The Permafrost & Infrastructure Symposium will bring together national and international Arctic science and engineering experts to share knowledge on how to address impacts of permafrost thaw on roads and community infrastructure. Due to the small size of the symposium, registration is open by invitation only to ensure diversity as well as relevant expertise among the group. Participants will include U.S. researchers working in Northern Alaska, their international colleagues with expertise in other parts of the Arctic, and local experts from Alaska’s North Slope, including regional planners, project managers, and policy makers.
The symposium will be held in the field—along the Dalton Highway, in Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow) and the villages of Point Lay and Wainwright—giving participants the opportunity to see the issues firsthand and to learn from those who design, build, repair, and live with infrastructure on thaw-susceptible soils. The concept for the event is based on a convergence research model used in Canada to pair scientific and engineering research practices with local knowledge and priorities to develop better strategies for improving Arctic infrastructure. The symposium will result in a roadmap document that addresses the permafrost-related challenges prioritized by local and regional residents and planners. Key findings will be presented to local policy makers and at Arctic science and policy forums.