The Arctic is undergoing a major transformation. Climate change and modernization are bringing important issues, including the health of Northerners, melting sea-ice, intercontinental shipping, sovereignty, resource exploitation, and the environment, to the forefront of national and international agendas. Circumpolar nations face an increased urgency to expand the observational capacity needed to formulate strategies and policies that will minimize the negative impacts and maximize the positive outcomes of this transformation.
Building on the success of its annual scientific meeting, the ArcticNet Network of Centres of Excellence and its national and international partners are excited to welcome the Arctic research community to Ottawa for the international Arctic Change 2014 conference to be held at the Ottawa Convention Centre from 8-12 December 2014.
Coinciding with the pinnacle of Canada’s Chairmanship of the Arctic Council, Arctic Change 2014 welcomes the participation of international researchers, students, policy and decision makers, representatives of government and non-government organizations, the private sector, northern stakeholders and media to address the global challenges and opportunities arising from climate change and modernization in the circum-Arctic. With over 1000 participants expected to attend, Arctic Change 2014 will be one of the largest trans-sectoral international Arctic research conferences ever held in Canada.
Arctic Change 2014 is a 5-day conference beginning with Student Day on Monday, 8 December and ending on Friday, 12 December. The full program (agenda, abstracts, list of participants, sponsors and exhibitors) will be available for download on this website in November 2014. A summarized version of the program (agenda, sponsors and exhibitors and floor plan) will be included in the registration packages. Below is an overview of program highlights and the preliminary agenda as well as information on side meetings.
- Arctic Change 2014 will begin on the afternoon of Monday, 8 December with the International Student Day, organized jointly by the ArcticNet Student Association (ASA) and the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS). Student Day will continue all day on Tuesday 9 December. All registered conference participants are welcome to attend Student Day.
- The official Arctic Change 2014 welcome reception will be held on the evening of Tuesday 9 December.
- Two dedicated poster sessions/receptions will be held on the evenings of Tuesday 9 December and Wednesday 10 December.
- Arctic Change 2014 topical and plenary sessions will be presented from 8:30 to 17:00 from Wednesday 10 December to Thursday 11 December and from 9:00 to 15:00 on Friday 12 December.
- The Arctic Inspiration Prize ceremony will be held from 19:00 to 20:30 on Wednesday 10 December.
- The Arctic Change 2014 banquet dinner will be held on Thursday 11 December starting at 19:30.
- Lunches will be provided to conference participants from Tuesday to Friday. Breakfasts and dinners are on your own, except for the Arctic Change 2014 banquet dinner.