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October 16, 2020

Alaska Federation of Natives 2020 Convention, October 15-16, 2020 (Virtual). The annual convention serves as the principal forum and voice for the Alaska Native community in addressing critical issues of public policy and government. The convention convenes thousands of official delegates and participants from membership organizations across the state. At the Convention, delegates discuss strategic opportunities and challenges, listen to memorable keynote speeches, hear reports from political leaders and presentations from expert panels, and share stories resilience, experiences, strengths, knowledge and hope for the future.

[Bering Science] Fall 2020 Bering Region Ocean Update- Summer Science Highlights. The Bering Sea is experiencing many changes. Loss of sea ice and record high ocean and air temperatures impact wildlife and all aspects of life for coastal communities. The Bering Region Ocean Update project began in spring 2020, in part, to increase regional data sharing among federal, state, community and private sector partners. This is the second of four expected reports. Other project activities include ensuring that all existing Bering Sea region data are available in a central data portal; and coordinating research activities between scientists and agencies. (2020)
Media

Woods Hole Scientist Part of MOSAiC Expedition That Spent Year Research Arctic Ecosystem. The research vessel Polarstern returned to its home port in Germany Monday after spending a year locked in thick sea ice, floating in the Arctic Ocean and gathering data. More than 100 scientists from 20 countries participated in the ambitious $165 million expedition called MOSAiC, (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate), rotating in and staying for a few months at a time on the vessel as it drifted a few hundred miles from the North Pole. Cape Cod Times
 
Donors Back Canadian Museum of Nature's Arctic Research. The vital research role being played in the Canadian Arctic by the Centre for Arctic Knowledge and Exploration (CAKE) at the Canadian Museum of Nature received a significant boost recently in the form of two cash gifts. Brookfield Asset Management donated $250,000 to create the D.K. Beckel Arctic Fieldwork Fund, which will focus on advancing critical Arctic field research at the museum, while the Kenneth Molson Foundation donated $50,000 to support the museum's National Arctic Field Research Fund. Nunavut News
 
UNH Receives NSF Grant to Research Carbon Interactions in Thawing Arctic. The University of New Hampshire will lead research as part of a $1.5 million award from the National Science Foundation to better understand how interactions between plants, microbes and soil minerals in permafrost, a subsurface layer of frozen soil covering a fourth of the Northern Hemisphere, stimulate the release of carbon which adds to the warming Arctic. "The Arctic is warming at a rate faster than anywhere else on Earth resulting in changes to its ecosystems that may affect the entire global climate," said Jessica Ernakovich, assistant professor in natural resources and environment and the lead principal investigator. NH Business Review
 

Arctic Research Information from the National Science Foundation:

NSF logo National Science Foundation Information Regarding COVID-19: here.
 
Arctic Research Opportunities (Proposals accepted anytime): here.
 
Dear Colleague: Potential Support for Community Hubs for Collaboration Between NSF-Funded Arctic Research and Arctic Residents. Here
 
Arctic Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (Due date: December 15, 2020): Here
 
Developing New Research Collaborations Between Evolutionary Biologists and LTER Scientists (Due date: March 31, 2021). Here
Future Events

IARPC Public Webinar Series: MOSAiC Early-Career Researcher Lightning Talks, 2:00 pm EDT on October 19, 2020 (virtual). The Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) will host a public webinar featuring lightning talks by five early-career researchers who recently participated in the MOSAiC expedition. This is part of the IARPC Collaborations MOSAiC Month, focused on the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition. All are welcome to attend.

The Arctic Resilience Forum: Renewable Energy, October 21, 2020 (virtual). The Arctic Resilience Forum will be convened every Wednesday from 11:30am - 1:00pm (EST) over a series of ten weeks, beginning October 7, 2020.  The online series, organized by the Arctic Council and the Harvard Kennedy School, will engage the broadest audience possible in conversations about how to build the resilience of Arctic communities and ecosystems across a variety of focus areas.

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Introduction Webinar, 2:00 pm UTC on October 21, 2020 (virtual). This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series. For more information on ASM3, see here.

