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December 3, 2020

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Webinar Two, 5:00 pm UTC on December 3, 2020 (virtual). This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on Indigenous Peoples' Interests in ASM3 (specific topics in consultation with ASM3 Science Advisory Board and Arctic Indigenous Organizations). For more information on ASM3, see here.

Indigenous Peoples' Participation in the ASM3 Process - Contributions to Arctic Science and Research, 5pm UTC on December 3, 2020 (virtual).
This event is part of the ASM3 Webinar Series and is hosted by the 3rd Arctic Science Ministerial. This webinar brings together a panel of Indigenous leaders to discuss the upcoming Arctic Science Ministerial. They will discuss the importance of inclusion of the knowledge of Indigenous peoples in Arctic science and research and the important role this has on sustainability. They will provide a background of previous efforts and share their insights around the question "Why is it important for Indigenous Peoples to be involved in Arctic science and research?" Please join the panel to learn about how a holistic approach to Arctic Science builds equity and cooperation in the Arctic. The discussion from this webinar will form the basis for recommendations reflected in the ASM3 final report.

** New this week ** The New Blue Economy: People, Products, and Policies, 1:00 pm AST on December 3, 2020 (virtual). Dr. Richard W.Spinrad will present at the Fall 2020 Fisheries and Oceans Sciences Keynote Seminar hosted by the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Access the meeting here.

Meeting ID: 880 1695 4692
Passcode: 650045
Media

Coast Guard Icebreaker Polar Star Heading to Arctic as COVID-19 Limits Antarctic Operations. The crew of the Polar Star, the U.S. Coast Guard's only working heavy-duty icebreaker, is preparing for a rare mission north to the Arctic after the coronavirus pandemic scuttled their usual journey. The Seattle-based Polar Star usually heads south to Antarctica to resupply a research station, but there's no escaping the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, even in one of the most remote corners of the planet, KING5 News reported. Navy Times
 
2020 Shaping Up to be Among Warmest Years on Record Say WMO. "2020 has, unfortunately, been yet another extraordinary year for our climate," said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas upon the release of the organization's provisional State of the Global Climate 2020, on Wednesday. "We saw new extreme temperatures on land, sea and especially in the Arctic," he said in a news release. Radio Canada International
 
Scientists to Study Prospects of Russian Arctic Oil and Gas Deposits. Scientists from the Scientific Research Institute of Geology, Geophysics and Mineral Deposits, affiliated with the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, will assess the prospects of the Russian Arctic oil and gas bearing areas using electromagnetic sounding data. "Specialists from Novosibirsk are working on a fundamental research problem linked with expanding the Russian Arctic's raw materials deposits. They want to analyze the specifics of the region's oil and gas bearing areas and their structure using electromagnetic sounding data," the institute's press service said. The Arctic
 
Greenland's Seal Hunters to Miss Quota This Year, Leaving a Gap in Supply. Greenland's nationally controlled tannery is calling for the creation of more trading stations and an increase in the nationally mandated price for sealskin as that country's hunters appear to be on track to sell far fewer than permitted this year, and well below what the market could absorb. Great Greenland, which has a monopoly on processing sealskin in Greenland, says hunters are likely to sell as much as a third fewer than the annual limit of 30,000. This, despite a market for sealskin products that the company says could accommodate upwards of 50,000 sealskins each year. Arctic Today
Future Events

AGU Fall Meeting, December 7-11, 2020 (San Francisco, California USA). Fall Meeting is the largest gathering of Earth and space scientists in the world. More information will be available at the link.

** New this week ** Release of NOAA's 2020 Arctic Report Card, American Geophysical Union Annual Fall Meeting Virtual Press Conference, 11:00 am EST on December 8, 2020. NOAA will release the 2020 Arctic Report Card at a virtual at the American Geophysical Union press conference. Key findings include: The average annual land surface air temperature in the Arctic north of 60° N between October 2019 and September 2020 was the second-warmest since at least 1900, and was responsible for driving a cascade of impacts across Arctic ecosystems during the year. Nine of the past 10 years saw air temperatures at least 2.2 degrees F above the 1981-2010 mean, and more than 4 degrees F warmer than the 1900-2019 mean. Arctic temperatures for the past six years have all exceeded previous records. Attendance is limited to those who have registered for the AGU conference.

Arctic Change 2020, December 7-10, 2020 (virtual). ArcticNet's international Arctic science conference takes place every 3 years, bringing together researchers and partners from around the world. This year the conference will be virtual. Building on the success of our previous Annual Scientific Meeting while facing the realities of our times, the organizers are pulling out all the stops to reach a bigger audience than ever before. The ArcticNet Network of Centers of Excellence and their partners warmly invite the global Arctic community to join them-from wherever you are-at the Arctic Change 2020 Virtual Conference.

