Hosted entirely online the ArcticNet Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting 2021 (ASM2021) is a hub for Arctic research in Canada. The ASM2021 brings together researchers from the natural, health, and social sciences to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing Arctic region, shaped by climate change and modernization. This conference will push the boundaries of our collective understanding of the Arctic and strengthen our ability to address the Arctic issues of today and tomorrow.

One of the ocean’s most fearsome predators is muscling into new parts of the icy Arctic Ocean. Orcas, also known as killer whales, are showing up in places they’ve never been spotted before. Scientists believe melting sea ice is to blame.

In an interview with Unalaska Community Broadcasting KUCB, Vice Mayor and city council member Dennis Robinson speaks about the need to develop a port in Unalaska in the Aleutian islands, Alaska. "It would mean that we have a greater Coast Guard presence here than we already do. It would mean that the icebreakers that the U.S. was building would be home ported here. And it would quite possibly mean that we would have a small military presence.”

The countries are mainly focused on energy cooperation, Ushakov said to TASS, adding that exports of Russian hydrocarbons to India are expanding, with the two countries’ mutual interest in the implementation of joint LNG projects. Trade turnover between the two countries "is recovering fairly fast after the pandemic first hit, growth continues," Ushakov said, noting that it soared by 38.1% in January-September 2021, reaching $8.8 billion. 

During 1999–2013, rickets was more common among Alaska Native children than among children in the general US population. One possible reason for this disparity was declining maternal dietary intake of vitamin D-containing foods like salmon. In 2016, the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) started routine prenatal vitamin D supplementation of pregnant women with 1,000 IU of vitamin D in addition to routine prenatal vitamins. In 2018, the Alaska Vitamin D Workgroup published Alaska-specific recommendations for vitamin D supplementation in infants and pregnant women. This Bulletin presents findings from a study evaluating the impact of routine YKHC prenatal vitamin D supplementation on 25(OH)D concentrations, a survey of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding supplementation, and an update on rickets cases in Alaska Native children.

The Alaska state agency that holds oil leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has committed to spending more money to develop those tracts, even though prospects are dim for any oil activities there in the near future.

It was the first Senior Arctic Officials’ meeting held since Russia took over the forum’s two-year rotating chairmanship. Russia’s chairmanship priorities include sustainable development, environmental protection, socio-economic development and strengthening of the Arctic Council.

IARPC and the National Science Foundation will host a program manager chat focused on the Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) program. NNA program officers will provide an overview of the recently released solicitation, highlight major changes, review goals of the NNA program, and answer questions.

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.

This event will convene Arctic leaders and voices from around the world. The Arctic Encounter has brought together thousands of Arctic stakeholders since its inception in 2013. Following two years of cancellation due to COVID-19, the Arctic Encounter is eager to welcome participants to Alaska for dialogue and presentations with elected leaders, business leaders, scientists, and more.

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.

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.

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.