner with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska Pacific University to offer Indigenous Stewardship and Meaningful Collaboration course this spring (Feb 9 through April 26).

Course Description: This is an 11-week, advanced level course intended to create welcoming, respectful spaces, dialogues, and productive collaborations with Tribes, Indigenous peoples, land management agencies, and conservation organizations. The course will include topics on Indigenous Knowledges, Co-Production of Knowledge, Equity and Inclusion, Indigenous Land Stewardship, and Collaborating Meaningfully with Indigenous Communities & Partners. The course aims to serve land and wildlife managing agencies, Tribal councils and staff, non-profit organizations, and graduate and undergraduate environmental science students. The course is developed by the Indigenous Collaborations Program - a partnership of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Alaska Pacific University (APU), Northern Latitudes Partnerships (NLP), and Alaska Conservation Foundation (ACF).

The class meets Fridays via Zoom 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. AKT, February 9–April 26. This also includes two all-day, in-person classes at Alaska Pacific University (in Anchorage), from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. AKT on February 23 and April 26. (Travel support is available for the in-person classes). Below are more details on the course.

Applications are due December 6th and can be filled out via this form: https://forms.gle/uSHzrKSKCESoZwcg8

For direct inquiries, please contact James Temte at jtemte [at] alaskapacific.edu - please DO NOT reply to this email as your message might be missed.

The Permafrost Discovery Gateway hosts a monthly webinar series on a Thursday at 09:00 Alaska time. The webinar aims to 1) connect the international science community interested in big data remote sensing of permafrost landscapes, and 2) provide the Permafrost Discovery Gateway development team with end-user stories (by the presenter and webinar participants), such as exploring tools the community needs to create and explore big data.

Abstract

Areas along the Arctic coast are changing the fastest among all of Earth’s habitats due to climate change. Accelerated warming and changing precipitation regimes has led to extensive permafrost thaw that can substantially impact land cover distributions and the regional carbon balance. Moreover, there is growing interest in exploring for oil and gas resources in these areas which provide habitat for migratory birds, fish, caribou, and other species that are endangered or critical for local subsistence living. The coastal plain (1002 area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has seen renewed interest for oil and gas extraction recently, but past investigations suggest that the area has ongoing and extensive natural ecosystem changes. It is therefore urgent to improve the understanding of this area and its vulnerability to change. Here we describe results from a 3-year project that leverages: (1) field surveys to assess local vegetation, snow, topography soil conditions, and river/stream discharge; (2) remote sensing data (e.g. LiDAR, CubeSat, Maxar, Landsat, IceSAT-2) and analysis to document regional variations in surface and near-surface conditions through time, and; (3) advanced empirical and mechanistic modeling to simulate historical (1950 – 2022) and future (2023 – 2100) land cover, soil conditions, snow depth and runoff, and carbon dynamics in response to changes in climate and disturbances. We will provide an overview of study design and initial results from our field campaigns, remote sensing analysis (e.g., snow depth, topography), and modeling and data assimilation efforts. We will highlight efforts to characterize changing hydrologic conditions, thermokarst disturbances, and land cover using in situ observations, data acquired from passive and active sensors, deep neural networks, and a cryohydrologic (SUTRA-ICE) and state-and-transition model (the Alaska Disturbance Model). We are also exploring the use of a process-guided deep learning system that couples an ecosystem model (the Integrated Ecosystem Model) and an ensemble of deep neural networks for improving estimates of soil conditions (i.e., temperature, moisture) and carbon dynamics. The resulting data is to be used to identify areas vulnerable to change and will allow managers to better understand risks and guide oil and gas development if it occurs in the region.

The Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP) is an 8-week intensive field course for students interested in undergraduate-level Polar sciences. Participants receive training in Earth & climate sciences, alpine travel & safety skills, and science communication while traversing the Juneau Icefield from Southeast Alaska to northern British Columbia.

Important dates:

10 December 2023: Academic and Scholarship applications due. Applications submitted after the due date will be considered on a rolling basis.

Late January 2024: Application decisions sent out.

