NEW THIS WEEK | 10:30 pm ET on March 1, 2024 | Virtual
Hydoponics and Heat Pumps in the North
| Rather than using dirt to grow edible seasonally-available plants, hydroponics can allow rural Alaskans to have quality vegetables and root crops – year round! Mark Houston will present what it takes to have successful hydroponic food production in cold Arctic temperatures as well as the heat pumps that make it a reality. Learn more about the lowest costs for the building space needed for success. This event is part of the Strait Science series. | |
This Dutch Startup Has a Plan to Help Save Arctic Sea Ice | |
In the Arctic, there’s a chance that sea ice could disappear in the summer as soon as the 2030s. Already, since the U.S. government started measuring sea ice in 1979, more than 2 million kilometers of summer ice cover—an area around three times larger than Texas—has been lost. The ice keeps getting thinner and weaker. That’s a problem not just for people and wildlife in the Arctic, but for the whole planet: Since ice reflects sunlight and the dark ocean absorbs it, losing ice means that global warming happens faster. | |
Arctic Vault Gets More Seeds | |
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is on an island halfway between Europe and the North Pole. It contains frozen seeds of food crops from around the world. The vault opened in 2008 to help keep crops safe from extinction. This week, the vault received seeds from the largest number of new contributors ever. Contributors give seeds from their collections of seeds, called seed banks. | |
Regaining Arctic Expertise: US Troops in Alaska Making Strides to Become the Army's Arctic Force | |
The 11th Airborne Division recently concluded one of Alaska's coldest and biggest exercises yet. Soon, some 150 troops will conduct an over-the-pole movement from Alaska to Norway for the exercise Arctic Shock. "It is very important for us that we continue our partnerships," Commanding General Eifler says. | |
Secret Arctic Microbial Night Life Investigated by Aberystwyth Scientists | |
Aberystwyth University academics are visiting Svalbard in the Arctic to investigate the night life of microbes. Led by Aberystwyth University, three experts will visit Arctic glaciers to study microbial life during the area’s ‘light winter’ – when it starts to emerge from its period of permanent darkness during polar night. | |
NEW THIS WEEK | 1:00 pm ET on March 5, 2024 | Washington, DC (in-person only)
Hosted by The Senate Arctic Caucus Co-Chairs Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Angus King and The Office of the Vice Chair, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
| As the Arctic experiences rapid and significant environmental changes, there is a need for federally-funded research to be conducted differently – in closer coordination with Arctic communities, and increasingly led by Arctic community members and Indigenous Peoples. The Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) Initiative is the largest federal investment in Arctic research that has incorporated a focus on co-production of Arctic science and the applicability of research projects to addressing the challenges facing Arctic residents as the climate changes. This briefing will highlight how a co-productive approach to Arctic research has been applied in NNA research projects investigating river health, fishery management and education, and permafrost thaw. Panelist include Nikoosh Carlo, US Arctic Research Commissioner. Dirksen 628 (Indian Affairs Committee Hearing Room) | |
NEW THIS WEEK | 2:00 pm ET on March 12, 2024 | Webinar
Webinar: Revised Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 24-1)
| A revised version of the Nation Science Foundation (NSF) Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 24-1) has been issued. The new PAPPG will be effective for proposals submitted or due on or after May 20, 2024. NSF will present information about these changes. | |
March 13-16, 2024 | Amherst, Massachusetts USA
52nd International Arctic Workshop
| 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. | |
March 21-29, 2024 | Edinburgh, Scotland, UK and virtual
Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW)
| 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. | |
1:00 pm on March 24, 2024 | Washington, DC USA
Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital: One with the Whale
| 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) | |
March 25-27, 2024, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada | April 2-4, 2024, Iqaluit, NU, Canada
CanArctic Industry Days in Northern Canada
| 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. | |
March 27-29, 2024 | Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Arctic Observing Summit
| 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. | |
NEW THIS WEEK | April 1-3, 2024 | Fairbanks, Alaska USA
2024 Alaska Section AWRA Annual Conference
| AWRA's mission is to advance multidisciplinary water resources education, management, and research. The annual conference is an opportunity for collaboration among physical, biological, and social scientists, engineers, and students concerned with water resource research, planning, development, management, and education. The intention is that this will be a hybrid conference. We highly encourage all who can to attend in person. | |
April 2-4, 2024 | Nome, Alaska USA
16th Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference and Forum: Theme: “Western Alaska in Transition”
| 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. | |
April 10-12, 2024 | Anchorage, Alaska USA
Arctic Encounter
| 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. | |
May 14-15, 2024 | Brussels, Belgium and virtual
EU Arctic Forum and Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue
| The European Commission and the European External Action Service jointly host the EU Arctic Forum and Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue. The EU Arctic Forum will provide an opportunity to assess recent developments in the Arctic and to discuss challenges ahead. It will look at some of the achievements of the EU Arctic policy in recent years and will continue to provide a strategic outlook for the years to come. The Indigenous Peoples’ Dialogue will offer a platform for discussion on Arctic matters affecting Indigenous Peoples. | |
May 20, 2024 | Anchorage, Alaska USA
Launch Alaska Climate Innovation Showcase
| 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. | |
May 21- 23, 2024 | Anchorage, Alaska USA
Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference
| 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. | |
May 29- June 3, 2024 | Bodø, Norway
Arctic Congress Bodø 2024
| 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. | |
June 16-20, 2024 | Whitehorse, Yukon Canada and virtual
ICOP 2024: Integrating Perspectives of Permafrost Thaw, Change, and Adaptation
| The 12th International Conference on Permafrost will consider “Integrating Perspectives of Permafrost Thaw, Change, and Adaptation.” The conference will address the most recent developments and stimulate engaging technical and scientific discussions among academics, professionals, contractors, suppliers, and students. The impacts of climate change and economic development have significantly changed the Arctic, in recent decades, resulting in a wealth of research initiatives and challenging engineering projects. Event partners include the Canadian Permafrost Association, IPA, and Yukon University. | |
March 21-28, 2025 | Boulder, Colorado USA
4th International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV)
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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.
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