2nd Arctic Science Ministerial

Perceiving Arctic Change: climate, society and sustainability

This side event is based on a long-term cooperation between the organizers of the event, the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines with internationally top-ranking expertise on climate-related research and interdisciplinary Arctic studies (environment science and Humanities), the Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, a world leading institution in polar research and the Arctic Portal, the most comprehensive online portal for outreach, data management and visualization focusing on the different needs of the Arctic area. AWI and UVSQ have been jointly running the annual workshop series “Gateway to the Arctic”, created in 2012. The purpose of this project is to bring together scientists from different disciplines and perspectives to discuss and exchange views on the natural, human and social aspects of the changing Arctic. This exchange highly increases the capacity to respond to major societal challenges in the Arctic and encourages further scientific cooperation among different disciplines in cooperation with representatives of the indigenous peoples of the Arctic. AP is a partner of both institutions in a number of ongoing projects including Nunataryuk, APPLICATE, ARICE and EDU-ARCTIC.

The planned side event will keep in line with this tradition. It is divided into two parts: a seminar for PhD students in the morning and a public event in the evening: the seminar will offer a unique opportunity for PhD students from the French and German organizing institutions to meet and discuss with the Arctic experts who are participating in the panel of the evening event. The focus of the seminar will be on the importance of holistic approaches to Arctic challenges, i. e. the necessity to take into consideration the views of all stakeholders to find solutions.

During the public evening event, scientists from AWI and UVSQ will cover the regional and dynamical aspects of Arctic change, to be followed by presentations of two indigenous personalities from Greenland and the Russian Federation. The panel discussion with five experts including the indigenous representatives will then be dedicated to the important question of how the co-construction of knowledge can enhance the resilience of the Arctic eco-systems and societies. Another major issue we will address is the question of how to link more efficiently the wide range of Arctic observations and climate research to foster adaptation in these unique and highly sensitive environments threatened by many new challenges. The seminar and public event will thus reflect the three focus themes of ASM2.
The aim of this side-event is to raise awareness among Arctic specialists and the general public to the urgent need for important decisions and coordinated action among all nations, be they Arctic neighboring states or not since we are all concerned. It will be live streamed by the Arctic Portal.

More information about the 2nd Arctic Ministerial can be found here.

Registration for the public evening event is closed.


For more information please contact: Dr. Renate Treffeisen (renate.treffeisen@awi.de)

Short information about the side event:

Location:
Part I (morning) – AWI Potsdam, Potsdam; Part II (evening) - Representation of the Land of Bremen (Bremer Landesvertretung), city-center of Berlin

Date:

24th October; Part I: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Part II: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Type of event:
presentations and a panel discussion with indigenous representatives, scientists and politicians Organizers:
Prof. Dr. Jan Borm (UVSQ/Paris-Saclay),
Dr. Klaus Grosfeld (REKLIM, AWI),
Dr. Renate Treffeisen (AWI),
Dr. Volker Rachold (Arctic office),
Halldór Jóhannsson (Executive Director, Arctic Portal) Panel speakers:
Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius (Director of AWI);
Prof. Dr. Karin Lochte (Chair of scientific advisory board 2nd Arctic Ministerial);
Per Rosing-Petersen (Greenland);
Lars Kullerud (President of UArctic);
Vyacheslav Shadrin (Chief of the Council of Yukaghir Elders)

 

Online registration