The Arctic Resilience Forum: Infrastructure, December 9, 2020 (virtual). The Arctic Resilience Forum will be convened every Wednesday from 11:30am - 1:00pm (EST) over a series of ten weeks, beginning October 7, 2020.  The online series, organized by the Arctic Council and the Harvard Kennedy School, will engage the broadest audience possible in conversations about how to build the resilience of Arctic communities and ecosystems across a variety of focus areas. 

** New this week ** IARPC Public Webinar Series: NSF Arctic Program Manager Office Hours, 12:00 pm AST on December 10, 2020 (virtual) . The National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Program's (OPP) Arctic Science (ARC) Section for program manager outreach will host this event during the American Geophysical Union's (AGU) 2020 Fall Meeting. This virtual office hour will focus on orienting interested scientists to ARC, highlighting updated solicitations, and offering insight into how COVID-19 continues to impact operations. There will also be ample time for the community to ask questions of NSF staff. Learn more and register: here.

** New this week ** Woodrow Wilson Center Polar Institute- ADAC Arctic Security Dialogues: Toward a US Army Arctic Strategy, 4:00 pm AST on December 11, 2020 (virtual). The Arctic Security Dialogues, hosted by the Wilson Center's Polar Institute and Arctic Domain Awareness Center,address a broad spectrum of security issues to include, but not limited to, national security, homeland security, and the many components of civil security. "Toward a U.S. Army Arctic Strategy" is the second program in the series, following the inaugural discussion on the US Air Force Arctic Strategy. The U.S. Army has yet to publish an Arctic Strategy, though one is currently in development. The conversation is expected to included developing challenges, emerging opportunities, strategic priorities and essential components that could influence an upcoming U.S. Army Arctic Strategy. A panel of retired U.S. Army General Officers and security experts will contribute perspectives and suggestions on policy, planning and/or operations for drafters to consider in the development of the U.S. Army's Arctic Strategy.

The Arctic Resilience Forum: Working Together in the Arctic: Indigenous and Western Knowledge Systems, December 16, 2020 (virtual). The Arctic Resilience Forum will be convened every Wednesday from 11:30am - 1:00pm (EST) over a series of ten weeks, beginning October 7, 2020.  The online series will engage the broadest audience possible in conversations about how to build the resilience of Arctic communities and ecosystems across a variety of focus areas.

** New this week** IARPC Public Webinar Series: Introduction to the NSF Arctic Data Center, 1:00 pm EST on December 17, 2020 (virtual). The Arctic Data Center will host this event to present an overview of the primary repository for the NSF Arctic Section of the Office of Polar Programs. Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator Erin McLean will present on the mission of the Arctic Data Center, the data available on the website, and how researchers can both contribute and use data. Learn more and register: here.

Creeping Security in the Arctic? 12:00 pm CET on December 18, 2020 (virtual). Niklas Eklund is an associate professor at the Department of Political Science and Deputy Director at the Arctic Research Center at Umeå University. His research is on public administration, security, leadership and crisis management. He has also contributed to the 'Handbook of Arctic Security' in which he introduce Sweden from a state-based security perspective. In December, Arcum is arranging an online seminar within the Umeå Arctic Seminar series, where Niklas will talk about the creeping securitization in the Arctic. This event is organized by the Arctic Research Center at Umeå University.

Alaska Native Perspectives of an Evolving Arctic Environment, 12:00 pm AKST on January 15, 2021. Join AKWorld for this discussion of climate, security, economic opportunity, science, resilience and other implications of a changing Arctic. Whether you are in Florida, California, Alaska, or another state in-between, you have experienced significant weather changes amplified by a rapidly changing Arctic. Come, listen, and join the conversation with two Alaska Native women who have firsthand knowledge and understanding of this important issue for Alaska, the United States, and the World.

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Webinar Three, 2:00 pm UTC on January 20, 2021 (virtual) . This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on Theme 1: Observing networks; Data sharing-towards implementation. For more information on ASM3, see here.

2021 Alaska Marine Science Symposium, January 26-28, 2021 (virtual). The Alaska Marine Science Symposium (AMSS) has been bringing together scientists, educators, resource managers, students, and interested public for over twenty years to discuss the latest marine research being conducted in Alaskan waters. Showcasing Alaska's marine science remains the utmost priority despite the challenges we all have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are also exploring some additional events (virtual panels, social hours, etc.) surrounding the virtual launch of AMSS 2021, so stay tuned! We are looking for panel ideas Topic ideas may include but are not limited to: coastal resiliency, ocean noise, marine debris, perspectives on changing ecosystems, co-production of knowledge, economics of climate change, and the future of the Arctic Research Post-COVID in local communities. (submit here: https://alaskamarinescience.org/2021-panels).

