Past Events

The 7th biennial AOS will be held March 27-29, 2024 in Edinburgh, UK as part of Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) 2024. The AOS draws a wide range of participants from across the spectrum of Arctic observing—Indigenous experts, operational agency representatives, scientists, and others—from around the world. Much of the summit is organized around discussions led by working groups on particular themes (Regional to global observing, Data sharing, System implementation/SAON ROADS, Observing System Benefits). In addition to plenary and working group sessions, this year organizers will include additional breakout sessions.

The U.S. Permafrost Association (USPA) is pleased to announce the USPA Technical Training Webinar Series. The webinars are offered on Zoom. Each webinar is 1 hour long, including a 50-min lecture and 10-min Q&A. Certificate of Professional Development Hours (PDH) will be provided to participants who request it after each webinar. The webinars are free for USPA members and all students. For non-USPA members who are not students, the registration fee is $20 for each webinar.

Registration link: https://uspa.memberclicks.net/webinar4

Date and Time: Wednesday, March 27, 2024. 2:00 to 3:00pm ET (10:00 to 11:00am AKT)

Instructors: Ed Yarmak, P.E. (Arctic Foundations, Inc., Anchorage, AK); and Dr. Anna Wagner (Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), Fairbanks, AK)

Content of Webinar: Introduction to the use of two-phase thermosyphons to maintain or augment permafrost in a variety of applications. Operation and deployment history of various thermosyphon design milestones will be presented. Several configurations of thermosyphons will be discussed as well as good practices for design. Current research and projections for the future will be presented.

Brief Introduction of Instructors:
Ed Yarmak, PE is the President of Arctic Foundations, Inc. and has 43 years of passive and active ground freezing experience. He has managed deployment of hundreds of projects using thermosyphon cooling systems in and out of Alaska. He is a past president of the US Permafrost Association, a past chair of ASCE’s Cold Region Engineering Division, and is currently on the Executive Committee of the International Permafrost Association.

Dr. Anna Wagner is an environmental engineer at CRREL and works across a broad spectrum of science and engineering projects primarily focused on Alaska and cold regions studies. She has worked on thermosyphon research projects including several installations in Fairbanks, AK. She was the USPA President in 2023.

Format: The webinar is offered on Zoom. The webinar will be moderated. The seminar will be recorded and uploaded on the USPA website.

The Arctic Research Consortium of the US (ARCUS) invites registration for the next Arctic Research Seminar featuring Christopher Marianetti (Found Sound Nation) and Yaari Walker (Alaska Pacific University). The presentation, titled Sounds of Beringia, will be held via Zoom on Thursday, 28 March 2024 at 9:00 a.m. AKDT (1:00 p.m. EDT).

Seminar Abstract:

This webinar explores some of the more fascinating sounds happening in the region of Beringia - from the extraordinary communications of Bowhead whales to Buryat throat and overtone singing - by way of some of the latest cultural and scientific research and oral histories. This research is the subject of an upcoming documentary (in production by the presenters Yaari and Chris) that seeks to spotlight the Beringia region - its cultures (human and nonhuman), ecology, and environmental history - as a powerful and evocative force in the world.

This talk will explore the Arctic as a case study of the intersection of actorless threats-- such as climate change and ecological upheaval-- with conventional threats posed by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and tensions with China. Climate change is commonly referred to as a threat multiplier because of the way it intersects with already existing vulnerabilities to exacerbate fragility. The Arctic is warming up to four times faster than the global average with immense implications for global security due to its outsized potential to contribute to sea level rise, extreme weather, and biosecurity hazards, among other hazards. However, the nature of actorless threats differs in significant ways from actor-based threats, and as such demands a different analytical lens in order to effectively address the dimension of risk they pose.

Marisol Maddox is a Senior Arctic Analyst at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and an Operational Research Analyst at PolArctic, LLC. She is an adjunct professor at Syracuse University's Maxwell School where she teaches an Executive Masters course on Environmental Security.

Ms. Maddox's research considers the Arctic nexus of climate change, security, and geopolitics. She is particularly interested in convergence, and how the growing presence of actorless threats-- such as climate change and biodiversity loss-- interplays with traditional security challenges and strategic thinking.

Ms. Maddox is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a non-resident research fellow at the Center for Climate & Security. She regularly teaches at the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies and the Geneva Center for Security Policy.

Ms. Maddox previously contributed Arctic expertise through work with the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats and the Newport Arctic Scholars Initiative at the U.S. Naval War College. She frequently publishes and speaks on Arctic security, climate change, and geopolitics. Her commentary has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Business Insider, and Science among other outlets. Ms. Maddox holds an M.A. in International Security with a concentration in Transnational Challenges from George Mason University’s Schar School. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Ecosystems from Binghamton University.

CryoSkills is a fully funded, week-long practical field course in Haugastøl (Norway), geared towards PhD candidates and early-career scientists. Participants will learn to design, build, and deploy sensors and instrumentation for cold regions. Participants can expect both relevant theory and the honing of practical skills for glaciological fieldwork, taught by experts in the field.

