51st International Arctic Workshop 2021 in Svalbard

Initiated at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) at the University of Colorado in 1970, and held at international venues specialising in Arctic Science every odd year and back at INSTAAR every even year, the International Arctic Workshop (IAW) is an annual event focussing on all aspects of high latitude research. Each workshop is themed, to address specific multi- and interdisciplinary issues across natural, social, engineering, and historical sciences. IAW meetings typically spans 2 to 4 days, in March, April, May or June, and attract between 60 to 150 leading discipline experts, community stakeholders, and students. Central to the IAW is the promotion and mentorship of students, from undergraduate to PhD level, in a collegial and friendly environment. For many current Arctic researchers, the IAW was their first experience of presenting at an international venue. We propose to host the 51st International Arctic Workshop (IAW51 Svalbard) at the Forskningspark, Longyearbyen (jointly between UNIS, NP, and Svalbard Museum) in mid/late June 2022 (postponed from June 2021 due to the COVID-19 crisis) over 3 days (plus evening ice breaker and 2 day post-workshop optional field excursion). The interdisciplinary theme of IAW51 Svalbard will be “Past Analogues for Future Change” spanning Arctic geology, glaciology and permafrost, natural hazards, marine and atmospheric science, ecology, archaeology, and sociology and will appeal to a broad audience across multiple research disciplines and governmental, NGO, and public stakeholders. The special workshop session on sustainable and low CO2 impact approaches and methodologies in Arctic fieldwork will be the centrepiece of IAW51 Svalbard. We specifically seek funds to facilitate student attendance and participation in, what for many, would be an otherwise very expensive workshop with higher-than-usual transportation and accommodation costs. With student participation, mentorship, and promotion being at the core of the IAW philosophy, this is considered essential.