The US Arctic Research Commission’s "Report on the Goals and Objectives for Arctic Research 2023-2024," presented to the President and Congress, will be publicly released at an event hosted by the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute. The report establishes national Arctic research priorities and recommendations that, when achieved, will advance efforts outlined in our nation’s Arctic policies, strategies, and plans. The event, starting at 1:00 pm ET, will include remarks from Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and senior officials from the White House, the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, State Department, and from commissioners and staff.

Part of a continuing weekly series on Alaska history by local historian David Reamer. Have a question about Anchorage or Alaska history or an idea for a future article? Go to the form at the bottom of this story. “God have Mercy on this Whaling Fleet and deliver us from the cold and Icy shores.” A desperate and despairing whaling ship captain wrote those words in 1871.

More than $2.5 million in federal money is now available for projects seeking to research and monitor plastic pollution and contaminants in the Arctic, Ottawa announced on Monday. The funding is linked to the Northern Contaminant Program, developed in 1991 to address the harms of plastics and contaminants in one of the least-polluted areas on the planet. Through Indigenous and scientific knowledge, the program seeks to cut down on sources of pollution that make their way to the Arctic and provide information to northern communities about the safety of local foods.

Three Nunavummiut and seven Greenlanders have been awarded the inaugural 2023 Arctic Resilient Communities Youth Fellowship through the University of the Arctic… The aim of the nine-month fellowship is to bring together 21 Arctic young adults aged 18 to 30 to discuss and develop community-based projects on topics related to climate change, green energy, Indigenous knowledge and Arctic governance.

A new National Science Foundation Dear Colleague Letter: Supporting Workshops to Develop a Strategy for the NSF Arctic Observing Network (AON) Program, (NSF DCL 23-052) has been posted inviting proposals for workshops to identify key science drivers as well as critical infrastructure and technology needs to strengthen the NSF AON Program. Such workshops are typically identified as conferences in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The Nation's ability to detect and understand atmospheric, marine, societal, and terrestrial changes, and their implications for the rest of the planet, is limited by data gaps and insufficient observations across the Arctic. Hence, a high-level, strategic planning initiative needs to be mounted to assist NSF's AON Program in identifying and prioritizing the key components for maintaining and strengthening a sustainable Arctic observing network. 

In 2022, the federal government provided two strategies for the future US Arctic. The National Strategy for the Arctic Region prioritizes a peaceful, prosperous Arctic. Secondly, the current Arctic Research Plan highlights specific research goals through 2026. Larry Hinzman will present new strategies that apply to the Bering Strait region. Larry Hinzman is the assistant director for Polar Sciences at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the executive director of the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee. This event is hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Northwest Campus’ Strait Science Series.

This event is organized by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC)and hosted by the Austrian Polar Research Institute (APRI). This event provides opportunities for coordination, cooperation, and collaboration between the various scientific organizations involved in Arctic research. It was initiated by the IASC in 1999. This event includes a Science Symposium. These symposia create a platform for exchanging knowledge, cross-fertilization, and collaboration and attract scientists, students, policymakers, and other professionals from all over the world.

The Arctic360 annual conference brings together Northern and Indigenous governments, institutions, and corporations; global financial institutions, state leaders; mining, innovation, and other industry leaders; and Arctic experts from Canada and around the circumpolar North to advance the conversation and foster action for building a sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous Arctic region.

This year’s theme is Voices of One Health: Embracing Change & Transformation. The event will engage in dynamic conversations and networking opportunities through hands-on workshops, individual/panel presentations, posters, and plenary sessions. There will also be undergraduate discussion groups which will be a great opportunity for students to meet with researchers and discuss research, education, and their career pathways. This event is hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Arctic Circle and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation are pleased to announce new dates for the Japan Forum. The Forum will focus on Asia in the Future of the Arctic: science, geopolitics, economy, oceans, climate, and technology.