Arctic Frontiers 2021, February 1-4, 2021 (virtual). Arctic Frontiers started out in 2006 assembling the first global scientific conference on economic, societal and environmental sustainable growth in the north. In February 2021, we will arrange the 15th conference with the theme "Building Bridges". The conference has a pan arctic perspective and builds new partnerships across nations, generations and ethnic groups. Arctic Frontiers provides a forum for dialogue and communication between science, government and industry in the Arctic.

Arctic Maritime Horizons Workshop, February 2-4, 2021 (Anchorage, Alaska USA). This event is hosted by the Arctic Domain Awareness Center. This workshop will be an assessment of the future maritime transportation system of the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort sea regions.

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Webinar Four, 1:00 pm UTC on February 17, 2021 (virtual). This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on Theme 2: enhance understanding and prediction capability on Arctic environmental and social systems and its global impact. For more information on ASM3, see here.

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Webinar Five, 1:00 pm UTC on March 17, 2021 (virtual) . This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on Theme 3: Respond: sustainable development; evaluation of vulnerability and resilience; application of knowledge. For more information on ASM3, see here.

ALCOM's Arctic Senior Leader Summit, 2021, March 10-11, 2021 (virtual). In support of U.S. Northern Command's Arctic mission, please consider joining Lt General David Krumm, USAF, Commander Alaska Command, Alaska NORAD Region and 11th Air Force and a host of Defense and Security Leaders for Arctic Senior Leader Summit 2021 (ASLS 21) 10-11 March 2021.  This event is oriented to addressing senior leader strategic views on the developing range of security and defense matters affecting the Arctic region.  Due to the on-going complications of in-person meetings as a result of COVID 19, Arctic Senior Summit 2021 will be conducted via video conference.  Day 1 of ASLS 2021 is focused on plenary presentations and follow-on strategic discussions.  Day 2 ASLS 2021 is a planned tabletop exercise.  Further details and registration to be provided soon via ASLS 21 planning team at the Arctic Domain Awareness Center.  Please see:  https://arcticdomainawarenesscenter.org/Events for more details or email ADAC center leadership at https://arcticdomainawarenesscenter.org/Team.

Arctic Science Summit Week, March 20-26, 2021 (Lisbon, Portugal). The Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Local Organizing Committee will host the Arctic Science Summit Week 2021. The Conference is organized by FCT, Ciência Viva, AIR Center, the Portuguese Arctic Community and by IASC and partners. Framed by the overarching theme for the Science Conference "The Arctic: Regional Changes, Global Impacts," Lisbon invites International experts on the Arctic and Indigenous Peoples to discuss the "New Arctic" and also its impacts and interactions to and with the lower latitudes.

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Webinar Five, 1:00 pm UTC on April 7, 2021 (virtual). This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on Theme 4: Strengthen: capacity building; education; networking; resilience-prepare the next generation. For more information on ASM3, see here.

2nd Symposium on Polar Microbes and Viruses, May 3-6, 2021 (Hanko, Finland). Organizers announce, that due to the coronavirus outbreak, the 2nd Symposium on Polar Microbes and Viruses has been postponed to 2021. 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.

3rd Arctic Science Ministerial, May 8-9, 2021 (Toyko, Japan). The Japanese and Icelandic organizers of this ministerial continue to plan for an in-person ministerial, in Tokyo, but have moved the dates from November 21-22, 2020 to May 8-9, 2021 because of Covid-19. Since the last Arctic Science Ministerial in 2018, changes in the Arctic ecosystem and the resulting impacts locally and globally have been severely felt. Considering the need for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and repair measures, the relevance of an international Arctic Science Ministerial has never been greater. It is necessary to strengthen scientific cooperation and collaboration among both Arctic and non-Arctic States in order to develop our understanding of the rapid changes impacting the Arctic. The First Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM1) was hosted by the United States in 2016, and two years later, the Second Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM2) was co-hosted by Germany, Finland, and the European Commission. ASM3 will be co-hosted by Iceland and Japan.
 
 
Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3): Closing Webinar, 1:00 pm UTC on June 9, 2021 (virtual). This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on the post-ministerial review: joint statement actions. For more information on ASM3, see here.
 
2021 Regional Conference on Permafrost/ 19th International Conference Cold Regions Engineering, July 11-16, 2021 (Boulder, Colorado USA). For the first time a Regional Conference on Permafrost will be combined with the bi-annual 19th International Conference on Cold Regions Engineering. This conference is hosted by the US Permafrost Association, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the International Permafrost Association, the Permafrost Young Researchers Network, and the University of Colorado Boulder. A complete list of planned sessions is available here.

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