25 March 2025 | 16:00 - 18:00 (MDT)
Open Session - HYBRID
Room: UMC Second Floor - 247
Organisers: Hyoung Chul Shin (Korea Polar Research Institute, Republic of Korea); Matthew Druckenmiller (University of Colorado Boulder, USA)
Zoom link to the Open Session (password-protected)
The password needed to connect to the session will be distributed the day prior to the start of the sessions to all registered conference participants. Further guidelines on how to participate virtually in the ASSW 2025 can be found on the ASSW 2025 website.
Session Description:
Last decade has seen far greater attention paid to the Arctic than ever before in the history. This has to do with the melt down of the Arctic and thus enhanced accessibility, which led to possible and actual engagement of stakeholders outside the Arctic. Observers’ research capacities especially from Asia are significant, apart from the enthusiasm that is also partly fueled by potential economic opportunities. The notion that science should form the basis both for environmental conservation and sustainable development is apparent in documented Arctic policies of Asian observer states, and this is evidenced by scientific investments and commitments. It will be remiss not to utilize these capabilities that can help to better understand the unprecedented high pace changes in the Arctic impacting the whole globe. Mapping Asian research capacities in spatial domains and by disciplines is warranted and will aid the analysis of the knowledge gaps that can be filled, the societal benefits to be gained and decreased risks. This session will also reflect upon the best way of coordination and cooperation to achieve it and examine outstanding challenges associated and future tasks. Partnerships needed, also with local and Indigenous communities, will be one of the foci of the consideration with some suggestions forwarded.
Instructions for Speakers: Oral presentations in this session should be at most 10-minutes in length, with an additional 2-3 minutes for questions (unless more detailed instructions are provided by session conveners). See more detailed presenter instructions here.
Oral Presentations:
-
unfold_moreSAON Arctic ROADS as a potential pathway to help align Asian and Arctic visions and initiatives: A Japan - Alaska - Canada case study — Hajo Eicken
Hajo Eicken 1; Irene Alabia 2; Alice Bradley 3; Amane Fujiwara 4; Jun Inoue 5; Takashi Kikuchi 4; Emily Lescak 1; Maribeth Murray 6; Margaret Rudolf 1; Sandy Starkweather 7; Tetsuo Sueyoshi 5; Harmony Wayner 1
1 International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks; 2 Hokkaido University; 3 Williams College; 4 JAMSTEC; 5 National Institute of Polar Research; 6 Arctic Institute of North America, University of Calgary; 7 Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado BoulderFormat: Oral in-person
Abstract:
Environmental and socio-economic factors link the North Pacific Arctic to East Asia and Western North America. Themes in the Arctic policies of Asian countries, including the Republic of South Korea, Japan and China, are the importance of research in understanding and responding to the global impacts of Arctic change and marine living resources to food security in the Arctic and beyond, as well as collaboration with Indigenous Peoples. National initiatives between Asian and Arctic countries are shaped largely through treaty systems or international agreements, such as the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement, whose signatories include the aforementioned Asian countries, Arctic coastal states and European Union. We explore the potential of bottom-up, polycentric approaches to align shared visions of Asian and Arctic initiatives. The Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) Roadmap for Arctic Observing and Data Systems (Arctic ROADS) is well positioned to achieve greater equity and shared societal benefits from long-term observing activities. Focusing on Japan-U.S.-Canada collaboration, we explore the establishment of ROADS Expert Panels focused on salmon, harmful algal blooms, and, potentially, prediction of Arctic-driven extreme weather events, opportunities afforded by research vessel deployments, and identification of a shared SAON ROADS vision as means of aligning initiatives. Alignment between the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the SAON ROADS charter provides a foundation for such work. We point to the Arctic Observing Summit as a forum to develop, share and refine such visions.
