Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Arctic Change: An Interdisciplinary Dialog Between the Academy, Northern Peoples, and Policy Makers  (Arctic Change: An Interdisciplinary Dialog)

Outline
The Dickey Institute of Arctic Studies, an integral part of the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College is planning a series of IPY related events beginning in May 2005. The mission of the Institute of Arctic Studies is inspired by Vilhjalmur Stefansson (1879-1962), Arctic explorer, scholar and founder of Dartmouth’s Northern Studies program. The Institute links Dartmouth faculty with local colleagues at the US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab (CRREL) and with associates at the Smithsonian Institutions’ Arctic Studies Center and other universities and research centers. The Institute has identified climate change and its influence on the social, cultural, and political dimensions of northern and Polar Regions as an area of critical societal importance. To this end, with CRREL and the Smithsonian, we are undertaking a series of IPY related activities examining human/environment interactions building to our desire to host the Arctic Summit Science Week (ASSW) in 2007. We have explored this idea with the IASC and AOSB and other collaborators in ASSW and it has been favorably received. We plan to offer a formal invitation to ASSW at the 2005 meeting in Kunming, China.First will be the series of Dartmouth Northern Conferences and associated research and publication projects beginning in May 2005. These conferences will host a wide range of discussions on IPY topics such as climate change and the resulting changes in subsistence lifestyles and northern cultures; sea ice dynamics and impacts on international shipping, commerce and security; pollution of polar environments and contamination of the marine food chain. Our approach is to make use of highly interdisciplinary discussions to articulate a research agenda that will inform policies that recognize the international importance of the Polar Regions to global well-being. Second, Dartmouth is planning a major international conference, exhibition, and publications to recognize the 100th anniversary of Vilhjalmur Stefansson’s first Arctic expedition in 1906. This highly interdisciplinary project will explore 100 Years of Arctic Change, culminating in 2006 and 2007 with an exhibit at Dartmouth’s Hood Museum of Art (based on the Smithsonian Arctic Studies exhibit “A Friend Acting Strangely: Arctic Climate Change” a SEARCH project with NOAA and NSF funding). The exhibit will be designed to travel and contribute to public awareness during the IPY.These IPY activities contribute to the core mission of Dickey Center by highlighting the importance of the Polar Regions for reaching international understanding.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project will advance IPY themes by addressing the relationships between the current state of the polar environment (theme 1), change in Polar Regions (theme 2), and their interactions with human systems (theme 6). We will focus on conferences and publications to create a dialog between the academic community and policy makers to articulate a research agenda for the North that is responsive to northern peoples and supports sound policy.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Our approach to the analysis of human/environment interactions is comparative and the conferences (e.g., ASSW) will draw international participation. The Dickey Center has a long history of active engagement in US, Russian and Canadian issues.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Not applicable

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This project will be sent the US IPY Committee for consideration. We have consulted with IASC, AOSB and ASSW about our desire to host the 2007 Arctic Science Summit Week meeting.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?

This project is an expansion of programs in progress and in planning by the Institute of Arctic Studies and its collaborators. We have expanded the scope and arranged our programs to culminate in ways that contribute to IPY.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Director of the Institute of Arctic Studies has primary responsibility for the project, including fund raising. As a core project of the Institute of Arctic Studies our IPY programs have access to the administrative staff of the Dickey Center. For the Institute, CRREL, and Smithsonian joint events, a Steering Committee that includes the principals listed in section 4 will be responsible for organization and management.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
This IPY project includes research and educational outreach at several levels. The conferences join the scientific/research communities with decision-makers and representatives of Arctic communities to examine issues of Arctic change. Dartmouth undergraduate students will assist in all phases of the project. The museum exhibition and publications from the conference will communicate our work to the general public.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
This IPY project includes research and educational outreach at several levels. The conferences join the scientific/research communities with decision-makers and representatives of Arctic communities to examine issues of Arctic change. Dartmouth undergraduate students will assist in all phases of the project. The museum exhibition and publications from the conference will communicate our work to the general public.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The Dickey Endowment and the Evelyn Stefansson Nef Fund provide base funding for project administration, student participation and a portion of the conference and museum exhibition work. Proposals will be made to private foundations and possibly to NSF for additional support should we be able to host the 2007 Arctic Science Summit Week.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Professor Ross Virginia
Dartmouth College
6214 Fairchild Hall
Hanover, NH
03755
USA

Tel: 603-646-0192
Mobile:
Fax: 603-646-2168
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information