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Written by: ofurpaur

Category: Announcements

Published: 10 January 2024

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A happy New Year and welcome to our first EU-PolarNet 2 newsletter in 2024.

Towards the end of 2023, we finalised one of our key project deliverables, namely concrete research priorities to progress in polar research in the coming years.

We are now entering the final year of the EU-PolarNet 2 project working towards presenting our results at various events. We are organising a session at ASSW2024 and the Arctic Circle Forum in Berlin, are one of the co-organisers of the EU Polar Science Week held in Copenhagen in September '24 and will organise a Town Hall event in Brussels towards the end of the year. In addition, we are now preparing to transfer our legacy into the European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO), so that it can begin its work from the end of 2024.

Stay tuned for more news on the results of the EU-PolarNet project later this year.

 

News

EU-PolarNet 2 at Arctic Circle 2023

EU-PolarNet 2 organised a networking event of Arctic science funders and operators at the Arctic Circle Assembly 2023. The session was an excellent opportunity for Arctic science funders, operators, researchers, and other stakeholders to network and learn about the most recent developments from the EU-PolarNet 2 with a specific emphasis on research optimisation and funding.
The short presentations at the beginning of the session on EU-PolarNet 2, the EPB, ICARP IV and various polar funding institutions initiated a wide-ranging discussion with the aim of jointly implementing large-scale initiatives that effectively address the most pressing research questions of the international polar research community within the framework of ICARP IV, the European Polar Board Strategy 2023 - 2027 and the integrated polar research programme EU-PolarNet 2.

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EC-ESA Science workshop in November in Frascati, Italy

The EC-ESA Science Workshop took place in Frascati, Italy, from 22 - 24 November 2023. With the aim of strengthening the collaboration between ESA and the EC funded polar projects under the joint RTD-EOP Earth System Science initiative, this workshop was a great networking and collaboration opportunity for polar scientists. Representatives from more than 15 Cluster members took part in the workshop and presented their work in relation to earth observation. During the workshop, a number of key scientific challenges and research needs were identified, as well as the main scientific priorities for joint research and future project funding by ESA and the European Commission.
The results of the discussions will feed into future ESA funding programmes, which will also explicitly include funding for joint scientific consortia.
Read more about the event.

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EU-PolarNet 2 research prioritisation

In June 2023, representatives of EU-PolarNet 2 and a group of Polar Exerts from a broad variety of polar research disciplines met in San Servolo (Venice) to elaborate the future research priorities for European polar research. The prioritisation was based on the European Polar Research Programme, the current scientific state of the art, as well as future research needs collected from the EU Polar Cluster and the EU-PolarNet 2 Polar Experts.
The specific topics and the research prioritisation methodology are published as an EU-PolarNet 2 deliverable on the project website.
In parallel to the research prioritisation workshop, EU-PolarNet 2 conducted 2 professional interviews with the participating scientific experts. In these interviews, they provide more background on their prioritised research topics based on their scientific expertise. Watch the expert interviews on our YouTube channel.

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Webinar: International cooperation on research on human health and well-being in the Arctic

This EU-PolarNet 2 webinar, organised by AMAP and EU-PolarNet 2, took place in September 2023. A total of 102 persons attended the webinar This webinar dealt with the effects of climate change on the environment and the increasing challenges in terms of the health, well-being and food security of people living in the Arctic, especially indigenous peoples. Watch this interesting webinar on our YouTube channel.

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New activities at the Catalyst platform

Have you visited the Catalyst Platform yet? It is one of the main cooperation tools developed by EU-PolarNet 2 that shall improve the information flow within the European Polar community. The Catalyst platform collects all news and events from EU-PolarNet, the European Polar Board and the EU Polar Cluster. It thus provides an excellent overview of all information about the European polar research community in one place! Check out the recently published events and news ranging from the Polar Symposium 2024 to the Arctic Science Summit Week 2024. More information here.

 

EU Polar Cluster News

EU Polar Cluster booth at the Arctic Circle Assembly 2024.

After a great success last year, the EU Polar Cluster once again organised a booth at the Arctic Circle Assembly 2023 in Reykjavík, Iceland. This time, the extra-large stand had a prominent location and was organised and managed by members of EU-PolarNet 2 and the European Polar Board. Behind the booth we had set up a video screen with a Cluster video and a Cluster slide-show, as well as numerous materials from the Cluster members to disseminate information.
We had many high-level visitors at our booth, many good conversations with EU Polar Cluster members and many other visitors. Many thanks to all visitors to the booth for their interest in the European polar research community!

