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February 9, 2022

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NEW THIS WEEK | February 7-10, 2022 | Virtual

Alaska Forum on the Environment

The Alaska Forum on the Environment will feature over 40 technical sessions, 4 keynote speakers, virtual exhibitor booths, daily film festival films and an after-hours meet and greet session.

Event Link
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These Animals Are Feasting on the Ruins of an Extinct World

Karasik, the largest underwater mountain in the Arctic, was meant to be dead. Volcanically, it is. But biologically, it’s home to a teeming community of creatures, surviving in an environment with barely any food, through means that no one expected. The mountain lies 300 kilometers from the North Pole, at a ridge where the tectonic plates that hold Europe and North America are slowly drifting apart. With its base sitting 5,000 meters below the surface, and its tip 560 meters below a thick sheet of ice, Karasik had barely been explored since its discovery in 2001.

The Atlantic

US Needs More Icebreakers for Arctic

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It's true that ice is melting in the Arctic, but this doesn't mean the U.S. no longer needs icebreaker ships to operate in the region. And right now, the U.S. needs more than what it currently has. The Navy doesn't operate icebreakers, but the Coast Guard does. According to its website, the Coast Guard currently has only two operational icebreakers in its fleet. 

DOD News

Thawing Permafrost Could Expose Arctic Populations to Cancer-Causing Radon

According to a new study, thawing of permafrost due to climate change could expose the Arctic population to much greater concentrations of the invisible, lung cancer-causing gas radon. Professor Paul Glover from the University of Leeds and his co-author suggest that permafrost has historically acted as a protective barrier, blocking radon from traveling to the surface and entering buildings there.

Phys.org
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NEW THIS WEEK | 3:00 pm ET on February 15, 2022 | Virtual

IARPC Webinar on Biennial Implementation Planning

The Arctic Research Plan 2022-2026 provides a high-level strategy and goals for the next five years of Arctic research. In order to respond quickly to novel challenges and to provide more opportunities for Arctic researchers and residents to drive the work IARPC does, we are moving to a two-year implementation process for the plan. Biennial implementation plans will include more granular, specific objectives and deliverables. The first biennial implementation plan is currently under development and will cover 2022-2024. In this webinar, biennial implementation plan transition teams will provide an overview of their draft objectives and request input and ideas. This webinar is hosted by IARPC.

Event Link

NEW THIS WEEK | 1:00 pm ET on February 16, 2022 | Virtual

Diversity & Inclusion Discussion Group: Indigenous Food Sovereignty & Self-Governance, with Carolina Behe of Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska

IARPC Collaborations Diversity & Inclusion Working Group hosts this event and is hosting a quarterly reading group initiative, designed to encourage reading and open conversations on topics related to diversity and inclusion in Arctic Science. This event will focus Indigenous food sovereignty and self-governance, featuring a discussion with Carolina Behe of the Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska.

Event Link

March 9-11, 2022 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Arctic360 Annual Conference

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Arctic360 will host this event with guest from sectors including Indigenous, private sector, and political leaders across Canada. The 2022 conference theme: ‘WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE MEETS DIPLOMACY’ focuses on strengthening partnership to help build green, connected, smart, and climate resilient transportation infrastructure to foster local economic growth and well-being at home and connect the region to domestic and international markets. Turning potential into reality requires vision, planning, political cooperation, and the Public-Private-Indigenous Partnerships that are necessary for success. The path towards 21st century Arctic transportation infrastructure is where ‘Infrastructure Investment Meets Diplomacy.’

Event Link

NEW THIS WEEK | March 26- April 1, 2022 | Virtual and Tromsø, Norway

Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) 2022

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.

Event Link

April 7-8, 2022 | Anchorage, Alaska USA

Arctic Encounter

Join us on April 7th and 8th in Anchorage, Alaska at the Denai’na Convention Center and the Anchorage Museum for Arctic Encounter Anchorage 2022. As the largest Arctic policy and business conference in the United States, with partners and convenings across the globe, the Arctic Encounter brings together thousands of Arctic leaders and voices from around the world. Following two years of cancellation due to COVID-19, 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, and more. Visit ArcticEncounter.com to learn more and to subscribe to receive the most up-to-date information as speakers, partners, exhibitors, and more are announced.

Event Link

April 9-11, 2022 | St. Petersburg, Russia

The Arctic: Territory of Dialogue Forum

The participants in the forum will focus on improving the living standards in the Arctic region, preserving its unique ecological potential, ensuring sustainable socioeconomic development in polar territories, and strengthening international cooperation to this end. The IAF is a unique space for constructive cooperation with international and regional organizations and an opportunity to focus on Russian and international priorities, including climate change, the environment, economic cooperation in the Arctic, sustainable development of transport infrastructure, and human capital development.

Event Link

May 3-6, 2022 | Anchorage, Alaska USA

Reducing Arctic Risks and Advancing Cooperation, Alaskan Command Arctic Symposium 2022

Arctic Symposium 2022 continues momentum in Arctic defense and security collaboration established in prior ALCOM-hosted events. AAS22 seeks to address the challenges faced by the U.S. military and our allies and partners in understanding and responding to our respective national interests. AAS22 is planned and organized by the Arctic Domain Awareness Center at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) in support and in compliance to guidance from Alaskan Command (ALCOM) Staff and Commander. More information available soon.

Event Link

NEW THIS WEEK May 8-11, 2022 | Tromsø, Norway and digital

Arctic Frontiers 2022: Pathways

The 2022 theme, Pathways, reflects the choices the Arctic is facing when addressing pressing global challenges. The urgency for action will be discussed in terms of pathways to economic development, sustainability, climate action, security, stability, and respect for science in decision-making. The scale spans from national to global policies, from corporate strategies to regional actions and indigenous perspectives, emphasizing the need for broad stakeholder engagement and partnership.

Event Link

MAY 9-12, 2022 | HANKO, FINLAND

2nd Symposium on Polar Microbes and Viruses

Organizers announce, that due to the coronavirus outbreak, the 2nd Symposium on Polar Microbes and Viruses has been postponed to 2022. 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.

August 1-4, 2022 | Utqiagvik, Alaska USA

75th Anniversary of the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory: Celebrating the Past—Planning for the Future

The events during the week of August 1st, 2022, will include Enhancing Arctic Science and Engineering Workshop along with Regional Development Tours and forums on the Arctic science to plan for the next 25 years of Arctic research. Participants will include scientists and engineers, Indigenous leaders, Arctic community members, policymakers, government organizations and businesses to celebrate past research success, take stock of current challenges and opportunities and plan for the next generation of collaboration and knowledge co-production that will keep Utqiagvik and Indigenous knowledge at the forefront of Arctic science and contribute to a safe and sustainable future for

the Arctic.

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