-
unfold_moreArctic Rewind Clock Timer: global Impacts of Cryospheric changes (A.R.C.T.I.C.) — Emilia Kyung Jin
Emilia Kyung Jin 1
1 Korea Polar Research InstituteFormat: Oral in-person
Abstract:
The rapid acceleration of Arctic amplification is likely to lead to the disappearance of Arctic sea ice before 2050, despite reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. In anticipation of the fifth International Polar Year (IPY, 2032-33), we are planning a large-scale multinational joint research project. This initiative aims to establish a comprehensive multidisciplinary observation network at the North Pole to study changes within the Arctic cryosphere, particularly the ice-free zones in international waters. The project will focus on enhancing the predictive models for the timing of Arctic sea ice loss and developing scenarios for resultant shifts in marine ecosystems and the availability of fisheries resources. Furthermore, the project intends to devise strategies for sustainable Arctic exploration coupled with technologies for environmental monitoring and remediation, which are critical for fostering a clean Arctic recovery. This endeavor will not only enable the detection and diagnosis of ecosystem alterations driven by the melting processes and feedback mechanisms of Arctic sea ice but also bolster climate change resilience by integrating these insights into future food security planning. Ultimately, our research will support policymakers by providing rapid, adaptive decision-making tools that mitigate the impacts of climate change on the Arctic environment and ecosystems.
-
unfold_moreInternational Cooperation of China, Japan, and South Korea in the Arctic under Geopolitical Transformation — Jinjie Liu
Jinjie Liu 1
1 Liaoning University, ChinaFormat: Oral virtual
Abstract:
With the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the geopolitics of the Arctic has returned to the center of global attention. The strategic value of resource exploitation and navigation in the Arctic has further enhanced due to climate change and the geopolitical situation. However, international cooperation in the Arctic is facing an unprecedented crisis. As official observer states of the Arctic Council, China, Japan, and South Korea share a range of rights and interests in the Arctic, including scientific research, environmental protection, and navigational rights, and these three countries have considerable potential for cooperation in these areas. However, such cooperation has been limited and squeezed due to differences in national positions and policy directions. Through analyzing policy documents, sorting out cooperation agreements and reviewing relevant academic literature, this paper explores how China, Japan and South Korea can participate in Arctic affairs through international cooperation and optimize their cooperation modes and paths in the context of the current geopolitical transformation of the Arctic. This study finds that while the willingness of the three Northeast Asian countries to participate in Arctic activities has increased due to geopolitical conflicts, their motivation for cooperation has weakened and the risks of homogenized competition are on the rise. In view of the current geopolitical situation, the three Northeast Asian countries should prioritize cooperation in low-political areas, gradually transitioning from bilateral to multilateral cooperation, and resolve homogeneous competition through complementary advantages.
-
unfold_moreCross-regional Cooperation in Education oriented towards knowledge sharing and value creation in the Arctic：An Experience from China — Guangmiao Xu
Guangmiao Xu 1
1 East China Normal UniversityFormat: Oral virtual
Abstract:
This article tried to use a bottom-up perspective to share an educational cooperation experience between Universities from China and the Arctic countries while focusing on how the two sides promote Internationalization for knowledge sharing and value creation in the Arctic through educational cooperation.
The article concludes what makes cross-regional education cooperation so important, is the power of the young generation in the Arctic’ in the future. It is not only the power of young people who live in the Arctic but also young people outside the region, and how they view the development potential of the Arctic. In total, their understanding of each other and the region through interaction is shaping the future of cooperation between Asia and the Arctic. In this regard, educational cooperation might be a more people-oriented approach to contribute to mutual understanding and internationalization for value creation in the Arctic than any grand narratives of national or regional policy.
-
unfold_moreJapanese Perspective on International Cooperation in Arctic Research — Tetsuo Sueyoshi
Tetsuo Sueyoshi 1; Hiroyuki Enomoto 1; Yuji Kodama 2; Takashi Kikuchi 3; Jun Inoue 1
1 National Institute of Polar Research; 2 Hokkaido University; 3 Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and TechnologyFormat: Oral in-person
Abstract:
The accelerated temperature rise in the Arctic and its broader impacts on the Arctic environment and human society are becoming increasingly evident. It is often said that "what happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic", but this can be difficult to realize when you live in the Arctic. It is strongly felt in non-Arctic mid-latitude Asian countries, where monsoon modulations and strong cold air in winter have led to frequent extreme weather events not seen before.
Some Asian countries, including Japan, have actively promoted Arctic research and cooperated internationally through research and observation activities, including long-term observations on land and in the ocean, studies using numerical simulations, and cooperation with local communities. These research and observations have the same scientific goals as those carried out by researchers from Arctic countries, while the research programs of Asian countries are sometimes driven by different social demands and motivations.
