Education
News and Announcements
Breezy Grenier has set up a Website, Facebook, and Instagram pages to promote Arctic education and action. Check them out and share!
www.breezyseas.com
Scientists are Superheroes too (Facebook, Instagram) -- for students
Eco-Elders (Facebook, Instagram) - for lifelong learners
Questions:
Should Diversity and Inclusion be included in this Education and Outreach working group? Or it's own separate working group?
Stakeholder Engagement
R1: Infrastructure
Links between Arctic Change and Infrastructure from New England to the Arctic
Example Topics: documenting infrastructure at risk from rising sea level and coast erosion, mitigation/protection of at-risk infrastructure, development of new/enhanced infrastructure to accommodate increased marine traffic, socio-economic assessment of all the above (what gets “saved” or improved, where does new investment go, who directly and indirectly benefits, who is adversely impacted, how are these decisions made and funded, etc.)
R2: Permafrost, Hydrology, Coastal
Links among Arctic warming, permafrost, hydrology, coastal processes, and communities
Example Topics: 2) what happens to the coupled water and carbon cycles when more of the water stays liquid year round?, what are the direct impacts of permafrost thaw and altered hydrology on Arctic communities?, how do these changes modify the ecosystems and ecosystem services communities rely on?
News and Announcements:
R3: Ocean Observations
Observing the physical and biological impacts of Arctic change on the Arctic Ocean, Western North Atlantic, and Gulf of Maine
Arctic change seems to be having major impact on physics and biology of Gulf of Maine, and presumably all waters between there and the high Arctic, but the connections are not well understood. More spatially distributed observations, using a range of established and emerging technologies, are required to understand the processes controlling these linkages, and to provide early warning of future, perhaps unexpected, changes. Where should sensors be sited for biggest, fastest, return? Which technologies should be favored? What are the trade offs between many, simpler, cheaper devices between a few very sophisticated and expensive instruments or rovers?
R4: Midlatitude Connections
Connections between Arctic and midlatitude communities; Sharing lessons learned
This group is meant to tackle the idea that the Arctic is likely the last frontier, ripe for exploitation. How can Arctic communities be empowered to ensure that they benefit from increased activity in their homes? Tourism and resource extraction has potential to severely degrade the Arctic environment, with profits accruing to distant corporations/nations. How can the historic colonial pattern be avoided this time? On the other hand, Arctic communities (or at least some members of them) see the opening of the Arctic as potential economic boom and their desires for enhanced prosperity and security must be recognized. Can the Arctic be developed in a way that preserves adequate ecosystems to support traditional communities and cultures and enhances their situations?