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Past Events - 2012

March 2012

International Polar Heritage Conference

March 2012, Hobart, Tasmania

The International Polar Heritage Committee (IPHC) was formed in 1999 to protect and conserve those sites in the Arctic and the Antarctic which contain valuable information about the heritage of these regions. The group will hold its annual conference in Hobart in March 2012.

Planet Under Pressure Conference - New knowledge towards solutions

26 - 29 March 2012, International Convention Centre (ICC), London, UK

A major international science conference focusing on solutions to the global sustainability challenge:

Ice Sheets and Glaciers in a Warming World

Day 1 (26 March): State of the Planet • Theme: Governing Across Scales • Session: Ice Sheets and Glaciers in a Warming World

Mike Sparrow, Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), UK; Volker Rachold, International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), Germany; Rasul Ghulam, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Pakistan.

Session content:
Observations clearly show that glaciers and Polar ice-sheets are responding to climate change. Though considerable uncertainty remains regarding the response of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets to future warming, recent research has shown that ice loss from Greenland and the Antarctic has increased over the last 20 years, and will soon become the biggest driver of sea level rise. Many glaciers at the "Third Pole" - the Himalaya and the Tibetan Plateau (HKH - Himalaya-Karakoran-Hindukush) - are also losing their ice mass at unprecedented rates, resulting in changes in water availability for populations and agriculture downstream.

This session discusses new findings on the changes of Polar ice sheets and glaciers, including those of the Asian mountains, in response to climate change. The results of both field studies and modelling will be presented. The focus will be on the impact of these changes on both global scale, in terms of sea level rise, and on regional scale, e.g. water resources.

Life in Extreme Environments

Day 2 (27 March): Options and Opportunities • Theme: Governing Across Scales • Session: Life in extreme environments: from knowledge to sustainable exploitation of new resources under growing pressures

Session content:
Climate change worldwide impact on life is exacerbated at the interface with extreme environments. Major changes are expected in response to global warming in ecosystems of polar oceans, the permafrost, high mountains, and in terrestrial ecosystems at the boundary between desert and semi-arid areas. These are among the largest and most fragile areas of our planet.

Whilst there has been a certain amount of research on life at extremes there is currently little information on the resilience of biota when their environments are subjected to change. For instance we lack detailed information on the long-term trends and the amplitude and frequency of spikes in environmental factors that could affect endemic species and their resilience on evolutionary time scales. Furthermore, the role of the living component of extreme environments in biogeochemical cycling of man-driven Earth is not effectively quantified, or fully described, or adequately exploited. There is very little information on the contributions to major element cycles of many extreme environments, including, for example, hydrothermal vent ecosystems, subglacial communities or the deep-crust and deep-sediment biosphere.

The roadmap for Research on Life in Extreme Environments has been developed by the EC-funded project "CAREX". The session, endorsed by the IGBP programme iLEAPS, will be an interdisciplinary forum open to scientists and stakeholders investigating life processes under extreme conditions, from different perspectives. It will present the most updated picture of our current understanding of life in extreme environment, fostering knowledge of current and future exploitation of biological resources under growing human and environmental pressures.

For more information on these and other sessions, please visit the Conference website.

Online abstract submission is now available. The deadline for submissions is 16th September 2011.

Lecture on Scott's Fossils - 'When Antartica was green: fossil plants reveal Antarctica's climate history'

28 March 2012, University of Cambridge, UK

Professor Jane Francis, Professor of Palaeoclimatology at the University of Leeds, gives a lecture to commemorate the scientific work of Scott's polar expedition of 1912. This scientific lecture, which is free and open to all who are interested, is hosted by the Cambridge Philosophical Society and takes place at 18:00 in the Bristol-Myers Squibb Lecture Theatre, Department of Chemistry, adjacent to the Scott Polar Research Institute on Lensfield Road, Cambridge. Special access will be available to the Institute's current exhibition, 'These rough notes: Captain Scott's last expedition', from 17.00 to 18.00.

For more information, please see the lecture poster, or email philosoc(at)hermes.cam.ac.uk.

April 2012

Arctic Science Summit Week 2012

20 - 22 April 2012, Montreal, Canada

The ASSW is the annual gathering of international organizations engaged in supporting and facilitating Arctic research. The purpose is to provide opportunities for international coordination, collaboration and cooperation in all fields of Arctic science and to combine science and management meetings.

The ASSW is to be held in conjunction with the IPY 2012 Montreal Conference, 22-27 April 2012 (see below for more information on the conference).

Registration and hotel reservation is now available. Registration deadline is 12 April 2012.

The meeting documents are now available on the IASC website.

For more information about the ASSW, please visit the meeting website.

