Arctic Update Header
December 1, 2017

No Arctic-science events are announced today.
Media

Arctic Map Russia, US and Other Nations Restrict Fishing in Thawing Arctic. Relations between Russia and the United States are in a deep freeze, but they share a looming common problem north of their Arctic coastlines - the prospect that commercial trawling fleets might overfish the thawing Arctic Ocean. Out on the sea, the polar ice cap has been melting so quickly as global temperatures rise that once improbable ideas for commercial activities, including fishing near the North Pole, are becoming realistic. New York Times
 
Northern Fleet to Conduct Drills in Uncharted Arctic Waters in 2018. Russia's Northern Fleet will hold maneuvers in the uncharted waters of the Arctic in the new trainee year that opened on Friday, the Fleet's Commander Vice Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov said. "The Northern Fleet will hold a series of drills in new, never before explored areas of the Arctic, both along the mainland and along the islands of the Arctic Ocean," Yevmenov said, according to the press service. TASS
 
canadian flag Canadian Military Seeks Underwater Sensors for Arctic Surveillance. Underwater drones equipped with high-tech sensors could one day patrol the icy waters of Canada's eastern Arctic, to help keep an eye on the region's growing shipping traffic-and to be on the lookout for foreign submarines. It's part of a plan that Canada's Department of National Defense calls its All Domain Situational Awareness Science & Technology. Nunatsiaq Online
 
Pentagon - Defense The Arctic Heats Up. With little press attention, a team of senior-level Air Force officials-including 15 general officers from the Air Staff and major commands-visited the Arctic in September, hitching a ride with USAF's specialist polar aviation unit, the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard. The 109th AW performs resupply missions to USAF and scientific outposts at both ends of the Earth, flying ski-equipped LC-130s. "We went up there to see what has changed in the Arctic and what threats and what other people are doing" there, said Lt. Gen. Mark C. Nowland, Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations. Nowland said, "There are economic opportunities and our opponents are doing things in the Arctic. So how do we respond to it? What do we do? What should we do?" Air Force Magazine
 
Arctic Sea Ice Hits Record Lows Off Alaska. When Arctic sea ice extent hit its annual low-point for the year in September, it clocked in at the eighth lowest on record-far better than had been feared in projections earlier in the year. But that ranking doesn't tell the whole story. As we enter December, the Chukchi and Bering Seas, which border Alaska on its western and northern sides, have unprecedented areas of open water and the least amount of ice ever recorded there. Inside Climate News

UAF_logo CFOS Announces Openings for Two Tenure-Track Faculty Positions. The College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) seeks applications from exceptional candidates for at least two tenure-track faculty positions to complement CFOS's breadth of expertise in fisheries and ocean sciences. We invite applicants with seagoing programs in chemical, geological, physical, biological, or fisheries oceanography, whose research plans include use of the ice-capable, Global Class R/V Sikuliaq, and who will further the mission and strengths of the College. These faculty appointments are intended to be at the rank of Assistant Professor, although outstanding candidates at a higher rank will be considered. These positions begin a broader campaign to hire up to five faculty to enhance research, teaching, and service in the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Future Events

Fleeing Change: Relocation the Village of Newtowk, Alaska, December 6, 2017 (Washington, DC USA). The Wilson Center will sponsor this event.  The Village of Newtok, a Yupik Eskimo community of 450, faces certain destruction from slow-moving climate disaster. Coastal and river erosion of the Ninglick River embankment and degradation of the region's underlying permafrost has already destroyed critical infrastructure in the village, including the only barge landing, a solid waste site, and soon freshwater source. Newtok may no longer be a viable community by 2020 and has been working to relocate to Mertavik, a site nine miles up the Ninglick River. This discussion will be with Newtok's leadership on their experiences and struggles to preserve their Yupik way of life on their historic subsistence lands.