The course will take place from 2 April 2024 until 10 April 2024. Applications are open now and close on 29 October 2023.

For more details on the workshop and application procedure, please see https://www.cryoskills.com/

The 16th Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference (WAISC) brings together people invested in sharing information important to rural communities in Western Alaska through Western Alaska knowledge and science.

The 2024 conference will highlight needs to maintain strength, health, and subsistence lifestyles while moving forward during rapid transitions within the environment, ecology, and industries of Western Alaska. A conference priority is the continued sharing of knowledge across cultural boundaries.

WAISC topics include (but are not limited to):

Climate and weather
Oceans, lakes and rivers
Ecology and wildlife
Resource development
Reindeer herding
Human and community health
Sharing knowledge and communications

The Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO) announces their upcoming three-part leadership workshop series for polar early-career scientists. The tools introduced in this series will be applicable to polar research environments in both the lab and the field. The three workshops include:

Getting Back to the Basics: 21 February 2024, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. MT

The Leadership Toolbox: Team-building and Navigating Conflict: 13 March 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. MT

Leadership from Above and Below: Building Safe and Constructive Work Atmospheres: 3 April 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. MT

For more information, go to: https://psecco.org/events

Join 1,000+ leading government officials, politicians, business executives and investors, indigenous leaders, scientists, military officials, and guests from 25+ countries at the Arctic Encounter in Anchorage, Alaska. The flagship event is hosted annually in the spring, and international events are co-hosted with strategic partners worldwide.

Confirmed Speakers

• Ambassador Bergdís Ellertsdóttir, Ambassador of Iceland to the United States (Iceland)
• Ambassador Takewaka Keizo, Ambassador for International Economic Affairs and Arctic Affairs (Japan)
• Dr. Brendan Kelly, Executive Director & Chief Scientist, Study of Environmental Arctic Change (United States)
• Dr. Michael Sfraga, Chair, U.S. Arctic Research Commission; Chair & Distinguished Fellow, Polar Institute, Wilson Center (United States)
• Ms. Jackie Qataliña Schaeffer, Director of Climate Initiatives, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (United States)

Please join the US Permafrost Association for an engaging discussion on the unique experiences and challenges faced by families in permafrost science and engineering fields. Our panelists will share their personal experience, insights, and strategies for balancing career aspirations with family life.

USPA members and non-members are welcomed and encouraged to join this discussion. If you are able, we suggest a donation of $5-10 to the USPA Family Care Program to support families in permafrost-related fields.

This panel is being coorganized with the USPA DEI Committee and the Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO).

Date: April 11, 2024 (Thursday)

Time: 2:00 to 3:00pm EST (10:00am to 11:00am AK)

Panelists:
Melissa Ward Jones, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Jessica Ernakovich, University of New Hampshire
Sarah Evans, Appalachian State University
Eva Stephani, USGS
Liz Hoy, NASA

The EGU General Assembly 2024 will be held on-site at the Austria Center Vienna (ACV), Austria and online from 14 to 19 April 2024.

The EGU General Assembly 2024 brings together geoscientists from all over the world to one meeting covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary, and space sciences. The EGU aims to provide a forum where scientists, especially early career researchers, can present their work and discuss their ideas with experts in all fields of geoscience.

Organizers invite you to take an active part in organizing the scientific program of the conference, from now until 14 September 2023. Organizers call for scientific sessions, Union Symposia, Great Debates, and Short Courses.

This conference will exchange current lessons and best practices for the implementation of Ecosystem-based Management (EBM) in the Arctic and examine how these practices reflects the knowledge, the goals, the advise, and the voices of the people living in and from the Arctic. And explore pathways toward a future with a holistic perspective in managing the regions fast changing marine ecosystem.

Through three sessions, that encapsulate different parts of the EBM, organizers invite:

• Keynote speakers to inspire and challenge us
• Scientists, early career scientists, students (and youth) to present their fields of study (or questions)
• Indigenous Knowledge holders to share and provide guidance based on their cultural values, worldviews, and perspectives
• Governing bodies to disentangle the challenges of cross-sectorial approaches and explore how they can contribute to apply holistic ecosystem knowledge to decisions, management, and operations in an evolving Arctic.

Indigenous peoples remain marginalized worldwide, despite decades of well-intentioned research. In Canada, effective advocacy by Indigenous scholars has entrenched requirements of funders in national ethical guidelines, obligating the research community to work in partnership with Indigenous organizations. In this presentation, Dr. Josée Lavoie will compare ethical guidelines in place in circumpolar countries, explain how she applies the Canadian requirements in her own research with Inuit, and end with a discussion of opportunities for Dartmouth College.

Any Additional Information or Notes
Dr. Josée G. Lavoie is an internationally renowned researcher with over 30 years of experience working in partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations to improve Indigenous peoples' access to health services. A Professor of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and Director of Ongomiizwin Research in the Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, Dr. Lavoie’s scholarship focuses on improving access to primary health care for underserved and marginalized populations as she also studies health systems policy at the local, regional, and national level.