'From Knowledge to Careers' Workshop

20 - 22 April 2012, Montreal, Canada

Are you a student or early career polar scientist wanting to network with senior scientists and policy makers? The IPY 2012 Conference (see below) provides a number of opportunities for students and mentors to get to know each other, share experiences, and develop collaborations. Together, the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) and the ArcticNet Student Association (ASA) are teaming up to offer a 'From Knowledge to Careers' workshop, prior to the Conference.

A preliminary outline of the workshop is available for you to peruse. The deadline to apply is October 31 and the application can be found on the Workshop page of the APECS website. If you are interested in participating as a mentor, please contact the workshop chairs: Kimberley Keats <kkeats@mun.ca> and Karley Campbell <umcampb2@cc.umanitoba.ca>.

Workshop for Science Teachers

20 - 22 April 2012, Montreal, Canada

The PolarEDUCATORS Workshop is being organized by Students on Ice and will bring together 150 international educators to attend a two-day professional development workshop in natural and social sciences as they relate to polar education. Participants will hear stimulating talks and will engage in hands-on activities with polar scientists, educators and indigenous Arctic community members, as well as leaders and innovators working on some of the most critical issues facing the planet.

For more information and the application form, check the Polar Educators section of the Conference website. The deadline to apply is November 14. Some partial travel support will be available to help educators requiring assistance.

8th International Conference on Contaminants in Freezing Ground

22 - 26 April 2012, Innsbruck University Center, Obergurgl/Tyrol, Austria

The objective of the conference is to bring together scientists, students, engineers, environmental managers and companies who have a scientific or practical interest in contaminants in cold climates. The conference will continue the tradition of having a wide range of presentations in a single platform (no parallel sessions). The broad conference topics for oral and poster sessions include:

For more details, please visit the Conference website.
Registration is now open and the deadline for Submission of Abstracts is 1 December 2011.

International Polar Year (IPY) Conference - "From Knowledge to Action"

22 - 27 April 2012, Palais des Congrès, Montreal, Québec, Canada

The IPY 2012 Conference is the final event of International Polar Year 2007 - 2008, the largest international programme of interdisciplinary polar research ever undertaken. This conference will provide an opportunity to apply and disseminate the knowledge and scientific results from IPY from around the world and focus on next steps. Participants will consider ways to translate those new understandings into policy that will guide activities in and enhance stewardship of the polar regions.

The conference is aimed at polar scientists, policy makers and academics, government and industry representatives from around the world. An exciting programme will be offered featuring keynote speakers, international leaders, polar scientific experts and practitioners from the polar science and policy communities.

The Canadian Film Institute, in partnership with IPY 2012, seeks entries for a Polar Film Festival to celebrate the rich diversity of the Polar Regions, as well as examine the many challenges and world-wide implications they face in the 21st Century and onward. The CFI welcomes all films that explore issues and activities of particular relevance to the Arctic and/or Antarctic regions. The submission deadline is Tuesday 31st January 2012. For further details, please see the Polar Film Festival information, or contact CFI Programmer Jerrett Zaroski (zaroski@cfi-icf.ca) with any queries.

The Call for Abstracts closed on 7 October 2011. The Conference programme is now available.

Conference registration is now open.

For more information, please visit the Conference website.

First Circular and Second Circular.

May 2012

18th International Symposium on Polar Sciences: Milestones in Polar Research Collaboration

22 - 24 May 2012, Jeju Island, Republic of Korea

The 18th International Symposium on Polar Sciences will be held at the Seogwipo KAL Hotel, Jeju Island under the sponsorship of Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI).

This International Symposium on Polar Sciences has been held every year since 1994, building better understanding and consensus on the progress and future of polar research programmnes. The theme of the symposium in 2012 is "Milestones in Polar Research Collaboration." The main objective of this event is to examine polar environmental changes observed in the atmosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. The symposium will also address meteorites in Antarctica and new technology for polar sciences.

More detailed information, including the programme of the symposium, is available in the Second Circular and on the Symposium website. The deadline for abstract submission and registration is 30 April 2012. Jeju Island is very popular with tourists in May so the organisers recommend you make your hotel reservation by 31 March at the latest (see the website for details).

First Circular

Second Circular

Third Circular

June 2012

ATCM XXXV - CEP XV

11 - 20 June 2012, Hobart, Tasmania

For more information, please visit the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat website.

ISOPE-2012 - 22nd International Offshore (Ocean) and Polar Engineering Conference & Exhibition

17 - 22 June 2012, Rhodes, Greece

Includes a symposium on Polar Science and Technology, including sessions on:

For more information, please visit the ISOPE conference website.