Early June - Early August 2024: JIRP 2024 Expedition.

For more than 100 years the American Geophysical Union (AGU) has been opening science - opening pathways to discovery, opening greater awareness to address climate change, opening greater collaborations to lead to solutions and opening the fields and professions of science to a whole new age of justice equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

This year, as AGU convene >25,000 attendees from 100+ countries in San Francisco for AGU23, the theme is: Wide. Open. Science.

Proposals are invited for topics across a broad range of scientific disciplines and sessions that focus on areas such as diversity, inclusion and ethics; open and fair data; new technologies; engineering and design, and science communication.

Abstract submissions will open in mid-June with a deadline of 2 August 2023. Visit the submission proposal site to submit a proposal.

Proposals are sought for:

• Scientific sessions
• Union sessions
• Innovations
• Town Halls
• Scientific Workshops

The conference is being organized by the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Management Division, with significant financial and logistical support from other US Fish and Wildlife Divisions; U.S. Geological Survey’s Alaska Science Center; Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Threatened, Endangered, and Diversity Program; Bureau of Ocean Energy and Management; Audubon Alaska; and Alaska Biological Research Associates, Inc.

This year marks the 20th Alaska Bird Conference. The Conference regularly attracts between 150 and 200 participants reporting on their latest findings and new initiatives. By design, the conference retains a familiar and friendly atmosphere, welcoming new students and ornithologists into the fold, and providing a much-anticipated gathering for those who work with and care about Alaska’s birds.

The theme of the conference is “Bring Birds Back”. Organizers chose this theme to highlight the peril many migratory bird species face today as they transit between their breeding, migratory stopover, and wintering areas.

Abstracts for Oral Presentations and Posters are due 11:59 pm AKDT 2 October 2023.

The Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies invites participation in the upcoming Arctic Multidomain Legal (AML) Coursescheduled for 12-14 December 2023. For more information about the course, and to review all FY24 course dates, please click the provided link.

As an introductory survey course, AML is intended for Arctic practitioners and security professionals in the United States and Allied countries who have little to no exposure to the law, but whose positions require them to have a greater understanding of Arctic legal frameworks, instruments, and concepts. It will examine the most relevant Arctic legal frameworks, instruments, and concepts across multiple domains.

This three-day course will be taught virtually using synchronous and asynchronous learning methods four times during FY2024. The course will run from 08:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. AKST each day. Students will engage in legal exercises in an assigned breakout group.

We invite you to place a request for registration soon, as space is quite limited. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the course, please let me know.

To register, please visit the following link: https://forms.office.com/g/H0Mw5C4t7H

The Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission has formally announced it will be hosting the final triannual meeting for 2023 at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage on 13–16 December. Requests for presentations are due no later than one month prior. Approved presenters must provide copies of their presentations to the AEWC staff one week before the meeting. Once finalized, the agenda can be found on the AEWC website.

The Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies announces an abstract deadline of 15 December 2023 for contributions to JACSS Vol. 1, Ed. 2. Journal of Arctic and Climate Security Studies (JACSS) Volume 1, Edition 2 Call for Submissions

Potential authors are invited to focus on Arctic security issues ranging from geophysical to geostrategic.

Please submit abstracts or inquiries to the editorial staff TSC-JACSS [at] af.groups.mil for expected publication in the summer of 2024.

JACSS is a peer-reviewed publication. Articles are unclassified, and readers can access articles from all over the world. Submissions will be received in
English language, clearly written for an informed audience of defense and security affairs practitioners and academics.

Join Harvard Kennedy School’s Arctic Initiative for a debrief with Arctic experts recently returned from the United Nations Conference on Climate Change. The panelists will reflect on their key takeaways from the conference and answer any questions you might have about its outcomes, with a focus on Arctic biodiversity, permafrost thaw, and Indigenous peoples.

How can long-term observations of Arctic marine environments best benefit Indigenous Peoples and the broader region? The international ROADS initiative takes aim at this lofty goal. Join us to explore what this might mean for the Bering Strait region.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 898 8305 9801, Passcode: 988529
Or call: 253-215-8782

Hajo Eicken is director of the UAF International Arctic Research Center.