Next year at ASSW2024, the EU Polar Cluster will once again hold a community meeting. The meeting entitled "EU Polar Cluster: Coordination and networking for Polar cooperation projects" is scheduled for Tuesday 26 March 2024 from 10:30 - 12:30 UK time.

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EU Polar Cluster newsletter

The EU Polar Cluster also publishes its own regular newsletters. Read the latest edition of the EU Polar Cluster and sign up to the Cluster newsletter here.

 

Parner highlights on polar research

Permafrost: Innovative atlas reveals perilous realities on permafrost thaw

The European funded Horizon 2020 “NUNATARYUK”-project, led by the Alfred Wegener Institute, seeks to answer pressing questions about the role of permafrost thaw in the global climate system, and the consequences for ecosystems, the economy, and the people living in these regions. The culmination of this endeavour is the "Arctic Permafrost Atlas," launched in October 2023. Find out more.

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Pre-opening of the new Sermilik Research Station

Thanks to a generous private sponsorship, the Sermilik Station in East Greenland is being brought up to a modern standard by the University of Graz (Austria). In future, the station will be operated in cooperation between the Universities of Copenhagen (Denmark) and Graz and will provide space for around 25 - 30 researchers. Basic laboratory facilities will support the researchers in their work. In the long term, the possibility of winter access is also envisaged. Find out more.

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10^th anniversary of the Austrian Polar Research Institute (APRI)

In November 2023, the Austrian Polar Research Institute (APRI) celebrated its 10th anniversary. These celebrations coincided with the opening of an Arctic exhibition at Austria's largest museum, the Natural History Museum in Vienna. In addition to participation in relevant international polar research organizations (IASC, SCAR, EPB), outreach has become an important component of the APRI and brings polar research to the outside world. More information here.

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From changing Polar regions to policy responses

A policy briefing, From changing Polar regions to policy responses – Strengthening EU and global climate preparedness, will take place on 24th January 2024 (Wednesday), at 14:15 – 16:00 CET at the European Parliament & online. The main goal is to showcase the latest findings of OCEAN:ICE and Arctic PASSION on how changes in the polar regions impact European climate, infrastructure and livelihoods. Find out more.

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SO-CHIC Webinar: Upper ocean ventilation pathways

The next SO-CHIC Webinar: Upper ocean ventilation pathways (Work package 2) will take place on 12th January 2024 at 15:00 CET (14:00 GMT) online. The SO-CHIC project is a European Union Horizon 2020-funded project exploring the processes influencing heat and carbon exchange between the Southern Ocean and the atmosphere. Find out more.

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The Portuguese polar campaign 2022-23 finished successfully

The Portuguese polar campaign 2022-23, managed by the Polar Portuguese Program (PROPOLAR), finished successfully. Both the Arctic and Antarctic projects were developed in the areas of atmospheric, biological, cryosphere, environmental, biological and Earth sciences, all related to the impacts of climate change. These projects were coordinated by scientists from 7 national public research centres. Find out more.

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Ice Memory in the Arctic

The Ice Memory project collect ices cores from glaciers all over the world to archive them in Antarctica to preserve them as a memory of the past. In March-April 2023 an international team lead by ISP-CNR of Italy, and involving scientists from the French CNRS, Norwegian NPI, the ISAC-CNR of Italy and Universities of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and the Perugia, was able to drill three deep ice cores on the Holtedahlfonna glacier in Svalbard as part of the SENTINEL project. Find out more.

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37^th Spanish Antarctic research campaign

The RV Hesperides left its naval base and will be supporting the opening of the Spanish Antarctic bases at 27^th of December when the 37th Spanish Antarctic research campaign will begin. This season involve 30 scientific projects to be carried out at the bases located at Livingston Island (BAE Juan Carlos I and the International Byers Peninsula Camp) and Deception Island (BAE Gabriel de Castilla) mobilizing 240 people, including scientific staff, crew and technical personnel. Find out more.

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The Netherlands Polar Programme and International cooperation

The Netherlands Polar Programme has special cooperation schemes with both AWI and BAS. On 16 November, the NPP and AWI hosted a workshop to chart possible joint Dutch-German projects. The NPP will open a call-for-proposals on Arctic research in collaboration with AWI. Find out more.

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The new fact sheets on a changing Barents Sea

The extensive Norwegian research project The Nansen Legacy provides a new and more holistic understanding of the seasonally ice-covered Barents Sea region, and how important climate drivers and human footprints impacts the ocean environment and the ecosystem. The project approaches its end, and a series of illustrated fact sheets communicates key findings on a wide range of topics. Find out more.

