In this newsletter

From the Director……………......1

Arktiska forskare får stort ge-nomslag inom klimat- och miljöforskning ………………....….2

Upcoming ARCUM Seminars...3

Upcoming conferences and workshops………….…………..…….4

New publications…………………..7

FROM THE DIRECTOR

The week before Christmas is a good moment to reflect upon the year that has passed.

From an Arcum perspective it has been a good year, and we are content to conclude that

the affiliated researchers have been very successful. You are now responsible for a num-

ber of large Arctic research projects and Umeå University has increased its credibility at

the international arena. And if 2016 has been good we have even greater expectations

for 2017 – that is now announced as the Arctic Year at Umeå University!

The Arctic Year is an opportunity to highlight the extensive activities in all faculty areas of

the university, and to illustrate the fact that Arctic research embraces everything from

climate change, astrophysics, extractive industries, security, aquatic environments, in-

digenous issues, health and sustainability, just to mention a few of the research fields

involved. This is research with high social impact with a capacity to offer solutions for a

positive global progress and a strong regional development. And we are proud to see that

Umeå University has a prominent position in Sweden and internationally in this process.

The ambition is that 2017 will be an intensive year full of Arctic activities. The Arctic

theme at Kunskapsnoden in February and the arrangement of ICASS IX in June are both

cornerstones during the year, and there is more to come. Arcum strives for a broad enga-

gement from as many units as possible at Umeå University and in our efforts to build an

inventory of Arctic activities during 2017 we pledge to all of you to contribute, and to

inform us about planned initiatives that could be everything from lectures, courses,

workshops, conferences, publications and grants.

An important task for Arcum 2017 is to strengthen the understanding of the Arctic as a

region, with nature, communities and people, and not merely an ocean. This has of

course a bearing for the concept of arctic research too which we strive to communicate

with researchers, students, stakeholders, policymakers and ministries. The long-term

ambition is that Umeå University will host a national centre for arctic research encapsula-

ting this more holistic definition.

With that said we can instead intensify our speculations whether Santa Claus lives at the

North Pole, in Alaska, in Norwegian Drøbak, in Greenlandic UUmmannaq, in Rovaniemi or

in Mora. Irrespectively we can conclude that he lives in the Arctic.

With this I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Peter Sköld

Formas forskarråd har beslutat att bevilja medel till tio

projekt vid Umeå universitet som bedriver forskning för

hållbar utveckling. Av dem är hälften ledda av forskare

affilierade till Arcum!

Följande forskare från Arcums nätverk har fått medel:

Per-Anders Esseen, professor vid Institutionen för ekologi,

miljö och geovetenskap:

Vatten – en nyckelfaktor för att förstå hur klimat och

skogsbruk påverkar hänglavar: 3 miljoner kronor

Christer Nilsson, professor vid Institutionen för ekologi,

miljö och geovetenskap:

Ett ramverk för att förutsäga framgång med vattendrags-

restaurering: 3 miljoner kronor

Roland Jansson, universitetslektor vid Institutionen för

ekologi, miljö och geovetenskap:

Nätverksavbrott? Effekter av fragmentering genom dam-

mar på växtsamhällen i vattendragsnätverk: 3 miljoner

kronor

Jenny Ask, Institutionen för ekologi, miljö och geoveten-

skap:

Förändrade isförhållanden i ett varmare klimat: Effekter

på nordliga akvatiska ekosystem: 3 miljoner kronor

Finn Arne Jørgensen, universitetslektor vid Institutionen

för idé- och samhällsstudier:

Naturupplevelser i den digitala tidsåldern: 3 miljoner

kronor.

Läs nyheten här: http://www.umu.se/om-universitetet/

aktuellt/nyheter/nyhetsvisning//tio-projekt-far-medel-fran-

formas.cid276853

Samtidigt har Arcumaffilierade David Seekell på Institu-

tionen för ekologi, miljö och geovetenskap belönats med

Science and SciLifeLab Prize för unga forskare. David till-

delas en trofé, 90 000 kronor, och får möjlighet att public-

era sin artikel Passing the point of no return i ansedda Sci-

ene.