Impacts of Permafrost Degradation Webinar with Dr. Kimberly R. Miner, 2:00 PM EDT on October 22, 2020 2:00 PM EDT (virtual). In this webinar, you will learn from preeminent scientist Dr. Kimberley R. Miner about the cascading impacts of permafrost melt in the Arctic and beyond the circumpolar north. Permafrost is beginning to thaw, causing a cascade of risks to people, places, and our shared planet. When the organic material begins to decompose, permafrost thaw can destabilize major infrastructure, discharge mercury levels dangerous to human health, and release billions of metric tons of carbon. This webinar is supported by the Migration in Harmony Research Coordination Network.

IARPC Public Webinar Series Program Manager Chat: National Science Foundation Support for Arctic Doctoral Dissertation Research, 2:00 pm EDT on October 23, 2020. The National Science Foundation and IARPC Collaborations will host a program manager chat about a solicitation for proposals for Arctic Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants. The goal of this solicitation is to attract research proposals that advance a fundamental, process, and systems-level understanding of the Arctic's rapidly changing natural environment and social and cultural systems, and, where appropriate, to improve our capacity to project future change. During this webinar, NSF program officers will give an overview of this funding opportunity and will be available to answer questions. All are welcome to attend.

11th Maritime Risk Symposium 2020, October 26-30, 2020 (virtual). The Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute (CIRI), a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, will host the 11th Annual Maritime Risk Symposium (MRS 2020) in collaboration with the National Academy of Sciences. The theme of MRS 2020 is "Maritime Resilience." DHS defines resilient infrastructure systems as the "ability of systems, infrastructures, government, business, communities, and individuals to resist, tolerate, absorb, recover from, prepare for, or adapt to an adverse occurrence that causes harm, destruction, or loss of national significance."  Through presentations, panels and open forums, the symposium will focus on the attributes of resilience to adversarial events of national significance in the maritime domain, using  our experience with COVID-19 as a driver for the discussion.   The objective is less about the specific impacts COVID-19 had and is having, and more on how that event informs us on resiliency for future global upsets, in terms of what works, what gaps have been exposed, and what research questions ought to be studied as a first step towards enhancing Maritime Resilience. 

The Arctic Resilience Forum: Human Health and Pandemics, October 28, 2020 (virtual). The Arctic Resilience Forum will be convened every Wednesday from 11:30am - 1:00pm (EST) over a series of ten weeks, beginning October 7, 2020.  The online series, organized by the Arctic Council and the Harvard Kennedy School, will engage the broadest audience possible in conversations about how to build the resilience of Arctic communities and ecosystems across a variety of focus areas.

** New this week ** Maine and the Arctic: Building Bridges to the Future, 6:30 pm EDT on October 28, 2020 (virtual). The Camden Conference and Portland Press Herald will host a virtual panel discussion on the Maine's growing engagement in Arctic affairs and the importance of the Arctic to Maine's economy. This event is an opportunity to learn more about increasing trade, investment, educational exchanges, and collaborative activity between Maine entities and those of the North Atlantic. The panel will be moderated by Carol Coultas, business projects editor of Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. Panelists include Dana Eidsness, Director of the Maine North Atlantic Development Office (MENADO), Holly Parker, Director of UNE North, Jon Nass, CEO of the Maine Port Authority, and Peter Handy, President and CEO of Bristol Seafood.

Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS) Annual Meeting, October 29, 2020 (virtual) The ARCUS Annual Meeting serves as an important opportunity for for the Council of ARCUS Institutional Member RepresentativesARCUS Individual Members, and other members of the broader Arctic research community to connect with one another, the ARCUS Board of Directors, and staff. The meeting will be open to all interested participants and there is no cost to attend.

Maritime & Arctic Security & Safety Conference, November 3-4, 2020 (virtual). Organized by the Atlantic Canada Aerospace & Defense Association, this conference will be virtual in 2020.

