Arctic Frontiers holds its 8th annual conference in Tromsø, Norway, from 19-24 January 2014, with the title: Humans in the Arctic.
The Arctic Frontiers conference is a central arena for discussions of Arctic issues. The conference brings together representatives from science, politics, and civil society to share perspectives on how upcoming challenges in the Arctic may be addressed to ensure sustainable development.
Arctic Frontiers 2014 will address two main themes: I) Health, Environment and Society, and II) Offshore Maritime Challenges.
Health, society and environment
The environment of the Arctic is changing, and this affects the conditions for humans living in the Arctic for better and for worse. Climate change will lead to less ice and permafrost and thus, increased tourism, fishing, petroleum activities and mining.
These activities in the High North will give opportunities and impact socio-economy, demography and traditional lifestyle as well as increase contamination and disturb the natural environment. The cumulative impact may affect life, wellbeing, culture and ultimately the health of people living in the region. Healthy adaption to the changes must be planned.
The latest advances in technology and innovative communication are potentially very effective tools with which to reduce risk related to living and working in the Arctic and also maximize the benefits, thus ensuring sustainable development. How can this be done? Arctic Frontiers 2014 will address the scientific challenges ahead.
Offshore Maritime Challenges
The growth in offshore petroleum activities in the Arctic and the renewed interest in cargo transport north of the American and Eurasian continents require improved or new logistic and transport solutions, better guidance to ships and an extended emergency response service including Search and Rescue (SAR).
This is also the case for increasing tourism and fishery activities in the Arctic. A wide range of challenges are facing the operations due to the extreme distances, climatic and weather conditions, as well as winter darkness. Low temperatures, summer fog, long distances to shore-based resources require a robust communication infrastructure, new warning systems, survival kits, lifesaving equipment, rescue units and operating procedures. The aim of the conference is to discuss these arctic challenges, and to present innovative and viable solutions in order to reduce risk, build resilience and secure commercial operations.
We invite you to submit an abstract within any of these four parts. All abstracts will be reviewed by members of the four scientific committees for rating of abstract quality and presentation content.
Four parallel parts will be discussed:
Health, society and environment
Live, work and stay healthy in the Arctic
Health & Environment in the Arctic
Offshore Maritime Challenges
Shipping & Offshore in the Arctic
Arctic Search and Rescue (SAR)
Interested scientists are invited to submit abstracts to one of these four sessions for both oral and poster presentations.
Arctic Frontiers is composed of a policy section and a scientific section. This call for papers addresses only the scientific section from 22 January to 24 January 2014.
The Call for Papers closes on 21 October 2013.
For more information and online registration, download the complete Call for Papers on the Arctic Frontiers homepage.