Past Events

The Forum for Arctic Ocean Modeling and Observational Synthesis (FAMOS) is an international effort to focus on enhancing collaboration and coordination among arctic marine and sea ice modelers, theoreticians and observationalists based on a set of activities starting from generating hypotheses, to planning research included both observations and modeling, and to finalizing analyses synthesizing major results from the field studies and coordinated numerical experiments.

FAMOS project is motivated by and a logical continuation of more than 10-years of AOMIP (Arctic Ocean Model Intercomparison Project, www.whoi.edu/projects/AOMIP) work demonstrating that that the arctic marine science community needs an informal forum to discuss, coordinate, plan and synthesize scientific activities. The AOMIP approach has been to leverage the existing financial support of each project participant for a comparative analysis of different models and scientific results.

The overall goal of FAMOS is a better understanding of the Arctic climate system (with a focus on marine environment) through the use of improving numerical models and observational tactics and strategies. The other project goals are to:

The project’s goals are to:

• Maintain and enhance in FAMOS the established AOMIP international collaboration to reduce uncertainties in model predictions (model validation/improvements via coordinated experiments and studies; reanalysis methods and products for correct initial and boundary conditions; design and implementation of the oceanic and sea ice remote and in situ observing systems);
• Support synthesis across the suite of Arctic models and observatories and/or observational projects and systems;
• Organize scientific meetings and workshops including virtual teleconferences;
• Conduct collaboration with other similar projects focused on other aspects of arctic/global climate (atmospheric, terrestrial, etc) with a special focus on model and data improvements and analysis;
• Disseminate findings of FAMOS effort to broader communities and involve the larger community in discussions, coordinated modeling and observational field experiments;
• Train a new generation of ocean and sea-ice observationalists and modelers continuing the practice of annual 1-2 day FAMOS workshop schools.

The Geosciences and Education and Human Resources Directorates are partnering to advance and develop understanding of learning environments that build upon the rich interdisciplinary resources emerging from polar investments. To that end, the Division of Polar Programs (PLR), the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) and the Division of Research on Learning (DRL) encourage proposals that will leverage the extensive National Science Foundation (NSF) investment in polar sciences and infrastructure, and STEM education research and development, to promote an informed citizenry and the next generation of polar scientists. In order to advance polar science educational opportunities, PLR, DUE and DRL will accept and review proposals for research and development projects that facilitate the use of data from polar regions in (1) undergraduate education or (2) informal science education. Proposals in response to this Dear Colleague Letter must be submitted to either the Improving Undergraduate Science Education: Education and Human Resources (IUSE: EHR) deadline of November 3, 2015, or the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) deadline of November 4, 2015.

The integration of research and education is essential to NSF’s mission. http://www.nsf.gov/about/performance/strategic_plan.jsp. In addition, NSF strives to broaden participation in science and to make the results of research projects widely accessible to students and the public. Specifically, PLR seeks to meet these objectives by supporting the engagement of students, educators, and the public in polar research projects. While participation of educators and students in both Arctic and Antarctic research projects are encouraged, logistical costs are often prohibitive. Therefore, PLR, DUE, and DRL are seeking education research and development proposals that make use of innovative technology for remote communication to give large groups of students, educators and the public access to polar research efforts. Proposals that engage audiences with long-term investments in polar research and logistics, (e.g. the Arctic or Antarctic science stations), or databases with an extended lifespan, (e.g. data from the Arctic Observing Network), are particularly encouraged. In addition to addressing polar STEM content, proposals should clearly articulate how they advance understanding of one of the three EHR core research areas: (1) Learning and Learning Environments, (2) Broadening Participation, or (3) Work Force Development. www.nsf.gov/ehr/about.jsp. Projects should explain plans for sustaining access to data and resources for a period that extends well beyond the end of any potential award and for evaluating the outcomes of the investment in education research and development.