Läs nyheten här:

http://www.teknat.umu.se/pressinformation/

nyhetsvisning/science-and-scilifelab-prize-for-unga-

forskare-till-miljovetare-david-seekell.cid276839

”Det är givetvis glädjande att på de här sätten få bekräftat

vad vi egentligen redan vet – att Arktis är en central region

för miljö- och klimatforskning och att vi har många duktiga

forskare inom de fälten i vårt nätverk”, sager Peter Sköld,

föreståndare för Arcum

Totalt har Arcum 262 affilierade forskare och är repre-

senterat vid alla fakulteter vid Umeå universitet.

2

Arktiska forskare fa r stort genomslag inom klimat- och miljo forskning

Photocredits: Markus Marcetic © Knut och Alice Wallen-

bergs Stiftelse/Kungl. Vetenskapsakademien

The Arcum website

The Arcum website is filled

with useful information with

an Arctic/Northern theme.

There you will find information

on recent Arcum activities,

upcoming seminars and work-

hops. You can also find upcom-

ing conferences, courses and

calls for funding's, both nation-

al and international. Addition-

ally we inform about New pub-

lications, and also latest News

with an Arctic/Northern

theme.

www.arcum.umu.se

www.arcum.umu.se/english/

Arcum Lunch Seminars Spring 2017

As previous semesters we will continue to offer a combination of scientific meetings and

a light lunch. The first week every month at 12:00-13:00 we meet at Universitetsklubben

for a short speech, discussions and a light lunch. This Fall we have a very interesting sem-

inar schedule. Do you have ideas on whom you would like to listen to, or do you want to

hold a speech at an upcoming seminar, please contact Gabriella Nordin. For more infor-

mation on speakers and R.S.V.P-dates please visit www.arcum.umu.se or contact Gabri-

ella Nordin at gabriella.nordin@umu.se.

Thursday February 2 Lars Lövgren, associate professor at the Department of

Chemistry and Erik Lövgren Master in engineering physics

will hold a talk on "Johan Wilhelm Sandström – Pionee-

ring Västerbottnian meteorologist and explorer of the

Gulf Stream".

Thursday March 2 VACANT

Friday April 7 10.00-14.00 At this extended Arcum Seminar one of the speakers are

Paul Treitz , guest researcher and professor at the Depart

ment of Geography and Planning, Queen’s University, King

ston, Ontario, Canada who will hold a talk on “Remote

Sensing of Environmental Change In the Canadian Arctic."

Additional speakers to be announced for the seminar at

April 7

Thursday May 4 VACANT

Thursday June 1 Jenny Ask, principal research engineer at Department of

Ecology and Environmental Studies will hold a talk on

“Changing ice-cover regimes in a warmer climate: Effects

on northern aquatic ecosystems”

WELCOME! 3

Karl Forsell, Senior Physician and PhD student at the Department of Public Health

and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, held a talk on "Environmental medicine in the

Arctic region of Sweden" at the Arcum Lunch Seminar December 1, 2016.

Do You have additional ideas

on what You would like to find

at the Arcum website? Or do

You have information that You

would like to be posted there?

Please contact Gabriella Nordin

(gabriella.nordin@umu.se)

4

Upcoming conferences and workshops

Polar 2018, Davos, Switzerland from 15 - 26 June 2018

XXXV SCAR Biennial Meetings

Arctic Science Summit Week ASSW & IASC Business Meetings

SCAR/IASC Open Science Conference

2018 Arctic Observing Summit

POLAR2018 is a joint event from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research SCAR and the International Arctic Science Com-

mittee IASC. The SCAR meetings, the ASSW and the Open Science Conference will be hosted by the Swiss Federal Institute for

Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL under the patronage of the Swiss Committee on Polar and High Altitude Research. The

WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF is organising POLAR2018, which will take place in Davos, Switzerland from 15

- 26 June 2018.

