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2008 Arctic Science Conference Logo
Photograph Credit: Photo by Todd Paris, UAF Marketing and Publications.
2008 Arctic Science Conference

The Arctic AAAS Division annual meeting being held September 15th to 17th, 2008 in Fairbanks, Alaska. This year's conference theme is "Growing Sustainability Science in the North: The Resilience of the People in the Arctic."

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Conference Description

The importance of the resilience of the people of the Arctic is little understood. Among the eight circumpolar nations are three of the four largest in the world in geographic area. The Arctic will become an important route for trade and commerce between Europe and the Eastern Pacific regions during the 21st century. It is necessary to observe and understand change in order to respond and adapt. IPY offers an opportunity to investigate brought about by the results of international collaborative science and engineering research.

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Conference Symposium and Events

Welcoming and Opening Remarks

  • Lawrence K. Duffy, Executive Secretary, Arctic Division AAAS
  • Dan Julius, Vice President, UA
  • Buck Sharpton, UAF
  • Craig Gerlach, President, Arctic Division AAAS

Plenary Session Speakers

  • Maribeth Murray, International Science and Collaboration
  • Hajo Eicken, IPY North by 2020
  • Cicele Schulen, Food Systems
  • Catherine Middlecam, Science Education Reform
  • Peter Schlosser, SEARCH
  • Buck Sharpton, Climate Change and Policy Direction

Planned Symposium

  • Observing Change
  • National Parks and Public Lands in the North
  • Interdisciplinary Education
  • Food Systems
  • Geology and Geophysics
  • Climate Change and Atmospheric Science
  • Human Dimensions of the Arctic System
  • Northern Engineering
  • EPSCoR Workshop
  • International Polar Science Years
  • Policy and Sustainability Science
  • Circumpolar Health

Gallery Exhibition

Synthesis, an international juried exhibition. Prospectus will be available for download on April 10th.

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Conference Schedule

Monday, September 15th, 2008
Theme: Observing Change

Time: Event Description: Location:
8:00 am Registration and Coffee Service Begins Gold Ballroom Entry
9:00 – 9:30 am Welcoming and Opening Remarks Gold Ballroom
  • Lawrence K. Duffy, Executive Secretary, Arctic Division AAAS
  • Dan Julius, Vice President, UA
  • Buck Sharpton, UAF
  • Craig Gerlach, President, Arctic Division AAAS
9:00 – 12:00 pm Plenary Session Gold Ballroom
  • Maribeth Murray, International Science and Collaboration
  • Hajo Eicken, IPY North by 2020
  • Cicele Schulen, Food Systems
  • Catherine Middlecamp, Science Education Reform
  • Peter Schlosser, SEARCH
  • Buck Sharpton, Climate Change and Policy Direction
12:00 – 1:30 pm Lunch (on own) ––
1:30 – 3:30 pm Poster Set Up Minto/Yukon Rooms
1:30 – 4:00 pm Technical Sessions:

    • Observing Change: Cycles and People
    • National Parks and Public Lands in the North
    • Interdisciplinary Education
    • West Gold
    • Middle Gold
    • East Gold
    4:00 – 5:00 pm Poster Session with Refreshments Minto/Yukon Rooms
    5:00 - 7:00 pm Dinner Break (on own) --
    7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Sigma Xi and Golden Key Reception (with featured speaker) Gold Ballroom

    Tuesday, September 16th, 2008
    Theme: Understanding Change

    Time: Event Description: Location:
    8:00 am Registration and Coffee Service Begins Gold Ballroom Entry
    9:00 - 5:00 pm Poster Displays Minto/Yukon Rooms
    9:00 - 12:00 pm Technical Sessions:

    • Food Systems
    • Geology and Geophysics
    • Climate Change and Atmospheric Science
    • West Gold
    • Middle Gold
    • East Gold
    12:00 - 1:30 pm Lunch (on own) ––
    1:30 - 4:00 pm Technical Sessions:

    • Human Dimensions of the Arctic System
    • Northern Engineering
    • Quaternary Beringia and Adjacent Oceans: The Key to Recent Change
    • West Gold
    • Middle Gold
    • East Gold
    4:00 - 5:00 pm Poster Session with Refreshments Minto/Yukon Rooms
    7:00 - 9:00 pm Understanding Change and Forecasting Resilience Using Agent Based Models

    Gold Ballroom

    Wednesday, September 17th, 2008
    Theme: Responding to Change

    Time: Event Description: Location:
    8:00 am Registration and Coffee Service Begins Gold Ballroom Entry
    9:00 - 12:00 pm Poster Displays Minto/Yukon Rooms
    9:00 - 12:00 pm Technical Sessions:

    • International Polar Science Years
    • Policy and Sustainability Science
    • Circumpolar Health
    • West Gold
    • Middle Gold
    • East Gold
    12:00 - 1:30 pm Lunch (on own) ––
    1:30 - 4:00 pm Technical Sessions:

    • Alaska Cultural Sustainability
    • Interdisciplinary Science
    • EPSCoR
    • West Gold
    • Middle Gold
    • East Gold
    4:00 - 4:15 pm Closing Session and Final Remarks Gold Ballroom

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    Call for Abstracts

    Abstract submissions are now being accepted. Please use our online submission form to submit your abstract. Abstract submissions are due no later than August 1st, 2008.

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    Online Registration

    Online conference registration will be available beginning July 1st. Please note that early registration must be completed by Sept. 1st, 2008.

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    Hotel Accommodations

    The 2008 conference will be held at the Westmark Hotel in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska. Please either contact the hotel directly to make reservations.

    Location: Westmark Hotel
    Address: 813 Noble Street, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701-4977
    Phone: 1-800-544-0970 or 907-456-7722
    Website: www.westmarkhotels.com/fairbanks.php
    Rates: $69 single/double plus tax
    *To receive this special discounted rate, please mention that you are with the 2008 Arctic Science Conference

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    Contact Information

    For more information about the 2008 Arctic Science Conference, please contact Craig Gerlach at ffscg@uaf.edu or 907-474-7288, or Arthur Roraff at info@thecoordinatorsinc.com or 907-646-9000.

    For more information about the AAAS Arctic Division and division activities contact Larry Duffy, Secretary of the AAAS Arctic Division at fflkd@uaf.edu or 907-474-7525.

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