In order to support the goals above, NSF encourages the submission of proposals to either of two solicitations issued by the Directorate of Education and Human Resources:

Improving Undergraduate Science Education: Education and Human Resources (IUSE:EHR) solicitation for the November 3, 2015 deadline.
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf15585

Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) deadline of November 4, 2015
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15593/nsf15593.htm

Proposals submitted in response to this letter must be identified by starting the proposal title with the term: “Polar (NSF 15-114): (Insert Project Title Here)”

Those considering submitting a proposal in response to this opportunity are strongly encouraged to contact Lisa Rom: elrom [at] nsf.gov; 703-292-7709, the cognizant program officer who can answer questions and provide further guidance.

The goals of the ADVANCE program are (1) to develop systemic approaches to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic STEM careers; (2) to develop innovative and sustainable ways to promote gender equity in the STEM academic workforce; and (3) to contribute to the development of a more diverse science and engineering workforce. ADVANCE also has as its goal to contribute to and inform the general knowledge base on gender equity in the academic STEM disciplines. There are three tracks with distinct purposes. The Institutional Transformation (IT) track is meant to produce large-scale comprehensive change and serve as a locus for research on gender equity and institutional transformation for academic STEM. The Institutional Transformation Catalyst (IT Catalyst) track is meant either to conduct self-assessment or to implement unique strategies – either adapted from those found effective in the IT track or ones designed to be responsive to the unique environments of eligible institutions – and evaluate their effectiveness. The Partnerships for Learning and Adaptation Networks (PLAN) track is meant to provide a larger scale environment for adapting, implementing and creating knowledge about the effectiveness of a particular strategy for change within a context of networked adaptation and learning. PLAN is focused on adaptation/implementation and learning either in particular STEM disciplines (PLAN D) or across institutions of higher education (PLAN IHE). ADVANCE projects support institutional transformation in STEM. STEM includes but is not limited to Arctic and Antarctic sciences, biological sciences, computer and information sciences, engineering, geosciences, mathematics, physical sciences, the learning sciences, and social, behavioral and economic sciences. Institutional Transformation and IT Catalyst awards are expected to include all STEM disciplines at the institution submitting the proposal. PLAN awards may include all of STEM or a subset or one discipline.
The following types of institutions are strongly encouraged to apply to the ADVANCE program: For All Project Types: Community colleges, primarily undergraduate institutions, minority-serving institutions (e.g. Tribal Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Alaska Native Institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions and Non-tribal, Native American Serving Institutions), women's colleges, and institutions primarily serving persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. It is anticipated that there may be significant differences in the issues facing faculty in these institutions, compared to faculty in other types of institutions, which will warrant development of unique strategies and/or adaptation of proven strategies in a unique way to achieve ADVANCE Program goals. ADVANCE projects are viewed as team research and, as such, the team of principal investigators is expected to be multidisciplinary and representative of the theoretical, methodological and contextual expertise necessary to conceptualize, implement, and evaluate a successful project. ADVANCE does not support activities to increase or retain the number of women entering into or persisting in STEM undergraduate or doctoral degree programs; rather the program focuses on ensuring that women faculty consider academia as a viable and attractive career option. As such, no student training initiatives/activities should be proposed. ADVANCE funds, in general, cannot be used to support dependent care costs. However, costs incurred by the awardee organization under employee morale and welfare for dependent-care expenses (daycare facilities or other child/elder care arrangements) may be allowed, provided these types of expenses are charged through the application of fringe benefits or indirect costs (also known as Facilities & Administrative Costs). Any such charges must be made in accordance with established awardee institutional policy as approved by the cognizant agency and consistently applied to both Federal and non-Federal sponsors. For more information on the allowability of dependent care costs, visit the following NSF website: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=clbfaqs. Special populations of women, for the purposes of the ADVANCE Program, includes women of diverse characteristics and backgrounds including, but not limited to: race, ethnicity, disability status and sexual orientation.

Arctic Shipping Forum North America 2015 - essential information for understanding the challenges of shipping operations in the Arctic. The ONLY event in North America dedicated to examining shipping operations in the Arctic.