Dr. Lavoie has particular interest in how western and Indigenous knowledge systems interface in the provision of health services in and for Indigenous communities in the Arctic and around the world. Since her work as a Fulbright Arctic Initiative Scholar (2018-19), she has also developed a strong interest in studies of both Arctic Indigenous Peoples’ governance and circumpolar diplomacy.

Dr. Lavoie’s research partners include First Nations, Inuit, and other Indigenous Peoples across Canada, in Alaska, Norway, Colombia, Australia, and New Zealand. She also maintains ongoing research partnerships with the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba and with the Manitoba Inuit Association.

Save the date:

Organizers will convene an NSF-sponsored workshop on Observing the Dynamics of the Southern Ocean in San Diego, California. At this meeting, organizers will facilitate discussion on opportunities and priorities for future US-led observational efforts across the Southern Ocean and Antarctic margins.

The meeting will be hybrid and organizers encourage participation at all career stages. Further details regarding registration, opportunities for travel support, and the meeting agenda will be provided soon.

The Community and Citizen Science in the Far North 2024 Conference is tentatively set for 17–18 April 2024. The 2024 conference builds on the efforts from the first conference in 2021 and a subsequent webinar. The focus will be continuing to share, network, and discuss the various aspects of conducting community and citizen science research in the Arctic.

The International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA) calls on all members to send in nominations for the elections that will be held at the General Assembly 2 June 2024 at the Arctic Congress Bodø 2024 / ICASS XI in Bodø, Norway.

Deadline for submitting statements is 19 April 2024.

Nominations will be announced at the latest on 27 May 2024.

The letter of nomination (2 pages max), signature page and curriculum vitae of the nominee should be sent as an e-mail attachment (pdf) to the IASSA Secretariat: IASSASecretariat [at] nord.no

Join the 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 forecasting tools, and finish up with the Climate Prediction Center’s forecast for May 2024 and the early summer season. Join the gathering online to learn what’s happened and what may be in store with Alaska’s seasonal climate.

Register for this event at the following link: https://uaf-accap.org/event/apr2024-nws-climate-outlook/

Spring break-up season is upon us! Join us for an action packed session to help get ready for the break-up season on Alaska’s rivers. The session will cover tools from the Alaska River Watch Program to monitor break up, including community observations and aerial campaigns. It will also feature new a web-based tool built by Stephens Institute of Technology to model and map river ice concentrations using multiple satellites and photos submitted by the public through the UAF Fresh Eyes on Ice program. Find out more on how to access the river ice information from these programs and learn how you can be involved in observing break up to help community safety and climate change research.

This event will be held in-person on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus in Akasofu Building, rm 401. If you would prefer to join virtually, please register at the link below. You do not need to register if you plan to attend in person.

https://uaf-accap.org/event/tools-ak-river-break-up/

The Synoptic Arctic Survey (SAS) is a researcher-driven initiative that aims to enhance ongoing ocean monitoring with ship-based measurements, to establish the present states of the Arctic Ocean ecosystem, carbon cycle and associated hydrography. SAS has coordinated a multi-ship survey using an international fleet of icebreakers and research vessels, where more than 25 cruises from 11 different nations collected a set of parameters across the Arctic Ocean in 2020-2022. This comprehensive dataset will allow for unprecedented assessments and provide a unique baseline to track future climate change and its impacts.

This webinar showcases some of the striking changes ongoing in the Arctic Ocean and their impact on the characteristics and ecosystems of the Arctic Ocean. It will be moderated by Øyvind Paasche, the chair of the SAS scientific steering committee, who will also give a brief introduction to the SAS initiative.

There will be three solicited talks with room for questions and discussions:
Alexandra Jahn - Associate Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder
Projections of an ice-free Arctic Ocean
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-023-00515-9

Suzanne Tank - Associate Professor at the University of Alberta
The Arctic Great Rivers Observatory: Long Term Trends in River Chemistry Diagnose Multi-Faceted Northern Change
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-023-01247-7

Clare Gaffey - PhD candidate at Clark University
Characteristics of Light, Heat, and Chlorophyll Pigments in the Pacific Arctic During the 2022 U.S. Synoptic Arctic Survey Cruise

The webinar will take place in Zoom. If you would like to join the webinar, please register to receive the meeting link:
https://skjemaker.app.uib.no/view.php?id=16849096

Join the UAF Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy for this month’s VAWS webinar to learn about glacial dammed lakes in Alaska and how they present a unique hazard to downstream communities due to the uncertainty and transient nature of lakes filling and catastrophically releasing. A glacial lake outburst flood in 2023 resulted in record water levels on the Mendenhall River with both major flooding and significant erosion. An overview of the area, monitoring efforts, understanding of these events will be presented along with plans for future monitoring and reporting. Glacier dammed lakes are not unique to the Juneau area, there are many more glacial dammed lakes across the state with some documented well and others very poorly understood. We will present a brief look at a few of the lakes monitoring and the potential downstream impacts.

Register for this event at the following link: https://uaf-accap.org/event/2023-mendenhall-glacier-flood/

View the AGU Fall Meeting webpage to learn more about session proposal instructions at https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu24/prelim.cgi/ModuleMeetingInfo/sessionpr….