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Successful first edition of the Swiss Polar Class Festival

On 2 December in Sion, about 600 visitors braved the first snow to explore the complex beauty of the cryosphere and the polar regions through various engaging activities including an exhibition of circumpolar art, an interactive science area, a polar explorer treasure hunt and live conferences from Antarctica. Find out more.

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MoU signed between SPI and IPEV

On 9 November 2023 in Paris, the Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) and the French Polar Institute (IPEV) formalised their collaboration in polar and high-altitude science. The MoU opens a new chapter in this long-term partnership between France and Switzerland, two neighbouring countries that share not only a border, but also the Alps and glaciers threatened by climate change. The signing parties were respectively represented by Yan Ropert-Coudert, Director, IPEV and Danièle Rod, Executive Director, SPI, who also underlined the urgency and necessity of a united front to face climate change. Find out more.

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Interdisciplinary Polar Studies Modular Meeting in Svalbard (IPS-2023)

The IPS-2023 conference was held in Longyearbyen at UNIS and consisted from two-day plenary sessions and field workshops in the Isfjorden region and the Hornsund Fjord area (30 August – 4 September 2023). The main goals were (1) strengthening an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to research of polar environment for better understanding of environmental changes under accelerated warming of the Arctic and (2) encouraging of the new generation of scientists for creative involvement in the 5th International Polar Year 2032/2033 and active participation in the IASC ICARP IV process. Find out more.

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The CRIOS project research teams deployed modern monitoring instruments in Svalbard

In late August and September of 2023, essential activities were accomplished within the Cryosphere Integrated Observatory Network in Svalbard (CRIOS) project granted by the EEA funding scheme for basic research. Teams from Poland and Norway installed monitoring devices for studies of permafrost, snow cover, ablation of glaciers, and automatic meteorological stations in the thoroughly planned locations. This new system creates a harmonized observation network complementing the existing SIOS (Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System). Find out more.

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The "Warsaw Format Meeting" of the Antarctic Council's Observer States

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Poland hosted the Arctic Council’s Observer States meeting with the Norwegian Arctic Council (AC) Presidency representative in Warsaw on 28 September 2023.  The Warsaw Format Meeting formula was initiated in 2010 by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a forum to discuss and exchange views between the AC Observer States and the EU with the AC Presidency State represented by the Chair of the Council's Senior Officials. Find out more.

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Applications now open for the Climate and anthropogenic changes in the Arctic Scholarships!

The CONFAP Italy Mobility Program provide full funding on a competitive basis for PhD and Postdoctoral researchers based in Brazil, who wish to perform a 1-year mobility period at the University of Bologna. Application deadline is 11 March 2024. Check the Mobility Confap Italy Program webpage for the call and application details. Find out more.

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Written by: ofurpaur

Category: Announcements

Published: 05 January 2024

Hits: 1278

Yellowknife, Canada - January 2, 2024

The Arctic Resilient Communities Youth Fellowship (ARCYF) is pleased to announce the conclusion of its inaugural year with a final in-person workshop in Yellowknife, Canada. Scheduled for January 11-14, 2024, the workshop marks the culmination of a transformative debut year that included successful workshops in Nuuk and Sisimiut, Greenland in August and Anchorage, Alaska in March.

Hosted at BDene Adventures on the shore of Akaitcho Bay on Great Slave Lake, the Canada Workshop promises collaborative experiences and cross-boundary conversations initiated by a cohort of Arctic youth leaders. Fostering a youth-led approach to challenges faced by Arctic communities, emphasizing storytelling and communication, and building on themes and lessons learned in previous workshops, this event will serve as a vehicle for the fellows to reflect, cooperate, and celebrate their growth as emerging leaders at the end of a year of robust programming.

The Canada Workshop will be a multi-day immersion experience. Beginning with an orientation and welcome ceremony, the fellows will dive into guided sessions on resiliency, resurgence, and empowerment in the Arctic. Building from prior workshops, the fellows will work through various topics and ideas, from philosophical inquiries into the nature of resilient communities to the development of proactive solutions to unique Arctic issues. Following meetings and presentations from locals and Tribal elders, the weekend will culminate in a graduation ceremony with a performance from the Yellowknives Dene Drummers.

The fellows will also unveil their personal resiliency projects, tangible products of the fellowship that reflect a year’s commitment to resourceful community development. The graduation ceremony will mark and formally celebrate the first-year fellows' dedication and growth as informed leaders, setting the stage for continued positive impact. Amid collaborative discussions, mentoring opportunities with fellowship staff, sessions with local Tribal Elders, and hands-on culturally affirming activities, the workshop will weave together individual skill-building with focused community engagement and conclude a crucial chapter in ARCYF's journey.