Preliminary Programme

15 - 18 June 2018 SCAR and IASC/ASSW Business & Satellite Meetings

19 - 23 June 2018 SCAR/IASC Open Science Conference

24 - 26 June 2018 SCAR Delegates Meeting & 2018 Arctic Observing Summit

Deadlines

10 September 2016 Call for sessions [closed]

30 November 2016 Deadline session submissions

10 January 2017 First circular

1 September 2017 Call for abstracts

1 November 2017 Deadline abstract submission & Early-bird registration opens

20 November 2017 Abstract review begins

15 January 2018 Deadline abstract review

31 January 2018 Acceptance notification with oral/poster information

31 March 2018 Deadline side meeting requests

1 April 2018 Regular registration begins

26 May 2018 Late-fee registration begins

Ninth International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences (ICASS IX)

8-12 June 2017 Umeå University Umeå, Sweden

Call for Paper and Poster abstracts The International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA) announces the 9th International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences (ICASS IX) to be held at the campus of Umeå University, in Umeå, Sweden, from 8-12 June 2017. The theme for ICASS IX is set to People & Place. Please submit your paper or poster abstract by 16 January 2017 at the ICASS IX website. Please include abstract title, an abstract (no more than 150 words) and complete contact information to the presenter in the form. If you have any questions, do not hesi-tate to contact IASSA Secretary Gabriella Nordin at gabriella.nordin@umu.se.

5

Upcoming conferences and workshops continued

INTERNATIONAL POLAR TOURISM RESEARCH NETWORK

(IPTRN) 6TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND STUDY

TOUR

JUNE 22-28, 2018 – Yukon Territory, Canada

Co-hosted by Vancouver Island University (British Columbia)

and Yukon College (Yukon), the IPTRNs 6th International con-

ference – “Creative Forces in Polar Regions: Tourism, Culture,

Innovation, and Change” – will explore issues and opportuni-

ties in Polar tourism in relation to: the cultural sector, econo-

mic diversification, planning, community development, In-

digenous sovereignty and reconciliation processes, glo-

balization, and environmental innovation (e.g., management,

problem-solving, climate change).

Previous IPTRN conferences have been held in Kangiqsu-

juaq, Nunavik (2008, Université du Québec à Montréal and

community hosts), Abisko, Sweden (2010, Umeå University

and Abisko Research Station), Nain, Nunatsiavut (2012,

Lakehead University, University of Northern British Columbia

and community hosts), Christchurch, New Zealand (2014,

Lincoln University, University of Canterbury, and community

hosts). The 2016 conference was held in Akureyri, Iceland

(Icelandic Tourism Research Centre and community hosts).

Conference and study tour features include:

Set to begin in Whitehorse

Will spend time primarily in a few yet-to-be determined Yu-

kon communities

Will end in time for participants to participate in the one-

week long internationally acclaimed Adäka First Nations Arts

and Culture Festival (Whitehorse): www.adaka.ca

Will follow the IPTRN conference model: Paper sessions and

academic presentations, “study tour”, discussion forums,

local presentations and talks, interactive community works-

hops.

A call for papers will be sent out in early 2017

For more information about the IPTRN go to: https://

www.facebook.com/IPTRN27. For information on the 2018

Yukon conference, please contact Dr. Suzanne de la Barre:

suzanne.delabarre@viu.ca or Dr. Patrick Brouder:

pbrouder@brocku.ca

Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit 2017

14–16 November 2017 in Rovaniemi, Finland

The Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit conference will continue the

successful forum initiated 2013 in the spirit of the Rovaniemi

process with continuation on 2015. The first conferences -

under the name “In the Spirit of the Rovaniemi Process” -

have gathered a number of policymakers, academia repre-

sentatives and other stakeholders for Arctic discussions. The

new name "Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit" underlines that these

conferences are not looking to the past but they are building

for the future while remembering the original Arctic spirit of

Rovaniemi.

Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit 2017 provides the most important

Arctic forum in Finland 2017, at the beginning of the Finnish

chairmanship of the Arctic Council. It is also held only a few

weeks before Finland celebrates its 100 years of indepen-

dence.

The conference is organized by the City of Rovaniemi, the

University of Lapland and its Arctic Centre together with the

Arctic Society of Finland.

The preliminary program and online registration will be avai-

lable in May 2017.

The Rovaniemi Arctic Spirit Conference is integrated with

the Polar Law Symposium.

For more information visit conference website

6

Upcoming conferences and workshops continued

Polar Prediction Workshop 2017

27-30 March 2017, Bremerhaven, Germany

The Polar Climate Predictability Initiative

(WCRP-PCPI), the Polar Prediction Project

(WWRP-PPP), the Sea Ice Prediction Network

(SIPN), and the Sea Ice Model Intercompari-

son Project (SIMIP) are pleased to welcome

participants to the 4th Polar Prediction Work-

shop, being held at Deutsches Schiffahrtsmu-

seum (http://www.dsm.museum/) in Bremer-

haven, Germany from 27th to 30th March 2017. Please find the 2nd announcement here.