• Pre-conference workshop: Introduction to the Nunavut Marine Council, its mandate, business plan and current priority areas. Contact pscholz [at] Nunavut.ca to register interest.
• Hear from the US on their aims for the chairmanship of the Arctic Council.
• Take the temperature: what are the future drivers for resource developments in the Arctic?
• Gain insight in the creation of the new Russian State Commission for development of the Arctic.
• Focus on the icebreaker industry: how are operations planned and managed?
• Hear from a cross industry operators' panel on their criteria for managing logistics and safe operations in ice-covered waters.
• Debate with the insurance industry: what are insurers looking for when insuring ice-going voyages and how do operators mitigate risks?
• Drill down to the Polar Code essentials: examine operational limits and understand POLARIS.
• Spotlight session on emergency preparedness, prevention and response: where are the gaps and what are the solutions.
• Discuss the latest in oil spill response in ice-covered water.

The Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS) will convene an interdisciplinary conference of early career scientists working on Arctic issues. The meeting, held every three years, is cross-disciplinary and diverse, and our goal is to welcome 200 to 400 international participants working on all Arctic disciplines and themes. The organizers have issued a call for abstracts, due 5/31/15, on the following topics:

• Arctic Communities;
• Arctic Sustainable Development;
• Arctic Wildlife;
• Ecosystem and Biodiversity;
• Arctic Food Security:
• Arctic Landscapes;
• Climate Change and Adaptation:
• Disaster Risk Management:
• Policy, Politics and Leadership;
• Arctic Environment (Data and Techniques);
• Arctic Resources, and
• Future of Arctic.

The Arctic Institute of North America and the University of Calgary in Canada announce that registration is available for the next ACUNS International Student Conference. This year's meeting is entitled 'Next Generation Research and Leadership' and will be held 5-8 November 2015 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The conference includes diverse themes in physical, biological, and social sciences within the scope of Arctic science and northern studies. Poster and oral presentations are welcome from undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and mentors (http://arctic.ucalgary.ca/call-abstracts). Additionally, pre-conference workshops will be held on 4-5 November 2015.

The ACUNS Student Conference Organizing also reminds the community that abstracts are currently being accepted. Some travel funding is available. For more information and to apply, please visit the Travel Award page on the conference website.

For more information, or to support or participate in planning this conference, please send an email to acun2015 [at] ucalgary.ca. Information will be updated on the conference website when it becomes available.

We are pleased to announce the 9th Graduate Climate Conference, which will be held November 6th-8th in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

The goal of this graduate student-organized conference is to assemble a broad range of talks and posters featuring high-quality student research focused on past, present, and future climate, its changes, and their impacts. We encourage students at all stages of their graduate career to apply, and we seek abstracts on climate research from a variety of disciplines from the sciences, engineering, and humanities, including:

• Oceanography
• Atmospheric sciences
• Biology
• Geosciences
• Environmental science and engineering
• Geography
• Public policy
• Economics
• Law
• Ethics
• Anthropology

The abstract submission period opens April 15th and closes June 1st. Lodging and meals are provided for all participants, and limited travel funds are also available. Please see our website for more information and to submit an abstract. www.graduateclimateconference.com.

The organizers would like to announce that registration and abstracts submission for the 1st Central European Polar Meeting are now possible. The meeting will be held from 10-13 November 2015 at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, Austria.

In 2015 the 100th anniversary of the death of Austrian polar explorer Julius Payer takes place. To commemorate the great achievements of Julius Payer for the international polar sciences the 1st Central European Polar Meeting is organized in Vienna in cooperation with the Austrian National Committee for Global Change. It will bring together polar researchers from Central European countries and beyond, including distinguished senior scientists, but also early career scientists and the next generation of polar researchers. Besides presentation of newest results from ongoing research activities, the conference is one of the first international activities of the newly established Central European Polar Partnership, which aims at increasing the visibility and coordinating polar research in and between the participating countries.

