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May 4, 2020




Arctic Reading for the Quarantine:


This week's newly shared reports and publicans.

(The Study of Environmental Arctic Change) Arctic Futures 2050 Conference Report, April 16, 2020. In September 2019, the Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) brought together nearly 400 scientists, Indigenous Knowledge holders and leaders, and policy makers from 15 countries to explore Arctic research needs. The Arctic Futures 2050 conference report covers takeaways from the spoken and poster presentations organized by five conference questions and reflects on the conference format and lessons learned. A main conference conclusion is that holistic understanding and useful adaptation to rapid Arctic change requires bringing together scientists, Indigenous Knowledge holders, and policy makers in all phases of research from defining the problems to conducting research and sharing knowledge. Please also note the webinar opportunity for providing ideas inspired by the report.

(US Government Accountability Office) Maritime Infrastructure: A Strategic Approach and Interagency Leadership Could Improve Federal Efforts in the US Arctic, April 29. 2020. Climate change has led to record low levels of ice in the US Arctic-prolonging the shipping season and opening up shipping routes. This may expand economic opportunities, but harsh weather and ice conditions-plus the lack of maritime infrastructure-pose safety risks. For example, not having a designated harbor of refuge means ships don't have a place to moor in an emergency. Agencies have taken steps to address infrastructure gaps, but federal efforts lack consistent leadership and a current strategy. We recommend designating an interagency group and developing a strategy to lead efforts in addressing the region's maritime infrastructure.
Media

US Navy Conducts Anti-Submarine Exercise Above Arctic Circle. The U.S. Navy's 6th Fleet conducted a bilateral naval anti-submarine warfare exercise with the U.K. above the Arctic Circle on May 1, 2020. For the exercise, Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyers USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) and USS Porter (DDG 78), and fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE 6), were joined by the Royal Navy's HMS Kent (F 78). Additionally, a U.S. submarine, as well as a P8-A Poseidon multi-mission maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft from Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 supported the training. Maritime Executive  
 
Sikuliaq Sails Monday. The University of Alaska operated research vessel Sikuliaq (see-KOO-lee-auk) is headed out on a cruise next May 4 to collect water and plankton samples in the northern Gulf of Alaska, as part of a long running ecological survey. According to the university, it's the first time a National Science Foundation academic research ship is being allowed to leave port since the NSF halted sailings due to the coronavirus pandemic.  UAF College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Dean Brad Moran says the Sikuliaq cruise has been granted an exception for several reasons, including the sampling project's longevity, and a short and straight forward itinerary. KUAC
 
After a Warmer Than Normal April, Utqiagvik Sees Record Low Temperature in Over a Decade. For the first time since 2007, Alaska's northernmost city has recorded a record low temperature reading. On Wednesday morning, temperatures in the North Slope hub community of Utqiagvik reached 20 degrees below zero, a record low for April 29th. Rick Thoman, a climatologist with the International Arctic Research Center in Fairbanks, says that Utqiagvik saw all of the ingredients for a cold day on Wednesday.  Alaska Public Radio  
 
In Search of Seals, Al Algorithm Cuts Time on Counts. It's important for wildlife managers to actually count the wildlife in a particular area, including Alaska's Arctic. To do that, researchers take thousands of photos from a plane, capturing images of seals and other marine mammals sitting on sea ice. But how can they do that accurately and efficiently? That has historically been a problem, says Erin Moreland, a research zoologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Alaska Public Radio
 
Extended Deadline - Call for Input: Comment on the Next IARPC 5-Year Arctic Research Plan Due August 2  The Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) has extended the deadline for comments on the next Arctic Research Plan.  A scoping Federal Register Notice (FRN) for the next Arctic Research Plan was published on 3 April 2020 and will be open for comments until 2 August 2020. The full FRN is available  online . IARPC is initiating development of the next Arctic Research Plan, as called for in the Arctic Research Policy Act (ARPA) of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4108). The Plan aims to strengthen interagency communication, coordination, and collaboration of the 14 Federal agencies, departments and offices that make up IARPC. The Plan will address critical needs in Arctic research and identify those areas where research in the Arctic can be improved through interagency collaboration.I ARPC will begin developing the next 5-year Arctic Research Plan and wants to know what should be included. Your thoughts and ideas are valued and welcome.  Comments can be made via the  Federal Register  or email:  [email protected] .
Future Events