The International Coordination Office for Polar Prediction, based at the Alfred Wegener Insti-

tute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, is hosting the meeting that builds on a

series of international workshops held in Boulder, USA (2014), Reading, UK (2015), and Pali-

sades, USA (2016). As in previous years, the focus will be on environmental prediction in the

polar regions on subseasonal to interannual timescales, thereby helping to build a

"seamless“ polar prediction community. Sea ice prediction will again play a central role, with

one desired outcome being the compilation of recommendations for the 2017 Sea Ice Out-

look season. With regards to the Year of Polar Prediction, which will be officially launched in

May 2017, the workshop also aims to stimulate discussion about other relevant predictands

of the polar weather and climate system.

The workshop will start in the morning of Monday, March 27th with the Alfred Wegener

Lecture given by Cecilia Bitz (Atmospheric Science Department, University of Washington).

From Monday noon to Wednesday noon, oral and poster presentation sessions as well as

discussion sessions will cover different aspects of polar prediction, such as Arctic and Antarc-

tic

• predictability,

• modelling, data assimilation, and forecasting,

• observations,

• verification, and

• user needs.

The last day of the workshop (Wednesday noon to Thursday noon) is devoted to discussions

about the sea ice simulations from the upcoming CMIP6 experiments (SIMIP), with a focus

on new observational datasets for model evaluation and analysis plans. The Call for Ab-

stracts will be open from January 4th to 30th, 2017. More information on the workshop

including abstract submission procedures will be available at the official website soon.

For any questions, contact the International Coordination Office at

office@polarprediction.net

Workshop Organisers: Helge Goessling, Kirstin Werner, Cecilia Bitz, Ed Blanchard-

Wrigglesworth, Ed Hawkins, John Fyfe, Alexandra Jahn and Dirk Notz

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARCUM NEWSLETTER

Do You have information on, or

have attended courses, seminars

or conferences You wish to share

with other Arcum affiliated re-

searchers? Please contact

Gabriella Nordin.

7

Upcoming conferences and workshops continued

European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2017

The General Assembly 2017 of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) is held at the Austria

Center Vienna (ACV) in Vienna, Austria, from 23–28 April 2017.

The EGU General Assembly 2017 will bring together geoscientists from all over the world to

one meeting covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary and space sciences. The EGU

aims to provide a forum where scientists, especially early career researchers, can present

their work and discuss their ideas with experts in all fields of geoscience. The assembly is

open to the scientists of all nations.

Abstract submission deadline: 11 January 2017.

Abstract submission

Early registration deadline: 16 March 2017.

For more information please visit conference website

General contact on general information, registration & submission of abstracts:

Copernicus Meetings

Bahnhofsallee 1e

37081 Göttingen

Germany

Phone +49 551 90 03 39 20

Fax +49 551 90 03 39 70

egu2017@copernicus.org

New publications

Title: Imagining the Supernatural North

Publication date: October 2016

Features: 3 B&W photographs, bibliography, notes, index

Keywords: The North / Folklore & Mythology

Pages: 352

Publisher(s): The University of Alberta Press

ISBN: 978-1-77212-267-1

In this interdisciplinary collection, sixteen scholars from twelve countries explore the no-

tion of the North as a realm of the supernatural. This region has long been associated with

sorcerous inhabitants, mythical tribes, metaphysical forces of good and evil, and a range of

supernatural qualities. It was both the sacred abode of the gods and a feared source of

menacing invaders and otherworldly beings. Whether from the perspective of traditional

Jewish lore or of contemporary black metal music, few motifs in European cultural history

show such longevity and broad appeal.

Contributors: Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough, Angela Byrne, Danielle Marie Cudmore, Stef-

an Donecker, Brenda S. Gardenour Walter, Silvije Habulinec, Erica Hill, Jay Johnston, Maria

Kasyanova, Jan Leichsenring, Shane McCorristine, Jennifer E. Michaels, Ya’acov Sarig, Ru-

dolf Simek, Athanasios Votsis, Brian Walter.

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARCUM NEWSLETTER

Do You have information on, or

have attended courses, seminars

or conferences You wish to share

with other Arcum affiliated re-

searchers? Please contact

Gabriella Nordin.