Scientific sessions and keynote speakers:

Climate Change and Impact on the Polar Cryosphere
Konrad Steffen (WSL, Switzerland)

Polar Ecology
Skip Walker (Alaska Geobotany Center, USA)
Jakub Zarsky (University of Prague, Czech Republic)

Permafrost under Climate Change
Hugues Lantuit (Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany)

History of Polar Research
Susan Barr (Directorate for Cultural Heritage and International Arctic Science Committee)

Arctic Social and Human Sciences
Gertrude Saxinger (Austrian Polar Research Institute, Austria)
Michal Łuszczuk (Maria Curie Sklodowska University in Lublin, Poland)

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Friday, 17 August 2015

For further information or to submit an abstract, please go to:
http://www.polarresearch.at/conference

For questions, please contact the conference office:
Ms. Marion Rothmüller
Email: cepm2015 [at] polarresearch.at

The organizing committee is looking forward to receiving your registrations and abstracts!

The Arctic Ocean and its adjacent seas and coasts are currently undergoing unprecedented changes reflected in summer sea ice decline, warming, increased Atlantic water heat transport, freshening, retreat of glaciers, and ocean acidification. These changes are affecting the chemical and physical environment such as stratification, nutrient availability, air-sea gas exchange and light conditions. Consequently, these changes will impact the primary and secondary production and subsequently the whole marine ecosystem.

The 1st FRAM Science Days, taking place the 10-11th November 2015 in Tromsø, northern Norway, focus on the theme “Multi-stressors in the Arctic Marine Ecosystem”, and presents some of the research that have been performed during the first four years in the Fram Centre flagships programs.

Invited keynote speakers will introduce and describe several aspects of the occurring changes in the biogeochemical processes and the marine ecosystems in the Arctic Ocean, and in the transition zones such as the Barents Sea and high north coastal systems.

The conference includes sessions to encourage and stimulate discussions. Topics will include effect and trends in ocean acidification, potential changes in the advection of water masses, increased freshening and glacial melt water input, air-sea CO2 interaction, warming, changing sea ice, land- ocean interaction and impacts on the marine ecosystems in a changing climate.

Some research questions to be addressed in the talks and posters:

• What are the major changes in the Arctic Ocean with consequence for the marine ecosystem?
• Is the Arctic freshening? And what are the consequences of a fresher Arctic Ocean on the ecosystem?
• Will the vanishing summer sea ice cover have consequences for the ecosystem?
• Are there likely changes on the primary and secondary production?
• How will fish and higher trophic levels respond to multiple environmental stressors?
  Adaptation?
• Do we have evidence for northward mass migration of benthos, fish, mammals, birds?

Registration: There is no registration fee for this event. All meals and social events are sponsored by the Fram Centre. The conference is limited to 200 participants and registration is necessary.

Deadlines: Registration, abstract deadline and applications for Young Scientist FRAM travel grant is the 10th of October in 2015 on the following link: http://mform.imr.no/view.php?id=42242

Conference chairs and organizers:

Melissa Chierici (IMR and Fram Centre, Flagship leader “Ocean Acidification”)
Lis Jørgensen (IMR and Fram Centre, Flagship leader “Coast and Fjord”)
Laura de Steur (NPI and Fram Centre, “The Arctic Ocean”)
Jo Aarseth (Fram Centre, Flagship coordinator)
Helge Markusson (Fram Centre, outreach coordinator)

Sea Ice Action Team Co-Chair, Jennifer Francis, will be the plenary speaker for the Implications of a Changing Arctic on Water Resources and Agriculture in the Central U.S. workshop taking place at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Natural Resources on November 10, 2015 from 7-9pm.

The goal of the workshop is to build public awareness on the importance of the Arctic and the implications of changes in this region for the central U.S. The workshop is sponsored by NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System, USDA's Office of the Chief Economist and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Natural Resources.

Don't miss a discussion forum at the November 10 meeting of the Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC). Invited speakers will address how climate change and weather may be influencing recent migrations and could trigger future migrations. Presentations will address observational data and modeling tools that could be used to anticipate population shifts and project their potential impacts. The event is free and open to the public and will be webcast.

