Welcome to the March 2023 NERC Arctic Office Bulletin. If you have an event that you would like us to promote here or via the NERC Arctic Office website, www.arctic.ac.uk, please let us know. We’re always glad to hear from you. If you haven’t received this Bulletin direct, you can sign up to our mailing list on the website’s home page. For all previous bulletins, please visit the Arctic Office bulletins page.
New Polar Research Sub-Committee explores UK’s relationship to Arctic environment
The Environmental Audit Committee’s newly-formed Polar Research Sub-Committee has announced an extremely wide-ranging and ambitious inquiry into the United Kingdom’s relationship with the Arctic and its environment. The terms of reference include: the Arctic environment; the United Kingdom’s Arctic interests; and the United Kingdom’s contribution to the Arctic through scientific research.
The Chair of the Polar Research Sub-Committee said: “This Sub-Committee is asking what the consequences may be for the UK of the observed climatic and environmental changes in the Arctic, what form the UK’s strategic Arctic and military interests ought to take, and what impact these may have on the area. We will also be looking at how the UK’s science leadership role in the Arctic can be supported, and the impact on scientific cooperation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”
The Sub-Committee will be taking evidence in person and written evidence. The deadline for written evidence is 5:00 PM on Thursday 20 April 2023. Full details of the terms of reference and how to submit evidence: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/62/environmental-audit-committee/news/186297/new-polar-research-subcommittee-explores-uks-relationship-to-arctic-environment/
The NERC Arctic Office will be submitting evidence. We strongly encourage all those with an interest to also contribute directly to this important inquiry. Respondents can address all or some of the Sub-Committee’s questions.
UK Arctic Science Conference 2023 – Call for abstracts now open!
The next UK Arctic Science conference will be hosted by the British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge on 11th to 13th September 2023. The in-person event will be hosted at the BAS Aurora Innovation Centre in Cambridge. The conference will be hosted in a simple hybrid format over Zoom, and we will be looking for best practice to maximise online participation.
We are pleased to announce that the call for abstracts and registration is now open! Details are now on the conference website: https://www.bas.ac.uk/event/uk-arctic-science-conference-2023/
The deadline for abstract submissions is 9th June 2023.
The deadline for registration is 25th August 2023.
The Local Organising Committee look forward to seeing you there! If you have a question, please contact us at arctic@bas.ac.uk
New Arctic Policy Framework
The new Arctic Policy Framework, Looking North: The UK and the Arctic was launched at a reception on 9 February 2023 by Lord Goldsmith, Minister of State with responsibility for the polar regions at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. The report is now available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/looking-north-the-uk-and-the-arctic
Arctic Frontiers Abroad – Scotland
The Scottish Government and the Arctic Frontiers are pleased to announce their collaboration on a one-day conference designed to encourage debate and knowledge exchange on some of the key challenges and ambitions that Scotland and the Arctic region have in common. This event will take place on 17 March 2023 and will be hosted at the Aberdeen Science Centre. Key sessions will include:
- Blue Economy sessions on Marine planning and Ports
- Just Energy Transition
- Remote Energy Solutions
For further information and to register, please visit the conference website: https://www.arcticfrontiers.com/afabroad-scotland/