Arctic Science Sessions

2023: E8: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: OPENING UP AND CROWDING IN: DYNAMIC ADAPTATION TO EVOLVING ARCTIC SEA ICE LOSS

Guests: Abigail York, Tatiana Degai, Andy Mahoney, Priscilla Frankson, Travis Kaningok The Arctic is warming on average twice as rapidly as the rest of the planet, which is leading to significant changes in sea ice to which local communities must respond. Beringia, a region of the Arctic encompassing US and Russian territory, is expected to experience some of the highest variability in sea ice conditions in the coming century. The ARC NAV project brings together communities and Indigenous and non-Indigenous scientists to better understand sea ice change and how we might design better and more flexible governance to adapt. In this podcast, the featured guests are Assistant Professor at University of Victoria, Tatiana Degai, Iñupiaq graduate student at Arizona State University, Priscilla Frankson who is originally from Point Hope, and St. Lawrence Island Yupik community research lead, Travis Kaningok from Gambell, with host Abigail York, a social scientist, and Professor at Arizona State University. The guests will talk about their ongoing work, impacts of sea ice change in their home communities and across the Arctic region, and the importance of Indigenous voices, Indigenous scholarship and community-driven research in Arctic science and knowledge creation. Find out more about their research at: https://www.arcnav.org/

2023: E7: ANNUAL CRUISE: DISTRIBUTED BIOLOGICAL SURVEY SAMPLING FROM THE BERING TO THE BEAUFORT SEA

Guests: Jackie Grebmeier, Lee Cooper, Mark Rauzon, Nicholas Silverson The Grebmeier 1917469 team, as part of the Distributed Biological Observatory annual cruise, hosted an open house aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, off the coast of Utqiaġvik on July 26th. The open house included members of the Utqiaġvik community and representatives of the North Slope Borough, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, and Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission. The Canadian and US cruise participants disembarked the vessel via helicopter on July 27th. Five US participants, PI Jackie Grebmeier, co-PI Lee Cooper, Mark Rauzon, Brian Marx, and Nicholas Silverson stayed in Utqiaġvik and recorded an Arctic Science Session podcast with Battelle ARO Science Liaison, Lloyd Pikok Jr., before departing on July 28th. Find out more about their research at: https://globalocean.noaa.gov/distributed-biological-observatory/

2023: E6: HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS IN THE ARCTIC

Guests: Don Anderson, Kathy Lefebvre HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) are the topic of discussion for this episode and the project described here investigates the population dynamics of HAB species in the Arctic. Don Anderson, Senior Scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, studies species of toxic algae that are responsible for disrupting human and ecosystem health. Please join us in this episode to learn how HAB’s move through the food web in the Arctic, how they distribute, and how they impact living organisms. Where are the blooms, when do they happen, how long do they last, what kind of exposure occurs to the food web and toxins that are produced from the toxic algae? Tune into this episode to learn about the current HAB’s work in the Arctic and how these complicated questions are answered by academic researchers. Find out more about their research at: https://www2.whoi.edu/site/andersonlab/

2023: E5: ITEX LIVE FROM ATQASUK, ALASKA!

Guests: Robert Hollister, Judy Hollister, Taylor Doorn, Jenna Boelkins, Scott Branham, Justin Blough The International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) is a network of researchers examining the impacts of warming on the tundra ecosystems. Bob Hollister leads the Arctic Ecology Program with Grand Valley State University has been traveling to Atqasuk, Alaska since the 1990s. The O&E Team works with the Hollister team to host an annual BBQ event in June in the village, feeding 200+ residents. Bob is no stranger to the Meade River school, learning from the students and developing activities for them to learn about environmental science through plant identification. The ITEX project uses greenhouses, plots, and other studies to monitor tundra vegetation and flowers to observe how the warming climate has an affected the north slope. These sites are now among the longest continually monitored vegetation studies in the Arctic. In this episode, we are live from Atqasuk to learn about Arctic botany, how the north slope has evolved, and how unique Atqasuk is. Find out more about their research at: https://www.gvsu.edu/itex/

2023: E4: PERMAFROST AND INFRASTRUCTURE SYMPOSIUM IN THE NORTHERNMOST COMMUNITY IN THE U.S.

Guests: Lorene Lynn, Howard Epstein This podcast recording occurred during the Permafrost & Infrastructure Symposium in Northern Alaska, July 28 – August 5, 2023. Lorene Lynn, “Earth’s Janitor,” works in the field of Ecological Restoration studying soil science and permafrost, and Howard Epstein studies the recent dynamics of arctic tundra vegetation in response to changing climate and disturbances. The Symposium gave participants the opportunity to see the issues firsthand and to learn from those who design, build, repair, and live with infrastructure on thaw-susceptible soils. The concept for the event is based on a convergence research model used in Canada to pair scientific and engineering research practices with local knowledge and priorities to develop better strategies for improving Arctic infrastructure. The symposium will result in a roadmap document that addresses the permafrost-related challenges prioritized by local and regional residents and planners. Key findings will be presented to local policy makers and at Arctic science and policy forums. Find out more about their research at: https://uva.theopenscholar.com/epstein-ecosystem-ecology-lab/