ARCYF's mission is to empower Arctic youth to advocate for sustainable solutions to complex issues and become leaders in building resilient Arctic communities. Through this transformative initiative, a future for Arctic communities is envisioned where:

• Youth voices are appreciated, respected, and welcomed as the citizens of the pan-Arctic region seek solutions for the challenges of a rapidly changing Arctic landscape.
• Youth voices recognize the long-term implications of activities in the Arctic region for Indigenous communities, focusing on food security and sovereignty, self-governance, economic development and subsistence lifestyles, climate change, and other matters impacting traditional ways of life in the Far North.

Directed by the Institute of the North and North Star Group, ARCYF received a significant investment from the Government of Canada, and invaluable support from partners, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Greenland School of Petroleum and Minerals-KTI, Alaska Airlines, the Rasmuson Foundation, the George and Stephanie Suddock Foundation, the Denali Commission, and the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association. While 2023 marked ARCYF’s the inaugural year, the initiative's concept stems from work conducted through the Arctic Council's Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) working group's Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Arctic Mining (MBAM) initiative.

To learn more about the ARCYF program, its mission, and objectives, visit ARCYF.org. To inquire about partnership opportunities or request additional information, please contact the program through This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Written by: ofurpaur

Category: Announcements

Published: 28 December 2023

Hits: 1385

Dear colleague,

In partnership with the editorial office of the Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration (co-published by Springer and University of Sfax, Tunisia) and in collaboration with the Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), and other Euro-Mediterranean universities, Performer organizes the 6^th EMCEI.

On this occasion, the 6^th EMCEI Steering and Organizing Committees are pleased to invite you to take part in the conference (in person or virtually) and share/discuss your latest research findings from various fields of environmental sciences.

6^th EMCEI Key points

• The 6^th EMCEI will take place on 15–18 May 2024 in Marrakesh, Morocco.
• The 6^th EMCEI will go ahead in person, but there will be a possibility to present online.
• EMCEI is one of the largest international gatherings of environmental science in the Mediterranean (400-500 participants).
• The 5^th EMCEI was organized at the University of Calabria in Italy on 2–5 October 2023 (400 on-site participants).
• EMCEI aims to provide a forum where scientists, especially early career researchers, can present their findings and discuss their ideas with experts in all fields of environmental sciences.
• Discover here the Past EMCEI Events.
• Abstract submissions (max. 350 words) will be accepted until 30 December 2023.
• EMCEI encourages submissions of research works that aim to bring solutions to the most pressing environmental issues and to ensure more societal welfare in the Mediterranean and surrounding regions.
• Case studies from other regions of the world could also be submitted.
• Before submission, please read the Guidelines.

EMCEI Publications

• The 1^st EMCEI (2017) Proceedings were published by Springer and indexed by the Web of Science and Scopus.
• The 2^nd EMCEI (2019) Proceedings were also published by Springer and indexed in Scopus.
• We are now in the final process of publishing the 3^rd and 4^th EMCEI Proceedings.
• Most of the presented papers at EMCEI-2017, EMCEI-2019 and EMCEI-2021 were also published in cooperating journals (Springer) indexed in Web of Science and Scopus.
• EMCEI-2022 special issues are now under publication.
• Read more details about our 6^th EMCEI Publication Plan.
• Contact us, if you need more information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Written by: ofurpaur

Category: Announcements

Published: 21 December 2023

Hits: 1166

CNNRO has been dormant for the last few years, due largely to interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With support from Polar Knowledge Canada, and under the direction of an Interim Board of Directors (composed of past BoD members or their designates) we are working to reconstitute the network.

The purpose of this email is primarily for information. Over the next few months, the Interim Board of Directors will organize an Annual General Meeting of past CNNRO members. The purpose of that AGM will be to elect a new Board of Directors, and update CNNRO's bylaws. We expect to hold this meeting virtually in spring, and we will contact you with more information as soon as it becomes available.

Of course, communicating with the network after several years of absence is one of our bigger challenges. We are presently working to update our list of contacts. We understand that many of you may have moved on to other jobs or interests. On the other hand, many new research activities have been initiated in Canada's north, with many new people leading them. We therefore ask you to consider taking one of the following actions:

• If you no longer wish to be updated on CNNRO activities, please unsubscribe.
• If you know of someone who may be interested in this effort to reconstitute CNNRO, please forward this email and ask them to subscribe.

Thank you for your past (and hopefully ongoing) interest in CNNRO. We look forward to updating you soon on our progress.