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June 8, 2021

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No Arctic-science event is scheduled for today.

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Climate Crisis Behind Drastic Drop in Arctic Wildlife Populations- Report

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A drastic drop in caribou and shorebird populations is a reflection of the dire changes unfolding on the Arctic tundra, according to a new report from the Arctic Council. The terrestrial Arctic spans approximately 2.7m sq miles (7m sq km), marked by extreme cold, drought, strong winds and seasonal darkness. Species living in this environment have adapted to thrive in the harsh conditions. But the climate crisis has upended such survival strategies, according to the State of the Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity report, published by the council’s Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (Caff) working group.

The Guardian

Department of Commerce’s NTIA Announces Nearly $1 Billion in Funding to Expand Broadband on Tribal Land

Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced today at the White House the availability of nearly $1 billion in U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grants to expand broadband access and adoption on Tribal land. The leaders called for significant broadband investments in the American Jobs Plan to make affordable high-speed internet available to all Americans. Secretary Haaland joined the announcement remotely.

Department of Commerce

24,000-Year-Old ‘Zombies’ Revived and Cloned from Arctic Permafrost

Tiny zombies that were frozen in Arctic permafrost for 24,000 years were recently brought back to life and have produced clones in a lab in Russia. These hardy creatures are bdelloid rotifers, or wheel animals, so-named for the wheel-like ring of tiny hairs that circle their mouths. Rotifers are multicellular microscopic animals that live in freshwater environments, and they've been around for about 50 million years. 

Live Science

Why Arctic Soil Can Go Slip-sliding Away

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Slow-moving arctic soils form patterns that, from a distance, resemble those found in common fluids such as drips in paint and birthday cake icing. Los Alamos researchers and their collaborators analyzed existing arctic soil formations and compared them to viscous fluids, determining that there is a physical explanation for this pattern that is common to both Earth and Mars landscapes.

Phys.org
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1:00 pm UTC on JUNE 9, 2021 | VIRTUAL

Third Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3):

Closing Webinar

This meeting is part of the ASM3 webinar series and will focus on the post-ministerial review: joint statement actions.

Event Link

5:00 pm (GMT +3) on JUNE 9, 2021 | VIRTUAL

Sustainable Partnerships in the Arctic

This event focuses on future areas for higher education collaboration and successes in developing multidisciplinary partnerships in the Arctic region. Speakers inspire participants with innovative examples and tips to develop collaborations for a sustainable Arctic. Participants, from the Arctic Council member states and beyond, have the opportunity to participate in an interactive networking element, ‘partnership speed-dating’, as a way to meet others and discuss potential future collaborations. This webinar is part of the "Internationalization of Higher Education in the COVID-19 Era" series jointly organized by the Department of State’s USA Study Abroad branch, the Fulbright Finland Foundation, and the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA).

Event Link

Noon ET on JUNE 14, 2021 | VIRTUAL

Creating Space for Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Sphere

This webinar is part of The Arctic Institute's Breaking the Ice Ceiling series to illuminate polar research by those who identify as women & to foster discussion on systemic change in polar sciences to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. In this webinar, learn from Meredith LaValley, Dr. Olivia Lee, and Liz Weinberg on how an interagency body like the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) create space for diversity and inclusion discussions and progress across the federal government.

Event Link

JUNE 15-20, 2021 | Virtual

10th International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences (ICASS X) Arctic Generations: Looking Back and Looking Forward

The ARCTICenter at the University of Northern Iowa (USA) and Northern Arctic Federal University (Russia) are pleased to host the 10th International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences (ICASS X) organized by the International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA). ICASS X will focus on all aspects of human existence in the Arctic in the past, present and future: social, cultural, historical, economic, political, linguistic, educational, archaeological, engineering, health, legal, psychological, to name a few. The Congress will also emphasize history, future and sustainability of Arctic peoples and environments throughout generations and co-production of knowledge with Indigenous knowledge holders and Arctic stakeholders.USARC Commissioner Tom Dans will provide welcoming, introductory remarks.

Event Link

1:30 pm ET on JUNE 16, 2021 | Virtual

10th International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences (ICASS X) Arctic Generations: Looking Back and Looking Forward

October 2021 will mark 50 years since the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act was passed and Alaska Native corporations were first established. While Alaska Native corporations are indeed businesses, they are not typical publicly-traded corporations, nor are their shareholders typical. Their primary purpose centers on Alaska Native people, their communities and the promotion of their social, cultural, and economic advancement. Please join the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute, with the ANCSA Regional Association and Alaska Native Village Corporation Association, to explore the unique ownership and missions of their member organizations.

Event Link

2:30- 5:00 pm (CET) on June 17, 2021 | VIRTUAL

The EU's Arctic Influence: Presentation of a Report on the EU Actions Affecting the Arctic

The seminar will present a report prepared in relation to the project “Overview of EU actions in the Arctic and their impact.” The study considers a broad range of ways in which EU policies affect the Arctic and influence the EU’s environmental footprint and economic presence in the region. During the study the EU’s environmental and economic Arctic impact has been considered, relevant policies have been identified and analysed as well as policy options for strengthening the EU Arctic approach have been proposed. The report has been written by a team of experts led by Prof. Timo Koivurova. The seminar will include the presentation of the study, commentaries from Arctic stakeholders as well as insights into the current stage of developing the new EU’s policy towards the Arctic, to which the report is to contribute.

Event Link

N1:00 pm ET on JUNE 22, 2021 | VIRTUAL

Don Anderson: Evidence for Massive and Recurrent Toxic Blooms of Alexandrium Catenella in the Alaskan Arctic

The Arctic Ocean is experiencing rapid and dramatic changes in response to climate-driven warming. Many organisms may spread northward as a result of rising temperatures and loss of sea ice, but few present such significant threats to human and ecosystem health as harmful algal bloom (HAB) species. Alexandrium catenella, a producer of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), has a long history of causing toxicity in the Gulf of Alaska, yet there is little recognition of this organism as a human health concern north of Bering Strait. Here we describe an exceptionally large A. catenella benthic cyst bed and hydrographic conditions across the Chukchi Sea that support germination and development of recurrent, self-initiating, and self-seeding blooms. This event is part of the ARCUS Arctic Research Seminar Series.

Event Link
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OCTOBER 24–29, 2021 | BOULDER, COLORADO, USA

2021 Regional Conference on Permafrost/19th International Conference Cold Regions Engineering

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.

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.

Event Link
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