Tenth International Conference on Permafrost (TICOP)

25 - 29 June 2012, Tyumen, Russia

The International Permafrost Association (IPA) and the Tyumen Oil and Gas University are excited to present the First Circular on the conference to be held in Russia for the first time since 1973. The International Conference on Permafrost, held every four years, is the premier venue for all research related to permafrost. The circular outlines the themes proposed for the sessions, the abstract policy, the registration, and the excursions planned around the conference.

The conference will focus on arctic, antarctic and alpine permafrost research. The theme of the conference is "Resources and Risks in permafrost regions in a changing world" and refers to both the impacts of a changing world on permafrost and the impact of permafrost on a changing world. It also uses the world "resource", which, in the host university tradition, relates to permafrost as both an industrial and environmental resource. The conference will also host official IPA Executive Committee and Council meetings. Stipends will be available for young scientists.

For more information, please see the Second Circular or visit the Conference website, or email the organisers (ticop@tmsnc.ru).

First Circular

July 2012

The 7th Antarctic Meteorological Observation, Modeling and Forecasting Workshop

9 - 12 July 2012, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA

The workshop brings together those with both research and operational interests in Antarctic meteorology and forecasting and related disciplines. It serves as a forum for current results, ideas, and issues in Antarctic meteorology, numerical weather prediction, and forecasting. Topics related to these, including meteorological issues of Antarctic logistical efforts, are welcome.

We are soliciting participation from all who are interested - talks are encouraged, although
posters are also welcome. Workshop schedule details will be posted after submissions are received.

A web page will be set up later for the workshop for registration and submission of talk/poster abstracts and for extended abstracts.
The deadline for submissions and registration is June 1, 2012. Questions on the workshop may be directed to Dr. Jordan Powers (powers@ucar.edu) or Dr. John Cassano (john.cassano@colorado.edu).

XXXII SCAR and Open Science Conference

13 - 25 July 2012, Portland, Oregon, USA

The XXXII SCAR biennial meetings and Open Science Conference will emphasise SCAR's dual role in facilitating scientific research and providing advice to policy makers.

A list of scientific sessions developed by the International Scientific Organizing Committee is on the Conference website. Plenary sessions will focus on high level overarching themes of interest to the majority of attendees:

  1. Antarctic Conservation Challenges in a Century of Change - led by Neil Gilbert
  2. Past, Present and Future Climate Evolution - led by John Turner and Nancy Bertler
  3. Evolution and Biodiversity in Antarctica - led by Julian Gutt

Keynote addresses will include the Weyprecht Lecture, the Antarctic Science Lecture, the 2012 Martha T. Muse Prize winner, and the thematic Policy Advice in a Changing World.

Abstract submission is now closed. For any queries about abstracts, please contact abstracts@scar.org

Registration is now open. For any queries about the conference, registration, fees or accommodation, please contact scar2012@pdx.edu
Conference registration fees (in USD) are confirmed as follows:

For more information, please visit the XXXII SCAR and Open Science Conference website.

A parallel series of music and cultural arts events, entitled 'Antarctic Perspectives - connecting music and the arts to science' is also being planned. For more information, visit the 'Science and Cultural Arts: SCAR OSC 2012 website', or contact Alan Cooper (email: CulturalEvent2012@gmail.com with a copy to acooper@usgs.gov).

First Circular

Second Circular

Third Circular

Information about Banquet

Ice-Sheet Mass Balance and Sea Level (ISMASS) Kick-off Workshop

14 July 2012, Hilton Portland, Portland, Oregon, USA (venue of XXXII SCAR and Open Science Conference)

The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) are organising a kick-off workshop of the renewed Ice-Sheet Mass Balance and Sea Level (ISMASS) expert group, in conjunction with the SCAR Open Science Conference. The International Council for Science (ICSU), the International Glaciological Society (IGS) and the International Association of Cryospheric Science (IACS) have joined the original organisers in co-sponsoring the workshop. The added funding from the new co-sponsors has increased the available funding for travel support for early career scientists and researchers from developing countries, therefore the deadline for travel support applications has been extended to 30 April.

A preliminary agenda of the workshop, including the list of invited speakers, is now available on the Workshop website.

The ISMASS 2012 Workshop is free to all registered participants. For planning purposes, please register by 31 May via the Registration page of the Workshop website.

For further information, please see the updated Workshop Information, or visit the ISMASS Workshop website.

COMNAP Symposium and Annual General Meeting

15 - 19 July 2012, Portland, Oregon, USA

The COMNAP Symposium and AGM will be held in conjunction with the SCAR Open Science Conference and meetings:

September 2012

International Summer School for Students: 'Climate Change in the Marine Realm'

10 - 24 September 2012, Wadden Sea Station, List, Sylt and the University of Bremen, Germany

Get insights into the role of the ocean in the climate system and understand the complex connections and interactions within the Earth system by means of examples of the marine realm. The school is open to students from different disciplines within the natural sciences or engineering sciences at Master or early PhD level from around the world. It is targeted at those whose research project covers an aspect of marine life and the impact of climate change thereupon and will be held in English.

