News Archive

The Sea Ice Prediction Network–Phase 2 (SIPN2) announces the call for contributions for the 2018 Sea Ice Outlook June report (based on May data). The Sea Ice Outlook provides an open process for those interested in Arctic sea ice to share ideas. The monthly reports contain a variety of perspectives—from advanced numerical models to qualitative perspectives from citizen scientists. Submissions are due Monday, 11 June 2018.

The Sea Ice Prediction Network is now funded through a new collaborative proposal, "Advancing Predictability of Sea Ice: Phase 2 of the Sea Ice Prediction Network (SIPN2)". SIPN2 will result in a better quantification of the role of oceanic heat and climate variations in the Pacific sector of the Arctic; new observational-based sea-ice products; and activities to improve seasonal predictability of Arctic sea ice, the limits of this predictability, and the economic value of forecasts for stakeholders.

A recording is now available of the Arctic Indigenous Scholars seminar featuring Theresa Arevgaq John of Nelson Island, Alaska. Nelson's presentation explored issues of cultural resiliency and adaptation in Arctic climate change.

Registration is open for a panel discussion, “From Entering the Field to Taking the Helm, Perspectives of Women in Polar Research”, which will be held at the POLAR2018 Conference on Wednesday, 20 June 2018. This lunch panel discussion, with complimentary bag lunch, will explore the accomplishments, challenges, quality of work experiences, insights, recommendations, and prospects for women in polar research.

Join PolarTREC for our first live event of the 2018-2019 field season! Teacher Keith Smith and the team working on Chemical Ecology of Shallow Water Marine Communities will be broadcasting from Palmer Station, Antarctica on Tuesday, 29 May 2018 at 9:30am AKDT (10:30am PDT, 11:30am MDT, 12:30pm CDT, 1:30pm EDT). Register today for this free event!

The April 2018 issue of Witness Community Highlights is now available online. This issue highlights the work of the Fish CAFE Project, which brings multiple sciences to bear upon understanding freshwater habitats of the Fish Creek Watershed in northern Alaska. These efforts are part of an ongoing adaptive management process that is essential to sound decision making for resource management.

The American Geophysical Union has created a network of 30 individuals from diverse disciplines who will advocate for science in their congressional districts.

A recording is now available of the Arctic Research seminar/webinar featuring Elizabeth Arnold of the University of Alaska Anchorage & the Harvard Kennedy School. The talk focuses on Arnold’s own experience and current research of media coverage on the human impacts of climate change in the Arctic.

Organizers announce a call for registration for the 2018 Anchorage Arctic Research Day, which will be held in conjunction with the 2018 North by North Festival. Anchorage Arctic Research Day events are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, 26 April 2018 at the Anchorage Museum in Anchorage, Alaska.

This event, organized by the Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S., the University of Alaska Anchorage, the Anchorage Museum, and the Institute of the North; will bring together members of the Anchorage-area Arctic research community to share information and interests.

A recording is now available of the Arctic Research seminar/webinar featuring Dr. HONG Nong, Executive Director of the Institute for China-America Studies. Dr. Hong's presentation explores China's Arctic strategy and policy goals through the lens of a new white paper released by the State Council Information Office of China in January 2018.

SEARCH's Science Steering Committee member Raychelle Daniel will be co-hosting an ACCAP webinar on 11 April 2018 from 10-11am AKDT. The webinar will discuss a co-production of knowledge framework to help inform policies and to collaboratively identify research questions.

The March issue of Witness Community Highlights is now available online. This issue highlights the Arctic Data Center and their continued work to support curation and preservation of Arctic research data. The Center's data support team continues to build efficient data management and discovery tools as the outreach and training team develops new activities, including Data Science Fellowships and training events, throughout the coming year.

The Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) announces a call for nominations of new Science Steering Committee (SSC) members. SEARCH is a collaborative program of Arctic researchers, funding agencies, and others that facilitates synthesis of Arctic science and communicates our current understanding to help society respond to a rapidly changing Arctic.

The SSC is comprises 12 members, each serving a three-year term, with the option to a second term. SEARCH seeks nominations of candidates that are broad and cross disciplinary thinkers, are good communicators and consensus-builders, and have a strong commitment to the SEARCH vision. We welcome nominations from all disciplines and research backgrounds.

SSC members are expected to:
* Guide overall directions of SEARCH implementation;
* Promote and communicate SEARCH activities and plans;
* Provide guidance to the Executive Director, action teams, and working groups;
* Work with the Executive Director to establish strong partnerships;
* Approve annual SEARCH work plans and reports; and
* Be active participants in SSC meetings (4 or more/year) and working groups.

Self-nominations are welcome. Nominations should include:

• Name
• Affiliation
• Contact information
• Area of expertise
• Curriculum vitae
• A brief statement of why the person would be an asset to the SEARCH program
• Confirmation that the nominee would consent to serve

Nominations should be sent to Brit Myers, brit [at] arcus.org no later than 31 April 2018.