The International Symposium on Arctic Research (ISAR) has been held every two years since 2008 and aims to present and discuss scientific results with researchers on the Arctic from all-over the world, extracting and sharing issues to solve, and exploring the future of the Arctic. ISAR-7 will consist of General Sessions and Special Sessions. General Sessions will address the following topics: atmosphere; ocean and sea ice; rivers, lakes, permafrost, and snow cover; ice sheets, glaciers, and ice cores; terrestrial ecosystems; marine ecosystems; geospacer; laws, politics, and economy; language, culture, and health; and, engineering for sustainable development.

This 5-day in-person workshop will provide researchers with an introduction to advanced topics in computationally reproducible research in python, including software and techniques for working with very large datasets. This includes working in cloud computing environments, docker containers, and parallel processing using tools like parsl and dask. The workshop will also cover concrete methods for documenting and uploading data to the Arctic Data Center, advanced approaches to tracking data provenance, responsible research and data management practices including data sovereignty and the CARE principles, and ethical concerns with data-intensive modeling and analysis.

As the largest Arctic policy and business conference in the United States, with partners and convenings worldwide, the Arctic Encounter continues to gather leading voices from around the world. The Arctic Encounter is eager to welcome participants to Alaska for a world-class arts and cultural experience, including dialogue and presentations with elected and international leaders, business executives, Indigenous peoples, scientists, students, defense leaders, diplomats, policymakers, and more.

The geopolitical situation and increased interest in the sustainable development of the Arctic have resulted in new Arctic funding strategies from agencies such as ESA, the American NSF, and the EU work programs. The AITC conference will provide opportunities to interact across scientific, civil, and commercial domains, in three overall thematic tracks Sea, cryosphere, and land, ranging from ocean, sea-ice, and land ice including permafrost and ice-free land, to develop new ideas and projects and to create new collaboration aiming for sustainable development of the Arctic regions and especially Greenland.

The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) is where energy professionals meet to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmental matters. The conference will include presentations discussing technical solutions, innovations, and advancements of all aspects of the offshore energy industry. Participants will include operators, research, vendors, and stakeholders. The experience of the last 50 years in the Arctic will be in attendance. That expertise and knowledge is available to move forward and support energy, mining, renewables, marine transport, tourism, and other activities in the harshest environments.

The 2023 Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference will focus on Alaska’s role leading the energy transition from established renewable sources to innovative and emerging technologies. World-renowned speakers and experts will highlight the agenda, along with breakout tracks, panel discussions, and multiple networking opportunities.

With support from the National Science Foundation and R/V Sikuliaq operations team and crew, Oregon State hosts an early career chief scientist training cruise June 5-12 as part of a transit from Seward to Nome (AK). This training will also include a series of pre-cruise planning meetings from March to May (a condensed version of a typical pre-cruise preparation process). The goal is to help a cohort of diverse researchers gain skills and confidence in requesting, organizing, and leading scientific surveys on Arctic research vessels at high latitudes.

Interested applicants should apply by February 22.

The 6th biennial "Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit" Conference will be held on 14-15 November 2023 in Rovaniemi, Finland, the birthplace of official Arctic cooperation. This international conference, organized by the City of Rovaniemi and the Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland, gathers policymakers, academics, and other stakeholders for Arctic discussions. Due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, changes in Arctic cooperation will be prominently featured in the conference agenda, and will be explored from the point of view of national and international security, and from a regional perspective, including the Barents region.

In lead up to its 35th anniversary in 2025, the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) is coordinating a multi-year planning process for the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) that will engage Arctic researchers, policymakers, residents, and stakeholders from around the world to collegially discuss the state of Arctic science, the place the Arctic occupies in global affairs and systems, to consider the most urgent knowledge gaps and research priorities that lie before us and to explore avenues to address these research needs. This event is hosted by a consortium of US institutions, including the University of Colorado Boulder, University of Northern Iowa, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Alaska Pacific University. ICARP I, II, and III focused the attention of the world’s researchers toward the value of strategic international coordination in accelerating progress in addressing critical challenges. ICARP IV will build upon this concept by striving to achieve consensus and build collaborations among the leading scientific, academic, environmental, Indigenous and political organizations currently concerned with Arctic issues.