The school is in two parts. The first week is held at the Wadden Sea station on Sylt, with modules on 'Marine ecosystems and Climate Change' and 'Climate change and coastal areas'. The second week is held at the University of Bremen, with modules on 'The Ocean in the Climate System' and 'Observing the Ocean'.

For more information, read the Summer School flyer, visit the Climate School website or email climateschool@awi.de

Applications will be accepted until 31 March 2012 and stipends cover travel, board and lodging.

International Weddell Gyre Workshop

17 - 19 September 2012, Delmenhorst, near Bremen, Germany

An international workshop on the Weddell Gyre where scientists studying this key region of global climate will meet to exchange their knowledge across traditional boundaries of disciplines. There is no registration fee - the venue is kindly made available by Hanse Wissenschafts Kolleg, Delmenhorst. The registration deadline is 20 July 2012, via email to Mario Hoppema (AWI Bremerhaven) or Walter Geibert (University of Edinburgh).

For more information, including contact details for the workshop organisers, please see the Weddell Gyre Workshop flyer.

October 2012

SOOS 'Seeing Below the Ice' Workshop

22 - 25 October 2012, Hobart, Tasmania

Some of the strongest climate change signals are already underway in the high latitudes, with rapid and accelerating changes occurring where warming oceans meet ice. These changes have far-reaching effects through their impact on global sea-level rise (through changes to the major ice sheets) and warming rates (through changes to total planetary albedo). However, the polar oceans under ice are the least understood and most poorly monitored physical systems on the planet. They remain a 'blind spot' in our Global Climate Observing System.

The goal of the workshop is to develop a strategy for sustained observations of the Antarctic sea-ice zone. The strategy will include observations needed for the study of interactions between the ocean and both sea ice and glacial ice, including the sub-ice-shelf cavity and deep troughs through which warm ocean waters access the shelf region.While the focus is on the Antarctic, experts from the Arctic community will be invited to extend the benefit from experience gained there, where efforts to measure the ocean beneath the sea ice are more advanced.

For more information, please visit the SOOS website.

November 2012

Next Generation Sequencing at the Poles

21 - 23 November 2012, University of Liège, Belgium

A one-day workshop to discuss new NGS technologies, data analysis strategies, challenges, and caveats as applied to microbial ecology, followed by two days of informatics training designed around two software pipelines (MOTHUR and QIIME). This is part of the BELSPO CCAMBIO (Climate Change and Antarctic Microbial Biodiversity) Project and is sponsored by SCAR's EBA programme.

Registration and abstract submission for the workshop and training are now open. The deadline is 8 November 2012.

For more information, please visit the workshop website.

December 2012

Forum on the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) - Town Hall Meeting

7 December 2012, Moscone Center, San Francisco, USA

A Forum on the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) will be held at this year's AGU Fall Meeting as part of the 'Town Hall Meeting' programme. SOOS, co-sponsored by SCOR and SCAR, has the goal of coordinating international data gathering to develop a sustained set of observations in the circumpolar Southern Ocean to address key scientific and societal challenges. At the Town Hall Meeting, SOOS Scientific Steering Committee members will discuss current activities, international coordination, and wish to receive SO community ideas on how to advance SOOS both internationally and in the US.

For more information on the SOOS, visit the SOOS website. For more information on the Forum, visit the AGU Fall Meeting website.

Horizon Scanning Planning Meeting

19 - 21 December 2012, Cambridge, UK

You are invited to provide input to the development of a framework and process for a Horizon Scan of Antarctic Science and Advice to Policy Makers, to be carried out provisionally in 2014. Wide consultation and input on how best to conduct the Horizon Scan is sought. Your participation is not only welcomed but needed!

A SCAR Action Group is tasked with managing the first steps in the Horizon Scan process and asks for your input about how best to create a robust framework and process for collectively identifying future directions in Antarctic science and science advice to policy makers. To be clear, this request is not for input to the Horizon Scan itself, which will be implemented over the next two years or so, we are asking you to help us plan a process that will have greatest impact and participation.

For more information on the process, please read the background paper and visit the Horizon Scan Planning section of the website.

You can participate in this planning activity in a variety of ways - by Skype, phone, email or online questionnaire. If you would like to take part, please let us know when and how you would like to do so by completing the online Planning Meeting Participation Form.

If you have any further questions, please email horizonscanning@lists.scar.org