Nominations will be reviewed by June 2018. Invitations to join the SSC will go out to selected candidates prior to the committee’s next regular meeting scheduled to take place in September 2018.

The Sea Ice for Walrus Outlook (SIWO), which provides information on spring sea ice, weather and walrus for Alaska Native subsistence hunters and coastal communities in the Bering Strait region, will be published each Friday this spring while sea ice is present. Our record-early start is in response to very low ice conditions in the St. Lawrence Island area. SIWO is managed by ARCUS and produced with information from local hunters, the National Weather Service, and other sources. This week’s outlook includes the annual State of the Ice at Season’s Start. Follow us on Facebook.

A recording is now available of the Arctic Research seminar/webinar featuring Matthew Jull of the University of Virginia. The presentation highlights the work of the Arctic Design Group and foregrounds design in the act of framing and re-imagining the potential futures of the Arctic.

ARCUS is accepting applications for an enthusiastic, organized, and detail-oriented Administrative Assistant. This position is a non-exempt part-time position in Fairbanks, Alaska, paid on an hourly basis.

General responsibilities will include travel planning, workshop planning support, assistance with ARCUS programs, and general administrative support.

Applications will be reviewed beginning Friday, 9 March 2018 and the position will remain open until filled.

The February issue of Witness Community Highlights is now available online. This issue includes two articles: news from the International Arctic Research Center that offers lessons learned from 15 years of providing successful summer school programs to students and early career scientists, and news about the newly formed international Arctic Research Icebreaker Consortium (ARICE) and the role of the NSF-owned research vessel Sikuliaq in the effort to enhance international scientific collaboration in the Arctic Ocean.

A recording is now available of the ARCUS D.C. Arctic Research seminar/webinar featuring featuring Marlene Laruelle (George Washington University). The presentation discusses the dominant role that domestic factors play in Russia's foreign policy stances for the Arctic.

The January 2018 issue of Witness Community Highlights is now available online. This issue includes an article summarizing key highlights from the recently released Sea Ice Outlook (SIO) 2017 Post-Season Report that includes discussion of 2017 Arctic weather and ice conditions; the Outlook contributions and methodologies; and sea ice extent probability maps; and an article about the Leadership and Strength project, which draws upon engaged community-based research approaches to examine community strength and well-being and focuses on the pathways that women, men, and families forge to live well in Utqiaġvik, Alaska (formerly known as Barrow).

A recording is now available of the ARCUS D.C. Arctic Research seminar/webinar featuring Roberto Delgado (NIH/NIMH) & Andrea Horvath Marques (NIH/NIMH). The presentation discusses NIMH-supported research and other activities that aim to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Arctic residents.

As a side-event to the 2018 Arctic Frontiers conference, SEARCH Executive Director Brendan Kelly will be participating as a speaker in the Arctic Technology Summit organized by the Arctic Encounter Symposium and Arctic Frontiers. The summit will explore the technology development and infrastructure needs to ensure a sustainable Arctic. The event will take place on Wednesday, 24 January 2018 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Tromsø, Norway from 5-6:30pm CET.

Jennifer Francis, co-lead of the SEARCH Sea Ice Action Team, discusses links between a warming Arctic and North America's winter weather patterns in this article featured by Arctic Now.

To empower Indigenous scholars and provide a key opportunity for officials at U.S. government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other groups working on Arctic issues to learn and integrate information/perspectives from multiple Arctic knowledge systems, ARCUS and ICC Alaska invite applications from and/or nominations of leading Arctic Indigenous scholars to travel to Washington D.C. Scholars are defined as experts within their own knowledge systems—no formal education is required. While the selected Arctic Indigenous Scholars are in D.C., ARCUS and ICC Alaska will facilitate meetings with officials at relevant U.S. government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other groups, where such scholars will be able to share their interests via a seminar and meetings, learn of available resources, build toward collaborative relationships, and provide on-the-ground perspectives to key decision-makers.

Applications are due Thursday, 15 February 2018

The Sea Ice Prediction Network (SIPN) announces availability of the 2017 Arctic Sea Ice Outlook (SIO) Post-Season Report. The report includes reviews of the 2017 Arctic conditions, the melt season, contributions to the 2017 SIO monthly reports, as well as discussions of the statistical methods and local-scale analysis of 2017 Sea Ice Outlooks. The report also includes discussion of contributions to the call for forecasts of the Antarctic maxima, and discussion of the beginning of the Sea Ice Drift Forecast Experiment (SIDFEx), which is a contribution to the Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP).

An open "Arctic Sea Ice Prediction Stakeholders Workshop" will be held on Monday, 22 January 2018 in conjunction with the Arctic Frontiers Conference in Tromso, Norway. This workshop will bring together sea ice stakeholders and forecasters to:
1) Assess the value of forecasts by the user community.
2) Determine if and how ice forecasts are currently being used in decision making.
3) Communicate the relevant metrics needed by various stakeholders.
4) Identify where improvements in sea ice forecasts would help stakeholders make decisions.
5) Communicate the limits and opportunities of current forecasting systems.