The Arctic Data Center invites applications to participate in their upcoming in-person workshop, Scalable and Computationally Reproducible Approaches to Arctic Research. This workshop will take place 25-29 March 2024 in Santa Barbara, California.

This workshop at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) will provide researchers with an introduction to advanced topics in computationally reproducible research in Python, including software and techniques for working with very large datasets. This includes working in cloud computing environments, docker containers, and parallel processing using tools like parsl and dask. The workshop will also cover concrete methods for documenting and uploading data to the Arctic Data Center, advanced approaches to tracking data provenance, responsible research and data management practices including data sovereignty and the CARE principles, and ethical concerns with data-intensive modeling and analysis.

This course is intended for those who need to take their skills to the next level to maximize efficiency working with big datasets or running computing-intensive processes.

Support to travel and/or lodging may be available.

Application deadline: 22 December 2023

For more information, go to:
Workshop Application Webform

For questions, contact:
Angie Garcia
Email: agarcia [at] nceas.ucsb.edu

Join UAF Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy for this month's Alaska Climate Outlook Briefing. Rick Thoman will review recent and current climate conditions around Alaska, discuss some forecasting tools, and finish up with the Climate Prediction Center’s forecast for January 2024 and the winter season. Join the gathering online to learn what’s happened and what may be in store with Alaska’s seasonal climate.

IASC is now accepting proposals for consideration for IASC funding in 2024 until 8 January 2024 at 13:00 GMT. The funding is provided by the five IASC Working Groups (WGs) (Atmosphere, Cryosphere, Marine, Social & Human, Terrestrial) and aimed at encouraging and supporting science-led international programmes by offering opportunities for planning and coordination, and by facilitating communication and access to facilities.

Proposals can be submitted for:

• Cross-cutting Projects(relevant for two or more IASC Working Groups); or
• WG-specific Projects(relevant for only one IASC Working Group)

Proposals may include, but are not limited to, projects that contribute to the engagement phase during 2024 of the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) process. IASC is coordinating the ICARP IV process (2022-2026) by engaging its partners in Arctic research to enable a community-wide undertaking to discuss the state of Arctic science and the place the Arctic occupies in global affairs and systems, to consider the most urgent knowledge gaps and research priorities for the next decade, and to explore avenues to address these research needs. More information on ICARP IV is available on the ICARP IV website. Detailed information on the call for proposals for each project type, the evaluation criteria used and how to apply is available on the IASC website.

Walruses: Under Review!

Thursday, January 11 | 6:30 pm | ZOOM OR VIA PHONE

Currently, Pacific walruses are not listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Should they be? During 2024, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is required to conduct a Species Status review to determine if Pacific walruses should be listed under the ESA. Come learn more about the ongoing review process and how you can contribute. Bring your questions and share your perspective!

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 880 2250 9615, Passcode: 431797
Or call: 253-215-8782

Dan Bjornlie and Joel Garlich-Miller are walrus biologists with the US Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Marine Mammal Management.

This Alaska statewide Co-Stewardship Symposium is intended to build understanding, relationships, and knowledge that advance Indigenous co-stewardship for the health and wellbeing of all Alaskan human and non-human relatives, lands, and waters. It is a gathering by and for Tribal governments, Alaska Native organizations and corporations, government resource management agencies, university partners, and conservation partners.

The symposium will feature knowledgeable speakers from around the state, and participants will spend considerable time engaged in meaningful dialogues with one another. Themes will include better understanding of co-stewardship and Indigenous-led stewardship of lands and waters, healing relationships and respectful collaboration, upholding Tribal governance, racial equity, the process of co-stewardship, and imagining a new future together and charting concrete next steps.

Stay tuned for more information to come, including how to register. Please note, participation will be limited to ensure diverse representation of participants and due to space constraints. A commitment to participate for the full week will be requested of participants. There will be limited travel funds available for participants from Indigenous organizations and communities.