Project Description
The RATIC (Rapid Arctic Transitions due to Infrastructure and Climate) initiative has advanced interdisciplinary research on infrastructure and climate in Arctic communities for more than a decade. Recent workshops at ASSW meetingshave taken a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to better understand vulnerabilities in Arctic environments and to explore strategies for sustainable infrastructure. At ASSW 2025, RATIC recommendations to ICARP IV emphasizedequitable, community-engaged research and design; understanding barriers to implementing actionable science; and the ethical use of AI and other emerging technologies to benefit Arctic communities, among other priorities.
Given the multiple environmental threats posed by rapid Arctic warming, the increasing frequency of natural hazards, and new geopolitical risks, implementing these priorities must be action-oriented. This includes identifying keyvulnerabilities and developing practical tools and methods to strengthen the resilience of Arctic infrastructure and communities in a rapidly changing world. The emphasis is on preparedness in the broadest sense.
This one-day cross-cutting workshop will bring together natural and social scientists, engineers, architects, Indigenous scholars, and others to exchange knowledge and discuss strategies for future-proofing Arctic communities againstemerging threats and challenges. Discussions will be structured around three core themes:
- climate-resilient infrastructure design;
- community resilience to natural hazards; and
- governance models that address local needs in infrastructure development.
Date and Location
11 – 20 April 2027, Hakodate, Japan
IASC Working Groups funding the project
- Cryosphere WG
- Social & Human WG
- Terrestrial WG
Project Lead
Howard Epstein (Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, USA)
Year funded by IASC
2026