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Request for Proposals for National Science Foundation Initiative Navigating the New Arctic. Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) tackles convergent scientific challenges in the rapidly changing Arctic, that are needed to inform the economy, security and resilience of the Nation, the larger region and the globe. Major goals of NNA include: (1) Improved understanding of Arctic change and its local and global effects that capitalize on innovative and optimized observation infrastructure, advances in understanding of fundamental processes, and new approaches to modeling natural environment, social and built systems interactions. (2) New enhanced research communities that are diverse, integrative and well-positioned to carry out productive research at the intersections of Arctic social, natural, and built systems. (3) Research outcomes that inform U.S. national security and economic development needs and enable resilient, sustainable Arctic communities.
This solicitation is the first of what is envisioned to be at least a five-year agency-wide program to support the research needed to inform decisions about the economy, security, and resilience of the Nation, the larger region, and the globe with respect to Arctic change. NSF anticipates that future calls will further define "larger scope," with the potential to include projects up to the scale of centers and/or consortia.
The program solicitation can be found
here.
Frequently asked questions can be found
here.
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Media
 Northern Sea Route's Navigation Extends by One Month in Warming Climate. Higher temperatures in Russia's Arctic regions extend navigation along the Northern Sea Route by one month, Professor Oleg Anisimov of the State Hydrology Institute said on Friday. "Currently, the Northern Sea Route's exploitation term is about two months, and forecasts based on climate models say the term may be extended by another month in the middle of the century, making it three months, which opens new economic opportunities," he said at a news conference, organized at the St. Petersburg TASS branch, which was devoted to a recent international seminar on development of Russia's Arctic zone."
Tass
USMC Eyes Improved Arctic Communications Systems, Procedures. The US Marine Corps (USMC) is exploring alternative concepts of operation (CONOPs) to overcome communications constraints in the Arctic, according to Captain Dez Hill, the USMC's G6 projects officer for Europe and Africa. Coming directly from NATO's Exercise 'Trident Juncture', which included a 10,000-person USMC presence, Capt Hill said at the Global Milsatcom conference in London on 7 November that the corps excels at network-enabled warfare, but noted that such a capability could be viewed as a 'vulnerability' by enemy forces now capable of hampering communications by "severing undersea cables, [executing] cyber [attacks] against commercial infrastructure, and space kinetic attacks."
Jane's 360
A Child's Tooth Deepens Understanding of Ancient Arctic People. A 9,000-year-old child's tooth has reshaped scientific understanding of Alaska's ancient people. Analyzed in a paper published Thursday, the tooth is just the second known discovery of human remains from a group of Alaska migrants known as Ancient Beringians. The group is thought to be the ancient ancestors of Alaska Natives who crossed the Bering Land Bridge that once connected Asia and Alaska, then migrated south over time.
Juneau Empire
 Climate Change 'Forcing Predators to Move into Arctic Nesting Grounds,' Pushing Endangered Shorebird Species Towards Extinction. Shore-dwelling birds like plovers and sandpipers are under threat as global warming leaves their nests vulnerable to thieving predators hunting for eggs. Many shorebirds migrate from southern regions to the Arctic as a safe haven to lay eggs and raise their young away from predators such as foxes. However, a new study has shown that rates of egg theft in the Arctic have increased threefold in the last 70 years as polar temperatures rise and predators move north.
The Independent
Floating University: Uncovering Forgotten History. Everything new is actually long-forgotten. The organizers of the Floating University decided not to reinvent the wheel and started to unravel the mysteries of the Arctic using a well-tested 1980s approach. We spoke with Konstantin Zaikov, head of the Arctic Floating University project, about the unusual voyages aboard the research vessel.
The Arctic
In a Warming Arctic, October in Utqiagvik Presents an Especially Striking Picture. If you want to see some of the most dramatic changes in the part of the world that's changing most dramatically, Utqiaġvik in the fall is a good contender. Over the course of the past 50 years, temperatures in Utqiaġvik have increased in October more than any other month and the sea ice pattern has changed drastically.
Alaska Public Radio
 The need to inform and educate continues... survey finds Americans mildly disagree with the statement "US is an Arctic Nation with broad and fundamental interests in the Arctic Region." A report released on 11/8/18 based on a 2017 survey of 4,000 Americans conducted by Mr. Zachary Hamilla, the Executive Director of the Arctic Studio, and an advisor to the USARC, indicates that many Americans continue to think that the US is not an Arctic Nation, or does not have interests in the region. Residents of Alaska, of course, were the exception, demonstrating an informed understanding. When asked "What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Arctic?," 2.4% of Americans said "penguins," but the more accurate response of "cold" was most common. To see the well-written 5-page report, and the data behind it, which is a follow-up to a 2015 survey, go
here.
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Future Events
The increasing rate of Arctic change: how should the research community keep up? Session II
, November 15, 2018 (Webinar). The Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) seeks a broad conversation with past, present, and future members of its community on how SEARCH might serve to advance synthesis and engagement in the coming decades? What coordination of research and communication is needed? This video conference (Zoom) continues a discussion (The Increasing Second Derivative of Arctic Change) held by webinar on 5 October 2018. For more information, contact Brendan P. Kelly ([email protected]) SEARCH Executive Director. Register and receive webinar link
Maritime & Arctic Security & Safety Conference (MASS18) "Arctic Technology" November 15-16, 2018 (Newfoundland & Labrador Canada).
