This is the first case of severe Alaskapox infection resulting in hospitalization and death. The patient’s immunocompromised status likely contributed to illness severity. Moreover, being the first case of Alaskapox identified outside of the Interior region, it indicates that AKPV appears to be more geographically widespread in Alaska’s small mammals than previously known and warrants increased statewide awareness among clinicians. The route of exposure in this case remains unclear, although scratches from the stray cat represent a possible source of inoculation through fomite transmission. SOE is working with the University of Alaska Museum and CDC to test small mammals for AKPV outside of the Interior region.

The ARENA program is designed for current and emerging leaders involved in community-scale renewable energy projects or initiatives. The curriculum is designed for a non-technical audience with a focus on project management, networking, and knowledge sharing to catalyze power systems integration across small communities in the north. Participants will be selected via consensus of a committee composed of individuals identified by the ARENA 2022 co-leads. Selection is competitive and based on the strength of application as well as individual interviews (conducted via Skype video or similar tool).

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy wants to establish a "long overdue" relationship with the Yukon, starting with a request for funding for Alaska Highway improvements. Dunleavy paid his first-ever visit to the territory this week for a series of meetings with Yukon officials spanning Thursday and Friday morning. In addition to transportation infrastructure, they discussed regional security and potential cross-boundary firefighting strategies.

The Norwegian Government on Friday adopted amendments to the environmental regulations in Svalbard. “We are now tightening the environmental regulations in Svalbard to strengthen the protection of flora and fauna,” says Minister of Climate and Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen.

The 52nd International Arctic Workshop will be held at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The International Arctic Workshop is a friendly, informal, and relaxed conference open to all students and professionals interested in the Arctic. Originally started at INSTAAR at the University of Colorado - Boulder, the Arctic Workshop alternates between INSTAAR and an international host. This year, University of Massachusetts with the department of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences & Climate System Research center will be hosting.

Heather Sauyaq Jean Gordon, Iñupiaq, shares her learning from the Inuit people in Greenland and the Ninilchik Village Tribe in Alaska. This talk addresses building relationships with Indigenous Nations for their leadership in nurturing and stewarding the land through Indigenous Knowledge. A report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services found lands nurtured by Indigenous Peoples experience less species and ecosystems decline than other areas, yet in Alaska, Indigenous perspectives are rarely included in management. Heather discusses current land ownership and management practices in Alaska and how these differ from Indigenous approaches. She also addresses why the Indigenous approach is so different and what policies and laws can change to make sure the waters and lands are healthy and able to support generations in the future.

SEARCH and Navigating the New Arctic- Community Office (NNA-CO) will walk through how to frame and prepare your Arctic research to be submitted as an “Arctic Answer” for publication in Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research (AAAR), a peer-reviewed journal. Arctic Answers are two-page briefs designed specifically to share science with policymakers. Participants have the opportunity to work on developing a brief with experienced guidance. Two online sessions -- one in January and one in February 2024 -- and a session at the NNA Annual Community Meeting – will provide opportunities for learning and work. Participants can join all sessions for maximum benefit and progress on their brief or join fewer sessions to learn the basics. 

The 52nd International Arctic Workshop will be held at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The International Arctic Workshop is a friendly, informal, and relaxed conference open to all students and professionals interested in the Arctic. Originally started at INSTAAR at the University of Colorado - Boulder, the Arctic Workshop alternates between INSTAAR and an international host. This year, University of Massachusetts with the department of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences & Climate System Research center will be hosting.

Abstract deadline: February 25, 2024

The Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) is organized annually by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) to provide opportunities for coordination, cooperation and collaboration between the various scientific organizations involved in Arctic research. It was initiated by the IASC in 1999 and has evolved into the most important annual gathering of the Arctic research organization.

A heartwarming, yet thrilling tale of an Alaska Native family’s struggle to recover from animal activists’ online assaults against their teenage son, the youngest person to ever harpoon a whale for his village. (Directors: Pete Chelkowski and Jim Wickens, Producers: Aakapak Susan Apassingok (Yup’ik), Yaari Walker (Yup’ik), and Justine Nagan, USA/UK, 2023, 80 min., English and Siberian Yup’ik with English subtitles)

Presented by the U.S. Commercial Service Canada, CanArctic Industry Days is set to bring together U.S. exporters from strategic sectors with Canadian Arctic Indigenous groups. The program is designed to foster a bilateral dialogue centered on knowledge sharing, the expansion of economic development opportunities in Canada's Arctic, and the exploration of potential bilateral partnerships within this dynamically evolving and geo-strategic region. Taking place in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and Iqaluit, Nunavut—two strategically chosen locations—this event promises a unique and impactful experience for all U.S. company presenters.

The 7th biennial AOS as part of Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) 2024. The AOS draws a wide range of participants from across the spectrum of Arctic observing – Indigenous experts, operational agency representatives, scientists, and others – from around the world. Much of the summit is organized around discussions led by working groups on particular themes (Regional to global observing, Data sharing, System implementation/SAON ROADS, Observing System Benefits). In addition to plenary and working group sessions, this year we will include additional breakout sessions. 

This event is hosted by Alaska Sea Grant and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Northwest Campus, University of Alaska Fairbanks. The 16th Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference (WAISC) brings together people invested in sharing information important to rural communities in Western Alaska. We do this through Western Alaska knowledge and science. The 2024 conference will highlight needs to maintain strength, health, and subsistence lifestyles while moving forward during rapid transitions within the environment, ecology, and industries of Western Alaska. A conference priority is the continued sharing of knowledge across cultural boundaries.

As the largest Arctic policy and business conference in North America, with partners and convenings worldwide, the Arctic Encounter continues to gather leading voices from around the world. The Arctic Encounter is eager to welcome 1,000+ participants to Alaska for a world-class arts and cultural experience, including policy debates, dialogue with international leaders, business executives, Indigenous peoples, scientists, students, defense leaders, diplomats, policymakers, and more.

Launch Alaska hosts this event to celebrate Launch Alaska Portfolio companies and build new connections between the people and projects accelerating the energy transition in Alaska. This event is held the day before the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference and is part of that program. 

Guided by the theme “Transforming Energy Now for the Next 50 Years,” the 2024 Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference will focus on real world examples in Alaska and around the globe demonstrating progress in the energy transition including established renewable sources, advancements in energy storage, and emerging technologies such as green fuels and advanced nuclear power. World-renowned speakers and experts will highlight the agenda, along with breakout tracks, panel discussions, and multiple networking opportunities.

Nordland Research Institute and NORD University host this event. The congress includes high-level plenary sessions, several parallel sessions, network activities, and social and cultural events. Researchers, policymakers, businesses, and students exchange knowledge and connect across the Arctic. IASSA and UArctic will also hold their General Assemblies.

The 12^th International Conference on Permafrost will consider “Integrating Perspectives of Permafrost Thaw, Change, and Adaptation.” Event partners include the Canadian Permafrost Association, IPA, and Yukon University.

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.