Polar and Alpine Community News

29 January-4 February 2023, Davos, Switzerland

Objectives

Covering up to 49% of the total land surface in midwinter in the northern hemisphere, snow is a crucial component of the cryosphere. Snow plays a key role in our environment, with social and economical implications such as the climate change, natural hazard, tourisms, etc. How does snow behave and interact with its surrounding largely depends on its microstructure, which varies widely from light dendritic snowflakes to small rounded grains or dense melt crusts. Measuring and characterizing snow is essential.

How to bring local, traditional and Indigenous Knowledge together with the 'western' approach to science to improve research and environmental observations across cultures? In this session Indigenous youth from the Arctic will discuss and raise awareness for their ideas and visions on how to combine these different knowledge systems based on their life experiences.

Together, among European and Arctic youth, we will exchange different perspectives and discuss how to make young people’s voices heard in the Arctic. Be prepared for a very interactive and participatory session and a productive dialogue with us.We are looking forward to meeting you all!

Arctic Basecamp is a non-profit organization that aims to speak science to power in order to encourage bold climate action. We are looking for early-career scientists/ researchers to join Arctic Basecamp at the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos.

We will be camping outside of the Schatzalp Hotel from January 14th to January 22nd 2023. We bring the message of global risks arising from Arctic change to global leaders through events, meetings, and partnership-working. You can read more about our organization here.

The inaugural SOOS Symposium, “Southern Ocean in a Changing World” will take place from the 14th to 18th of August 2023 in Hobart, Australia. The Symposium will consist of plenary presentations, parallel sessions and workshops incorporating a wide spectrum of Southern Ocean research.

Special Collection Title: Indigenous approaches to Arctic environmental sciences

Guest Editors: Victoria Qutuuq Buschman, Stanislav Saas Ksenofontov, Margaret Rudolf, Megan Sheremata, and Enooyaq Sudlovenik

Description: The unique perspectives, priorities, leadership, and rights of Arctic Indigenous Peoples necessitate transformation in conventional approaches in environmental science. We invite manuscript proposals that discuss research methodologies in studies conducted by and with Arctic Indigenous Peoples to be published in the open-access journal, Arctic Science.

Today we are dropping a new episode of Unikkaat / Circumpolar Waves about Inuit Food Sovereignty and Self-Governance. For thousands of years, Inuit have thrived in the Arctic relying on our knowledge and values.

Core to our identity is our food security and requires accessibility, availability, culture, health and wellness, stability, and decision-making power and management. It also is distinctly tied to food sovereignty. Without food sovereignty, Inuit cannot achieve food security. This was a primary finding of ICC Alaska’s 2015 report, How to Assess Food Security from an Inuit Perspective.

This September the Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO) is putting on a cohort-building and 'what to expect' series of events for early career researchers (ECRs) headed to Antarctica in the 2022-2023 season.

Registration for these events is now open! There are also some events that are absolutely also open to any polar early career scientists who are just generally interested in Antarctica.
Read more & register for the events below:

• September 06 - what to expect in Antarctica: a panel discussion for first-timers headed south
• September 13 - lightning talks & social call for early career scientists headed to Antarctica
• September 22 - Antarctic Governance 101

Looking to expand your research outreach? Ever wondered how you can integrate science and art into your practice?

We have got you covered:

• Read the newly published Science-Art Symbiosis Workbook
• Attend the Professional Inspiration Session on September 14, 2:00-3:00PM AT
• Express your interest in submitting a science-art creation to be featured at the Science-Art Showcase during MEOPAR’s Annual Meeting on November 24, 2022, 3:30-5:00PM AT

After a two year break, the University of Canterbury are pleased to announce that the Master of Antarctic Studies programme will be running this summer (starting in mid-November 2022).

This programme is aimed at graduates who wish to gain expertise and research experience focused on Antarctica. Apply at bit.ly/antarctica-apply

Do you live in or conduct work in the Arctic? You should familiarize yourself with and implement the Inuit Circumpolar Council's Circumpolar Inuit Protocols for Equitable and Ethical Engagement. You can learn about the protocols as well as how and why they were created in the podcast episode The Circumpolar Inuit Protocols for Equitable and Ethical Engagement (EEE Protocols). 

This episode comes from the podcast of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) called ᐅᓂᒃᑳᑦ / UNIKKAAT / UNIPKAAT / UNGIPAGHAT / NALLUNAIRUTET / Circumpolar Waves. You can find and listen to all of the episodes here.

Above: cover image from the Circumpolar Inuit Protocols for Equitable and Ethical Engagement, Inuit Circumpolar Council, 2022.