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Webinar One, 1:00 pm UTC on November 11, 2020 (virtual). This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on addressing gaps and barriers in international Arctic science research. For more information on ASM3, see here

Design of the Built Environment in the Arctic Webinar, 1:00 PM ET on November 11, 2020 (virtual). This talk will explore recent work of the Arctic Design Group to develop architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design strategies in the far north. Working directly with northern communities - and in collaboration with scientists and engineers - these strategies seek holistic design solutions to meet current and future challenges of an increasingly dynamic built environment in a rapidly changing Arctic. This webinar is supported by the Migration in Harmony Research Coordination Network.

Arctic Maritime Oil Spill Modeling, Part 1 on November 16 | Part 2 on November 23 | Part 3 on November 30, (virtual). This event is hosted by the Arctic Domain Awareness Center. This event is conducted in accordance with ADAC's "Year 6 Work Plan" ADAC conducts quarterly Customer and Partner's Roundtables. More information coming soon.

The Arctic Resilience Forum: Gender, November 18, 2020 (virtual). The Arctic Resilience Forum will be convened every Wednesday from 11:30am - 1:00pm (EST) over a series of ten weeks, beginning October 7, 2020.  The online series, organized by the Arctic Council and the Harvard Kennedy School, will engage the broadest audience possible in conversations about how to build the resilience of Arctic communities and ecosystems across a variety of focus areas.

The Arctic Resilience Forum: Socio-Ecological Resilience, November 25, 2020 (virtual). The Arctic Resilience Forum will be convened every Wednesday from 11:30am - 1:00pm (EST) over a series of ten weeks, beginning October 7, 2020.  The online series, organized by the Arctic Council and the Harvard Kennedy School, will engage the broadest audience possible in conversations about how to build the resilience of Arctic communities and ecosystems across a variety of focus areas.

Arctic Maritime Horizons Workshop, December 1-2, 2020 (Anchorage, Alaska USA). This event is hosted by the Arctic Domain Awareness Center. This workshop will be an assessment of the future maritime transportation system of the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort sea regions.

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Webinar Two, 5:00 pm UTC on December 2, 2020 (virtual). This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on Indigenous Peoples' Interests in ASM3 (specific topics in consultation with ASM3 Science Advisory Board and Arctic Indigenous Organizations). For more information on ASM3, see here.

The Arctic Resilience Forum: Financing Resilience, December 2, 2020 (virtual). The Arctic Resilience Forum will be convened every Wednesday from 11:30am - 1:00pm (EST) over a series of ten weeks, beginning October 7, 2020.  The online series, organized by the Arctic Council and the Harvard Kennedy School will engage the broadest audience possible in conversations about how to build the resilience of Arctic communities and ecosystems across a variety of focus areas.

AGU Fall Meeting, December 7-11, 2020 (San Francisco, California USA). Fall Meeting is the largest gathering of Earth and space scientists in the world. More information will be available at the link.

The Arctic Resilience Forum: Infrastructure, December 9, 2020 (virtual). The Arctic Resilience Forum will be convened every Wednesday from 11:30am - 1:00pm (EST) over a series of ten weeks, beginning October 7, 2020.  The online series, organized by the Arctic Council and the Harvard Kennedy School, will engage the broadest audience possible in conversations about how to build the resilience of Arctic communities and ecosystems across a variety of focus areas. 

The Arctic Resilience Forum: Working Together in the Arctic: Indigenous and Western Knowledge Systems, December 16, 2020 (virtual). The Arctic Resilience Forum will be convened every Wednesday from 11:30am - 1:00pm (EST) over a series of ten weeks, beginning October 7, 2020.  The online series will engage the broadest audience possible in conversations about how to build the resilience of Arctic communities and ecosystems across a variety of focus areas.

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Webinar Three, 2:00 pm UTC on January 20, 2021 (virtual). This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on Theme 1: Observing networks; Data sharing-towards implementation. For more information on ASM3, see here.

2021 Alaska Marine Science Symposium, January 26-28, 2021 (virtual). The Alaska Marine Science Symposium (AMSS) has been bringing together scientists, educators, resource managers, students, and interested public for over twenty years to discuss the latest marine research being conducted in Alaskan waters. Over 700 people attend this 4-day long conference held annually during the month of January. Each day of the conference highlights important Alaskan marine ecosystems: Gulf of Alaska (Tuesday), Bering Sea & Aleutian Islands (Wednesday), and the Arctic (Thursday). Research topics discussed range from ocean physics, fishes and invertebrates, seabirds, marine mammals, to local traditional knowledge. Since its inception, NPRB has been a proud sponsor and one of the leading organizers of AMSS.