Identifying Profitability In Arctic Shipping With Safe & Efficient Operations. ACI’s 7th Arctic Shipping Summit 2015 will focus on discussing the practical solutions necessary for the ship owners to decide whether they should invest in utilising the Northern Sea Route. The meeting will provide updates on key developments and regulations in the Arctic, as well as present expert views on possible future advances in governing the transport routes. The conference will also address how to overcome the operational challenges that exist while entering the region. These include navigation, communications, risk and safety management, search and rescue, vessel design and crew training. The meeting will provide an outlook for the recent innovations in ice class vessel design as well as updates on ice breaker technology.

Joining the Summit will allow participants to better understand and evaluate the business model for operating in the Arctic.

The Arctic Circle will, in addition to the annual October Assemblies in Iceland, convene smaller and more specialized forums in other countries. In cooperation with Singapore Maritime Institute and the Government of Singapore an Arctic Circle Forum will take place in Singapore on November 12th 2015.

The general theme will be Asia in the Arctic. A special emphasis will be on inviting representatives from countries in Asia, which shall present their policies, science, projects and general vision on their involvement in Arctic affairs. An agenda will be published in the coming weeks.

Those interested in attending can contact the Arctic Circle Secretariat.

The congress "The Arctic: opportunities and challenges deriving
from climate change" wants to be a forum for scientific, legal
and political analysis of the rapid changes ongoing in the Arctic
region as a result of global warming; as well as a space of
debate for the consideration of possible future strategies of
adaptation, governance and sustainable development in the
region.
Counting with the participation of distinguished international
lecturers, the congress will be structured in three different
panels, respectively pursuing: the analysis of the scientific
basis of climate change dynamics and its main regional
consequences in the Arctic, the exploration of the international
legal and political framework available in addressing the
challenges taking place in the region and the examination of
several strategic and economic interests due to possible Arctic
resources' exploitation, in a long term perspective.
Any Additional Information or Notes: Free participation, all
those wishing to attend the event should fill out the
registration form until the day 11/11/2015.

The purpose of the conference is to provide a forum for policy-makers and academics to deliberate on how the security, resilience and sustainability of the globalized Arctic region and its peoples may be enhanced, and what instruments of governance may most suitably contribute. The conference will spell out (1) how the different relevant dimensions of security (military, economic, environmental, energy and human security) manifest themselves in the governing / governance arrangements in the Arctic; (2) how the challenges associated with each manifest themselves, individually and together; and (3) what forms of governing arrangements can best help to address the challenges. The conference will also focus on (4) how the Nordic countries and nations, including Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Aaland Islands, may contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity of the Arctic region through collaborative efforts based on their shared social, human, environmental and democratic values.

The interagency Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) intends to request proposals through one or more formal Funding Opportunity Notice (FON) announcements beginning approximately September 15, 2014 and remaining open through November 13, 2015. Final decisions regarding topic selection will not be made until September, 2015. However, potential topics are likely to be based on the three goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy: 1. Restore and maintain resilient landscapes, 2. Create fire-adapted communities and 3. Safe and effective wildfire response.

In addition to the annual October Assemblies in Iceland, the Arctic Circle convenes smaller and more specialized forums in other countries. The Arctic Circle and Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI), with the support of the Singapore Government, will convene a forum in Singapore on November 12th, 2015.The forum in Singapore will be opened by President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs of Singapore. Discussions will focus on shipping, infrastructure financing, ocean science and research, and global collaboration on Arctic affairs. Among the speakers and participants will be Senior Arctic Officials, representatives of major shipping companies, investment funds, and scientific institutes from the United States, Europe, and a number of Asian states.