Fall Meeting is the largest and preeminent Earth and space science meeting in the world. The 2017 Fall Meeting will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana, offering attendees the chance to discover a new location that features world renowned cuisine, music, arts and culture, and provides access to vital scientific ecosystems. Fall Meeting will offer a unique mix of more than 20,000 oral and poster presentations, a broad range of keynote lectures, various types of formal and informal networking and career advancement opportunities, scientific field trips around New Orleans, and an exhibit hall packed with hundreds of exhibitors.

ArcticNet invites the global Arctic research community to Arctic Change 2017! This conference will bring together Arctic researchers and students with Inuit, Northerners and government, industry and NGO stakeholders. The world's foremost Arctic scientists will presen t research  findings and discuss impacts of climate change and modernization. With over 1500 participants expected, Arctic Change 2017 will be one of the largest trans-sectoral international Arctic research conferences held in Canada. We welcome students and early career researchers to participate in "Student Day" at the start of the Conference. See an excerpt from last year:  ArcticNet ASM2016 .

The Arctic Domain: From Economics to National Security, December 12, 2017 (St. Mary's Island, MD  USA). This unique forum addresses issues central to U.S. defense and foreign affairs. In this day-long forum, panelists representing policymakers, academics, and government officials, will discuss topics such as U.S. Arctic defense strategy, international frameworks for cooperation, climate change, responsible resource extraction, energy development, tourism, territorial claims and defense issues. This event is hosted by the Patuxent Defense Forum.

Actionable Science: Arctic Research Addressing Stakeholder Needs // AGU Town Hall Hosted by IARPC and SEARCH, December 14, 2017 (New Orleans, LA USA). The Interagency Arctic Research Committee (IARPC) and the Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) recognize the importance of science that is actionable by stakeholders. This town hall will share their evolving approaches and engage the community in discussions of best practices and new approaches. Examples of Arctic research addressing stakeholder needs will serve as test cases to examine: how are needs identified; how are questions appropriately framed to meet stakeholder needs; and what promotes and constrains research addressing those needs? The executive directors of SEARCH and IARPC will moderate discussion among SEARCH and IARPC teams and the broader community.
 
ISAR-5 Fifth International Symposium on Arctic Research, January 15-18, 2018 (Tokyo, Japan).  The fifth ISAR has been planned at the recommendation of the science steering committee of ISAR-4, which was held in Toyama, Japan in April 2015. The fifth ISAR will be devoted to discussions on environmental changes in the Arctic and their regional and global implications, to seek additional international scientific collaboration in this area by gathering, synthesizing and sharing information related to these changes occurring in the Arctic. Special emphasis will be placed on the fields of the social sciences and humanities, which were not included in the previous ISARs.  ISAR-5 will consist of general sessions and special sessions. The 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; geospace; policies and economy; and social and cultural dimensions. Special sessions will be solicited on cross-cutting themes.

NSF Principles for the Conduct of Research in the Arctic, Comments due January 16, 2018.  The Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC), is seeking comments on how best to revise and strengthen the  Principles for the Conduct of Research in the Arctic . A  Federal Register Notice  has been published to solicit community input. Since 1990, community engagement and Arctic research have advanced both in theory and in practice, necessitating a review and update of the current Principles. The Principles Revision Working Group of IARPC is seeking input from all stakeholders to revise and update the Principles. The update will focus on communicating clearly the Principles for community engagement by Arctic researchers and including language that describes partnerships and collaborations with Indigenous scholars, enhanced community-based observations, fostering community-based participatory research, and the integral contributions of Indigenous knowledge in the co-production and dissemination of knowledge. Input is also sought on enhancing the dissemination and implementation of the Principles. Comments can be emailed to  [email protected]
 
2018 Arctic Frontiers: Connecting the Arctic, January 21-26, 2018 (Tromso, Norway). Arctic Frontiers is an international arena on sustainable development in the Arctic. The conference addresses the management of opportunities and challenges to achieve viable economic growth with societal and environmental sustainability. Arctic Frontiers brings academia, government and business together to create a firmer foundation for decision-making and sustainable economic development in the Arctic. Join the Arctic Frontiers conference preparing the new Arctic future. The conference takes place the fourth week of January in the Norwegian city of Tromsø, known as the Gateway to the Arctic.
 