Arctic Frontiers 2021, February 1-4, 2021 (virtual). Arctic Frontiers started out in 2006 assembling the first global scientific conference on economic, societal and environmental sustainable growth in the north. In February 2021, we will arrange the 15th conference with the theme "Building Bridges". The conference has a pan arctic perspective and builds new partnerships across nations, generations and ethnic groups. Arctic Frontiers provides a forum for dialogue and communication between science, government and industry in the Arctic.

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Webinar Four, 1:00 pm UTC on February 17, 2021 (virtual). This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on Theme 2: enhance understanding and prediction capability on Arctic environmental and social systems and its global impact. For more information on ASM3, see here.

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Webinar Five, 1:00 pm UTC on March 17, 2021 (virtual). This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on Theme 3: Respond: sustainable development; evaluation of vulnerability and resilience; application of knowledge. For more information on ASM3, see here.

Arctic Science Summit Week, March 20-26, 2021 (Lisbon, Portugal). The Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Local Organizing Committee will host the Arctic Science Summit Week 2021. The Conference is organized by FCT, Ciência Viva, AIR Center, the Portuguese Arctic Community and by IASC and partners. Framed by the overarching theme for the Science Conference "The Arctic: Regional Changes, Global Impacts," Lisbon invites International experts on the Arctic and Indigenous Peoples to discuss the "New Arctic" and also its impacts and interactions to and with the lower latitudes.

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Webinar Five, 1:00 pm UTC on April 7, 2021 (virtual). This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on Theme 4: Strengthen: capacity building; education; networking; resilience-prepare the next generation. For more information on ASM3, see here.

2nd Symposium on Polar Microbes and Viruses, May 3-6, 2021 (Hanko, Finland). Organizers announce, that due to the coronavirus outbreak, the 2nd Symposium on Polar Microbes and Viruses has been postponed to 2021. This symposium will bring together molecular microbial ecologists specializing in different organism groups to share our latest results and discuss methodological problems, as well as future prospects in the field, including practical international collaborations. The environmental focus will be on cryospheric environments including sea ice, glaciers, ice sheets, and permafrost, but excellent research in other polar environments is also invited. The methods to be discussed will focus on 'omics' techniques, ranging from single cells to metagenomes, but research using additional methods is encouraged as well.

3rd Arctic Science Ministerial, May 8-9, 2021 (Toyko, Japan). The Japanese and Icelandic organizers of this ministerial continue to plan for an in-person ministerial, in Tokyo, but have moved the dates from November 21-22, 2020 to May 8-9, 2021 because of Covid-19. Since the last Arctic Science Ministerial in 2018, changes in the Arctic ecosystem and the resulting impacts locally and globally have been severely felt. Considering the need for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and repair measures, the relevance of an international Arctic Science Ministerial has never been greater. It is necessary to strengthen scientific cooperation and collaboration among both Arctic and non-Arctic States in order to develop our understanding of the rapid changes impacting the Arctic. The First Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM1) was hosted by the United States in 2016, and two years later, the Second Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM2) was co-hosted by Germany, Finland, and the European Commission. ASM3 will be co-hosted by Iceland and Japan.
 

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Closing Webinar, 1:00 pm UTC on June 9, 2021 (virtual). This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on the post-ministerial review: joint statement actions. For more information on ASM3, see here.

2021 Regional Conference on Permafrost/ 19th International Conference Cold Regions Engineering, July 11-16, 2021 (Boulder, Colorado USA). For the first time a Regional Conference on Permafrost will be combined with the bi-annual 19th International Conference on Cold Regions Engineering. This conference is hosted by the US Permafrost Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the International Permafrost Association, the Permafrost Young Researchers Network, and the University of Colorado Boulder. A complete list of planned sessions is available here.

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