Now in its sixth year, MASS has gained an international reputation as a  must-attend event to gain a wide perspective on challenges, opportunities and policies related to the Arctic and North Atlantic maritime environments. The
aim of this Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador supported international conference is to promote stakeholder collaboration, technological innovation, harsh environment research & development, and world-class education efforts that are contributing to both Maritime and Arctic issues. This two day conference will draw a diverse group of speakers and attendees representing government, military, Canadian and U.S. Coast Guard, industry, academic leaders, Northern Leaders, research and other key stakeholders. We hope you can join us to be a part of this important dialogue
** new this week **
DOD Arctic research session at SERDP/ESTCP, Nov. 29, 2018, Washington, DC.
An Arctic research focus will be presented at the SERDP-ESTCP annual meeting "Enhancing DoD's Mission Effectiveness." The Strategic Environmental Research  and Development Program (SERDP) and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) symposium is a nationally recognized conference focusing on DOD's priority environmental and installation energy issues. This year's meeting, at the Washington Hilton Hotel, 1919 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009, will feature a technical session on Arctic research under the theme of "Resource Conservation and Resiliency." The session is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 29th, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, and will include the following speakers: Andrew Nelson (USACE), John Farrell (USARC), Martin Jeffries (USACE/CRREL), John Woods (ONR-RC), Kevin Bjella (USARC/CRREL), and Hajo Eicken (UAF/IARC).
Causes for the record low sea-ice extent in the Bering Sea in 2018
, November 19, 2018 (Webinar). This seminar is part of NOAA's EcoFOCI bi-annual seminar series focused on the ecosystems of the North Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea and U.S. Arctic to improve understanding of ecosystem dynamics and applications of that understanding to the management of living marine resources. This webinar will be an in-depth look at the driving factors of a warm Bering Sea including ice arrival, extent, and implications.
American Geophysical Union Fall meeting, December 10-14, 2018 (Washington, DC USA). The AGU 2018 Fall Meeting will mark another dynamic year of discovery in Earth and space science, serve as the advent of AGU's Centennial year, and provide a special opportunity to share our science with world
 leaders in Washington, D.C. As the largest Earth and space science gathering in the world, the Fall Meeting places you in the center of a global community of scientists drawn from myriad fields of study whose work protects the health and welfare of people worldwide, spurs innovation, and informs decisions that are critical to the sustainability of the Earth.
USARC Commissioner Jacqueline Richter-Menge to deliver the Nye Lecture at the 2018 AGU Fall Meeting. The US Arctic Research Commission (USARC) is pleased to announce that Commissioner Jacqueline Richter-Menge will present this year's
Nye Lecture, titled "A Career of Change,"
at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in Washington, DC at 2:50 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 in the Marquis room of the Marriott Marquis Hotel, 901 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001.
ArcticNet: Annual Scientific Meeting 2018, December 10-14, 2018 (Ottawa, ON Canada). Canada's North is experiencing unprecedented change in its sea and terrestrial ice, permafrost and ecosystems under the triple pressures of climate change, industrialization and modernization. The impacts of these pressures can be seen on food and energy security, shipping, sovereignty, northern community health and well-being, and sustainable development and resource exploitation. All these issues have brought the North to the forefront of national and international agendas. Building on the success of its previous Annual Scientific Meetings and International Arctic Change Conferences, the Arctic Network of Centers of Excellence announces the 14th ArcticNet Annual Scientific Meeting.
Arcti
c F
ron
tiers, January 20-25, 2019 (Tromso, Norway)
. The Arctic Frontiers
is a global scientific conference on economic, societal, and environmental sustainable growth.
This year's theme will be "Smart Arctic," with a pan-arctic emphasis, and an effort to build new partnerships across nations, generations and ethnic groups. Arctic Frontiers provides a forum for dialogue and communication between science, government and industry
. The plenary program will have five main sessions: State of the Arctic, Blue Growth, Smart Solutions, Bridging the Gap, and Arctic business prospects. An abstract-driven science program will address Plastics in the Ocean, the Future of Governance and Handling Vulnerability in Arctic Ecosystems, State of the Arctic and A Smart Arctic Future.
Save the Date!
** new this week **
Mark your calendars to attend IDA-8, which some have called one of the best Arctic gatherings around. Historically, this biennial symposium was co-hosted by U.S. National/Naval Ice Center (NIC) and the US Arctic Research Commission (USARC). In 2019, these partners will join forces with the preeminent Wilson Center's Polar Institute, as a third co-host. The now 2-day symposium will be held in the Ronald Reagan Building Amphitheater, in Washington, DC. The event will focus on a broad cross-section of naval and maritime operations and issues in an ice-diminishing Arctic. The symposium brings together nationally and internationally recognized experts on Arctic governance, geopolitics, marine operations, infrastructure, science, and environmental observations, from the local, regional, and pan-Arctic scale. Information on prior symposia, including lists of speakers, video clips, and copies of presentations, is available here. Attendance is free, and registration will begin in Spring 2019. The event will be webcast live, and video recorded.
 of the AAG includes over 8,500 geographers converging from the U.S., Canada, and nearly 60 other countries in a typical year including geographers, GIS specialists, environmental scientists, and other leaders for the latest in research and applications in geography, sustainability, and GIScience.
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External links in this publication, and on the USARC's World Wide Web site (
www.arctic.gov) do not constitute endorsement by the US Arctic Research Commission of external Web sites or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities, the USARC does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. These links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this newsletter and the USARC Web site.
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