8

New publications continued

Title: Arctic Resilience Report 2016

Author: Arctic Council

Editors: Carson, M. & Peterson, G.

Year: 2016

Full report can be found in PDF here

The Arctic region is changing rapidly, in ways that could

dramatically affect people’s lives and ecosystems. Climate

change is a major concern, but rapid economic develop-

ment and social transformation could also make significant

impacts.

Some changes may be gradual, but there may also be large

and sudden shifts. For those charged with managing natu-

ral resources and public policy in the region, it is crucial to

identify potential thresholds to prepare effectively for an

uncertain future.

The Arctic Resilience Report is a science-based assessment

that aims to better understand the integrated impacts of

change in the Arctic. Its goals are to:

• Identify the potential for shocks and large shifts in eco-

systems services that affect human well-being in the Arc-

tic.

• Analyze how different drivers of change interact in ways

that affect the ability of ecosystems and human popula-

tions to withstand shocks, adapt or transform.

• Evaluate strategies for governments and communities to

adapt.

The Arctic Resilience Report is led by the Stockholm Envi-

ronment Institute and the Stockholm Resilience Centre

and engages experts from across the Arctic.

9

New publications continued

Title: DANSKER - LUK DØREN FORSIGTIGT EFTER DIG!

Author: Gorm Winther

Year: 9 december 2016

Pages: 384

ISBN: 978-87-7190-134-4

Bagsidetekst

Bogen indeholder et sammendrag af klummer og artikler

vedrørende politik, økonomi og samfund i Grønland. Ud

over artikler om privatiseringsbølgen har artikelsamlingen

andre facetter. Nogle af artiklerne ser kritisk på

erhvervsskandaler i Grønland.

Artiklerne er præget af forholdene på det grønlandske

universitet, Ilisimatusarfik, og af den arktiske forskning. De

kollegiale kampe på universitetet er, på trods af at det er

et lille universitet, akkurat lige så hårde, om ikke mere

hårde, som på danske universiteter. Bogen fokuserer især

på demokrati, magt og kolonialistiske og formynderiske

holdninger. Den slags skinner i lige så høj grad igennem på

universitetet som i det omkringliggende samfund.

En forsker har som andre en politisk holdning, og det

ville være naivt at hævde, at samfundsforskning er objek-

tiv. Bogen her er en debatbog præget af forfatterens hold-

ninger og den viden, han har opbygget om det grøn-

landske samfund over 30 år.

Uddrag af bogen

At de mange bureaukratspirer tærer på bloktilskuddet, er

ikke det eneste problem; deres velmenende ’bedreviden’

og formynderiske behandling af de ’stakkels vilde’ i Grøn-

land er til tider næsten kvalmende. Om noget kan vi her se

de hæslige konturer af Rudyard Kiplings billede af ’den

hvide mands byrde’. Formynderi kaldes paternalisme. I det

her tilfælde ytrer den sig på flere måder. Enten den

nævnte bedreviden, der utilsigtet puffer den oprindelige

befolkning i Grønland, inuitterne, ind i en offerrolle. Eller

også som den patologiske omklamring af de ’ædle vilde’,

der er nogle stakler, hvis de da ikke tilskrives nærmest

guddommelige egenskaber hinsides al menneskelig natur.

Om forfatteren

Gorm Winther har været professor ved Aalborg og Grøn-

lands Universiteter 1999-2010. Professor i forbindelse med

det internationale polarår 2007-09. Tilknyttet Grønland-

sprojektet ved Aalborg Universitetscenter 1983-88. For-

skningsophold ved Cornell-universitetet i New York. Ær-

esmedlem og bestyrelsesmedlem af European Federation

of Employee Share Ownership. Forfatter til bøger og arti-

kler om arktiske samfundsforhold.

Arcum

Arcum - Arctic Research Centre

at Umeå University

SE - 901 87 Umeå

Visiting address:

Norra Beteendevetarhuset,

Humanioragränd, 3 floor

www.arcum.umu.se

Twitter: arcum_umu, #arcum

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/arcumea

If you want a post on the Arcum Facebook page or an Arcum-tweet on a

new publication or an up-coming event send an e-mail to Lars at

lars.oberg@umu.se or Linus at linus.lundström@umu.se.

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