** New this week ** National Science Foundation Manager Chat: Response to COVID-19, May 6, 2020 (webinar). An IARPC Collaborations Webinar Series, join NSF Office of Polar Programs Officers to discuss the NSF response to COVID-19 including impacts on awards, regulations, and the 2020 field season. This is an opportunity for open dialog with OPP and we welcome the research community to join, ask questions and share feedback.  Register here! For more information about the topics to be covered in this webinar, see here.
 
Year 6 Annual Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC) Meeting: Securing S&T Success for the Coming Arctic, May 14, 2020 (Virtual meeting) The ADAC meeting will include reflections by U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral Karl Schultz; DHS's Mr. William Bryan, the Department's senior leader for Science and Technology; and Deputy NOAA Administrator, Dr. Tim Gallaudet, RDML, USN (Ret).  The core of the meeting is to review the Center's research and education program progress, on a project by project basis.  Please consider registering for this Cisco WebEx meeting here.

Discussing Future Directions for Arctic Research, Community Webinars, May 14 and 18, 2020 (Virtual) .  The Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) invites you to discuss, in a webinar, Arctic research needs in the context of your observations, research, and/or  the newly released  Arctic Futures 2050 conference report Those discussions will help SEARCH develop its future programs as well as offer input to the 5-year Arctic research plan being developed by the Interagency Arctic Policy Research Committee. The Zoom webinars on May 14 and May 18 are open to all, however,  registration  is required. Please direct any registration questions to  [email protected] .
 
Ashjian
MOSAiC expedition_ Polarstern_ Carin Ashjian
COVID-19 Impacts in the Arctic, May 19-20, 2020 (Virtual conference, Zoom) . Organized and hosted by the US Naval War College, the Wilson Center's Polar Institute, and the US Arctic Research Commission, this event will be a series of panel conversations on the impacts of the virus in the Arctic. COVID-19 threatens the Arctic region with new challenges to human life, economic prosperity, and the fabric of communities. Ongoing climate and environmental change further compound the challenges facing Arctic communities. In light of these unprecedented, intersecting challenges, the co-hosts will run a virtual conference of panels focusing on Arctic Community health, economic  activities, US Coast Guard Operations, scientific research, international impacts and more. Speakers will include leading voices from Arctic communities, federal and state agencies, academia, international entities, and the private sector.  Registration  is  open  and is  required .

ICESAT-2 Cryospheric Science Hackweek, June 15-19, 2020 (Seattle, Washington  USA). ICESat-2 Cryospheric Science Hackweek is a 5-day hackweek to be held at the University of Washington. Participants will learn about technologies used to access and process ICESat-2 data with a focus on the cryosphere. Mornings will consist of interactive lectures, and afternoon sessions will involve facilitated exploration of datasets and hands-on software development.

Arctic Circle Assembly, October 8-11, 2020 (Reykjavi­k, Iceland). The annual Arctic Circle Assembly is the largest annual international gathering on the Arctic, attended by more than 2000 participants from 60 countries. It is attended by heads of states and governments, ministers, members of parliaments, officials, experts, scientists, entrepreneurs, business leaders, indigenous representatives, environmentalists, students, activists and others from the growing international community of partners and participants interested in the future of the Arctic. 

3rd Arctic Science Ministerial, November 21-22, 2020 (Toyko, Japan). Since the last Arctic Science Ministerial in 2018, changes in the Arctic ecosystem and the resulting impacts locally and globally have been severely felt. While the reasons for these changes in climate largely stem from activities outside of the Arctic, the Arctic is warming at a rate of nearly double the global average. 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. The Third Arctic Science Ministerial will be co-hosted by Iceland and Japan.

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.

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.

Save the Date: 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.
 

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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