Alaska Marine Science Symposium, January 22-26, 2018 (Anchorage, Alaska.)
The Alaska Marine Science Symposium (AMSS) is Alaska's premier marine research conference. For over 20 years, it has brought together scientists, educators, resource managers, students, and the public to discuss marine research conducted in Alaskan waters. Over 700 people attend this 4-day long conference held annually in January.  Each day of the conference highlights Alaskan marine ecosystems: Arctic (Tuesday), Bering Sea & Aleutian Islands (Wednesday), and the Gulf of Alaska (Thursday). Research topics discussed range from ocean physics, fishes and invertebrates, seabirds, marine mammals, to local traditional knowledge.  Website for 2018 meeting is here .
 
Alaska Forum on the Environment, February 12-16, 2018 (Anchorage, Alaska) AFE is a statewide gathering of environmental professionals from government agencies, non-profit and for-profit businesses, community leaders, Alaskan youth, conservationists, biologists and community elders. The diversity of attendees sets this conference apart from any other. The 2018 event will be our 20th year providing a strong educational foundation for all Alaskans and a unique opportunity to interact with others on environmental issues and challenges.

2018 North by North Festival, April 23-29, 2018 (Anchorage, Alaska USA). The North by North Festival captures the spirit of Alaska and the Arctic - to address our challenges and opportunities with Northern innovation and resilience, to build on a rich history and to ensure a future full of promise. The Festival is for the North, and organized by Northerners, with goals of sustainability, livability and growth. The Festival brings innovators from across Alaska, the nation and other Arctic regions to collaborate and address local and circumpolar challenges. Through knowledge, governance, business, design, film, music, food, literature and art, we celebrate the North.

The Effects of Climate Change on the World's Oceans, June 4-8, 2018 (Washington, DC USA).   The 4th International Symposium will bring together experts from around the world to better understand climate impacts on ocean ecosystems - and how to respond. The event is hosted by a variety of groups including International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), N. Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC), and Food and Agriculture Organization of the  United Nations (FAO).

 
International Conference on Arctic Margins (ICAM) VIII, June 11-14, 2
The international Conference on Arctic Margins (ICAM) is a forum for earth scientists who study the Arctic. It was founded to help understand the little known Arctic geology and to foster cooperation and collaboration among Arctic researchers. There have been 7 meetings since its inception in 1991. See here  for more information.
 
POLAR 2018, June 15-27, 2018 (Davos, Switzerland). POLAR2018 is a joint event from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC). The SCAR meetings, the ASSW and the Open Science Conference will be hosted by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL under the patronage of the Swiss Committee on Polar and High Altitude Research. The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF is organizing POLAR2018.

** New this week **  Arctic Observing Summit 2018, June 24-26, 2018 (Davos, Switzerland). The Arctic Observing Summit (AOS) is a high-level biennial summit that provides a platform to address urgent and broadly recognized needs of Arctic observing across all components of the Arctic system. AOS 2018 will be held in Davos, Switzerland ( June 24-26) and will focus on pressing issues in the implementation and support of sustained observations that can be addressed through a business-case lens. To that end, short submissions are requested that address any and all aspects of the overarching theme and sub-themes. Additional information can be found here.
 
17th International Congress of Circumpolar Health (ICCH17), August 12-15, 2018 (Copenhagen, Denmark). The ICCH congresses are held every third year in different locations in the circumpolar area and represent the largest scientific meetings worldwide on circumpolar health. The ICCH congresses serve as the primary source of information exchange and scholarly communication in issues relating to circumpolar health. More than 750 participants generally register and participate in each Congress, and more than 400 scientific papers or posters are usually presented.

The second Arctic Biodiversity Congress is hosted by the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council, and the Ministry of the Environment, Finland. The second Arctic Biodiversity Congress will build on the success of the first Congress, held in 2014 in Trondheim, Norway, and will bring together scientists, policymakers government officials, Indigenous representatives, Traditional Knowledge holders, industry, non-governmental organizations, and others to promote the conservation and sustainable use of Arctic biodiversity. 

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