Welcome to the November 2024 NERC Arctic Office Bulletin. If you have an event or news that you would like us to promote and share with the wider community, 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.
Funding Opportunity – Arctic Frontiers conference, Tromso
With support from DSIT and the FCDO there is travel, hotel and registration support available to UK-based students and researchers to attend and participate in the Arctic Frontiers 2025 conference https://arcticfrontiers.com/. Taking place between 27-30 January 2025 the theme for this year’s conference is ‘Beyond Borders’. Always an important conference, the event has varied and interesting science, business and politics elements and is an excellent place for making research connections. There will be a number of sessions with UK leads and participants, including a session on engagement with Arctic Council Working Groups. To apply for support please send a one-page max. application to arctic@bas.ac.uk setting out: your student/research background and academic interests; the benefit/impact you envisage from attending the conference; and an overview of the costs you would like to be supported. Deadline 23 November.
Funding Opportunity – Arctic Science Summit Week, Boulder, Colorado, 2025
The International Arctic Science Committee offers contributions to travel and registration costs for early career researchers and Indigenous researchers and knowledge holders to attend the annual Arctic Science Summit Week. Next year’s conference will be 20-28 March 2025. The call for applications will be released imminently with a deadline of 22 November. Applications from those participating in the conference, volunteering as note-takers or with other active roles will be prioritised. There are opportunities to volunteer within the form. Check https://www.iasc.info/news/iasc-news for application details.
International Polar Year 2032-33
Plans for the 5th IPY are proceeding well, with a new concept note detailing actions so far, expected timelines, opportunities to engage and next steps now available via IPY5 – IPY5.The high level planning is being led by IASC, SCAR, the International Science Council and the World Meteorological Organisation, with a wider planning group of around 20 international science organisations and representative groups, including Indigenous Peoples’ organisations. The next year will see a step-up in public engagement and consultation, together with developments to secure a dedicated secretariat. The UK Arctic and Antarctic Partnership https://ukaapartnership.org/ has agreed to take on responsibility as the UK’s national IPY committee.
NERC Arctic Research Station ‘Open’ D ay
The annual NERC Arctic Research Station ‘Open’ Day will take place on Thursday 23 January 2025, hosted at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge. Come and join us, either in person or online to find out more about the Station, how we can support your research and to hear from recent users of the Station through a series of quick-fire science talks. The registration form is now live here and more information about the Station is available on the website. An agenda will be shared in early January – we hope to see you there!
UK Arctic and Antarctic Partnership
A warm welcome to Prof. Bethan Davies (Newcastle University) who has taken over as Chair of the UK Arctic and Antarctic Partnership. Huge thanks to Prof. Martin Siegert for his active leadership over the last four years. UKAAP is an important initiative to bring together a broad range of stakeholders from across the Arctic and Antarctic research community to provide a combined voice, to link with policy and decision-makers and influence the direction of future initiatives. Applications for new members are always welcome – please get in touch if you believe you have a voice to contribute – arctic@bas.ac.uk.
Update – IASC Working Group Representatives
Also warm welcomes to Prof Claire Mahaffey (Liverpool University) and Prof. Gareth Phoenix (Sheffield University) as the newest UK representatives on the IASC Marine and Terrestrial Working Groups. Thank you very much to Prof. Mary Edwards (Southampton University) and to the late and greatly missed Prof. Andrew Brierley for their previous significant contributions in these roles. The full list of UK representatives to IASC is available here.
Summary – Arctic Circle Assembly 2024, Reykjavik
Thank you to all the participants from across the UK who took part in this year’s Assembly meeting and to all the partners who supported them. There were over 30 sessions organised by UK-based organisations/researchers or with UK-based speakers across the three days. The Minister for the Polar Regions, Stephen Doughty MP was a keynote speaker from the main stage – the first time a UK Government Minister has done so. There was a well-attended exhibition stand highlighting the first Arctic science cruise of the RRS Sir David Attenborough and promoting the UK’s Arctic capabilities and partnerships. A specific thank you to the UK-Iceland Arctic Science Partnership project representatives who participated in the joint session with Icelandic colleagues. Mini-versions of the Assembly – known as Forums – will be taking place in Rome and New Delhi next year. We’d be very interested to know if you are planning sessions there or at future Assemblies.
Upcoming Conferences:
Arctic Frontiers: 27 – 30 January 2025, Tromsø, Norway
Arctic Science Summit Week: 20 – 28 March 2025, Boulder, USA
UK Arctic Science Conference: w/c 8th September 2025 (exact dates to be confirmed) – Northumbria University
Arctic Circle Assembly: 16 – 18 October 2025, Reykjavik, Iceland