Connecting Sea Ice, Science, and Societal Resilience in the Bering Sea
This event is part of the 2016 Aleutian Life Forum.
Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm AK
Venue: Grand Aleutian Hotel, 498 Salmon Way, Unalaska, AK 99692
Workshop Description:
The predominant ways that changing sea ice affects society are well acknowledged: less sea ice means more open water for shipping, fishing, and offshore oil and gas activities; less sea ice means more wave damage and erosion to shorelines; and changing sea ice often results in less favorable conditions for subsistence hunting. However, in nearly all examples, the societal issue at stake has to do with much more than just sea ice, and relies on a variety of variables linked to infrastructure, economic drivers, cultural values, policy and regulatory environments, etc. The complexity of the system must be acknowledged, if not understood, in order for scientists to more meaningfully engage and partner with Bering Sea communities. This workshop will focus on how sea ice conditions (past, present, and future) play a role in impacting Bering Sea communities, stakeholder decisions, and local to regional economies. The event will explore various perspectives on how changing sea ice connects to societal issues and the implications for societally relevant science.