Sustainability, living in harmony with the natural processes of the planet, is the central challenge of the Twenty First Century. No part of that challenge is more pivotal than addressing climate change, the alteration of earth’s climate dynamics. In order for climate change to be effectively addressed, clear and poignant communication needs to be utilized to promote an understanding of the issues in a way that is expressive through means not limited to a strictly scientific discourse. As part of these efforts, The Cooper Union Institute for Sustainable Design sponsored a student fellowship program to support recipients in their pursuit of scientific and visual research on a chosen symptom of climate change. Visualizing Climate Change displays the student fellows’ work, as well as a CUISD project and the work of contributing artist, Melissa Fleming.

Each project investigates a specific phenomenon related to climate change, rooted in a distinct locale, and its effects on geography, economics, security, and/or social stability. In doing so, emphasis rests upon clear and creative modes of visual communication. Each exhibited work seeks to conflate the bounds of science, art, architecture and engineering in order to provide fresh insight, expression and understanding around specific issues of climate change.

The exhibition is free and open to the public.

The opening reception will be held from 7:00-8:30pm in the 7th Floor Lobby of The Cooper Union Foundation Building.

Preceding the reception is a talk titled, The Art and Science of Climate Change, given by contributing artist, Melissa Fleming. This lecture will explore how art can help broaden the public conversation and create a new pathway to understanding this critical issue. It will introduce the basic science of climate change and explore how artists from around the globe are reacting to its impacts and possible solutions.

Co-sponsored with the SciArt Center, the talk will be held in room 715 of The Cooper Union Foundation Building at 6pm on November 16, space is limited. To attend the talk, please RSVP to isd [at] cooper.edu.

Located at 7 East 7th Street, between Third and Fourth Avenues

The Sixth Symposium on Polar Science will be held at the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR), Tokyo, Japan, from 16 to 19 November 2015. The NIPR is organizing this annual symposium to present and promote a wide variety of polar scientific research and interdisciplinary studies. The symposium includes a special session, the theme of which is "Warming in the Arctic and Its Influences – GRENE Arctic Climate Change Research Project and the Next New Directions". We will discuss current outcomes of the GRENE Project and directions of the new project of the Arctic research.

Accompanying this special session will be parallel sessions, which will include ordinary sessions and interdisciplinary sessions. We look forward to your active participation.

The symposium will be held at the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR), the Institute of Statistical Mathematics (ISM) and the National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics (NINJAL) located adjacent to the NIPR.

The conference will bring together individuals and teams involved in the collection, processing, analysis, and use of observations in the Arctic – from academia, agencies, industry, and other organizations.

The goals of the meeting are to:

• Present and discuss scientific findings and advances resulting from Arctic observing projects funded by U.S. agencies and organizations;
• Review operational and technological achievements of observing programs funded through local, state, and federal agencies and private and non-profit organizations;
• Explore how well new scientific achievements meet science and mission objectives; and
• Further define and strengthen collaborations.

Arctic Observing Open Science Meeting will be 2.5 days and held at the Hyatt at Olive 8 in Seattle, Washington. http://www.olive8.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html. The meeting will be convened as a combination of plenary talks, parallel science sessions, and a poster session.

Co-chairs of the meeting are Craig Lee (University of Washington), Matthew Shupe (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado and NOAA Earth Systems Research Laboratory), and Cathy Wilson (Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory). The full Organizing Committee is currently being convened.

The U.S. National Science Foundation Arctic Observing Network (NSF AON) program is providing funding for core meeting activities. Co-sponsorship is sought for additional activities, including web streaming, poster session, student/early career researcher travel scholarships, and development of meeting products.

Further information and online registration will be available in the coming weeks.

For further information, please contact:
Judy Fahnestock
Email: judy [at] arcus.org

Established in 2010, and organised by the International Polar Foundation and its partners, the Arctic Futures Symposium brings together a wide variety of Arctic stakeholders for discussions on the future of the region. The 2015 symposium will look at regional development in the Circumpolar North, with a focus on various aspects of blue growth, innovation, and environmental security. There will also be a special session on the role of Arctic Council observer states and organisations. The symposium is free of charge and open to anyone interested in Arctic affairs. University and graduate students in particular are encouraged to attend.