On 2 and 3 December, a workshop was held at UiT The Arctic University of Norway that brought together members of Norway’s Arctic research community to coordinate efforts for the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) and to discuss priorities towards the next International Polar Year (IPY) in 2032-2033. APECS International Directorate staff members Sarah Strand and Axel Schlindwein participated in the workshop and stressed the importance of involving early career indviduals in large-scale planning processes like ICARP IV and the IPY.
The workshop was organized by UiT postdoctoral researchers Gosia Smieszek-Rice and Robbie Mallett, co-chairs of the ICARP IV Research Priority teams 2 and 4, respectively. The workshop featured presentations, group discussions, and a closing panel covering the latest news on ICARP IV to planning for the fifth IPY. Participants also learned about upcoming funding calls from the Research Council of Norway (RCN). The outcomes from the workshop will contribute to the ICARP IV summit in Boulder, Colorado in March 2025, and will help shape preparations for the next IPY.
On the evening of 2 December, attendees took a break from the serious discussions to join an APECS social event “From Poles to People”. It was a fun and relaxed evening with networking, a polar map-drawing competition, and plenty of pizza. Participants even got the chance to get on the roller disco dance floor. It was the perfect chance to meet new people and network with others involved in polar research. [APECS]