This presentation aims to highlight these differences, using Japan's Arctic research as an example of a non-Arctic state. We present the background of Japan's Arctic research, i.e. the needs of Japanese society, the direct benefits of research and its evaluation, using Japan's Arctic research as a concrete example, as well as the positioning of Arctic research goals and social contribution activities promoted as a national project.
-
unfold_moreTaiwan Polar Institute: Engaging a new community for inclusive and sustainable Arctic studies — Whyjay Zheng
Whyjay Zheng 1; Chuen-Fa Ni 2; Slawomir Jack Giletycz 3; Hwa Chien 4
1 Taiwan Polar Institute, National Central University, Taiwan, Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research, National Central University, Taiwan; 2 Taiwan Polar Institute, National Central University, Taiwan, Graduate Institute of Applied Geology, National Central University, Taiwan; 3 Taiwan Polar Institute, National Central University, Taiwan, Department of Earth Sciences, National Central University, Taiwan; 4 Taiwan Polar Institute, National Central University, Taiwan, Graduate Institute of Hydrological and Oceanic Sciences, National Central University, TaiwanFormat: Oral in-person
Abstract:
Extreme warming climate in the Arctic has become an urgent issue for human development. Yet, the global community still falls behind in understanding, predicting, and mitigating the forthcoming challenges. As such, the Taiwan Polar Institute (TaiPI) was founded in 2023 with a vision that a more inclusive research community expedites polar research in many aspects. As the first academic institution in Taiwan with a theme of polar studies, TaiPI has received support from both the public and private sectors within the past year with a grant proposal focusing on the fieldwork in Svalbard. It is thus evident that the Asian communities, most of which are not in the Arctic Council, are greatly interested in participating in Arctic research with a scope of sustainable development. TaiPI has been dedicated to creating a fully inclusive research environment since its first day. We collaborate with international and local communities (Svalbard for now) to ensure stakeholders, such as local authorities and scientists, can quickly reuse our contributions. In addition to direct collaboration, we launched an initiative in an open data repository, which will serve as a gateway for the scientific community and the general public to access our research output. TaiPI, for its first decade (which aligns with the timing of the 5th International Polar Year), will continue to engage people in Taiwan for maximum investment potential for the Arctic and polar research, as well as seek international and intergovernmental relationships in a diplomatic way to be outlined during the ICARP IV Summit.
-
unfold_moreEnhancing and enriching Arctic research to meet the Arctic needs and to deliver benefits beyond the Arctic: Asian initiatives and contribution — Hyoung Chul Shin
Hyoung Chul Shin 1
1 Korea Polar Research InstituteFormat: Oral in-person
Abstract:
Much greater attention recently paid to the Arctic changes is connected to the melt down of the Arctic. This enhanced accessibility, as a matter of natural course, led to possible and actual engagement of stakeholders outside the Arctic. Asian observers’ capacities, especially from science communities are substantial, apart from the interests in economic opportunities. It will be in everyone’s interest to appropriately utilize these capabilities that can help to better understand the unprecedented high pace changes in the Arctic impacting the whole planet. The foci in our presentation will be mostly two folds. We will attempt to map Asian research capacities in spatial domains and by disciplines with a view to an analysis of the knowledge gaps that can be filled. Specific proposals will be forwarded, which will have Pacific Arctic inclination with the upcoming IPY campaign in consideration. Second proposition will concern the best way of coordination and cooperation among Asian countries and also with Arctic states. It will also include the collaboration with local and Indigenous communities. In addition, mechanisms and processes to achieve this will be discussed, utilizing the already available schemes without having to reinvent the wheels.
Poster Presentations (during Poster Exhibit and Session on Wednesday 26 March):
-
unfold_moreArctic Leadership in Integrated Polar Studies with Asian Collaborations: Potentials and Risks — Suprita Suman
Suprita Suman 1
1 Pataliputra UniversityFormat: Poster in-person
Poster number: 386
Abstract:
Undoubtedly the Arctic Region has been more explored and exposed for the scientific research, international connectivity with most developed region of the world. Arctic is being regarded as a powerful influencer of the climate weather pattern in the Third Pole. Simultaneously the Antica has been a major player in the monsoonal pattern and rainfall in the Indian Sub Continent. Asian continent is geographically blessed due to its gaint share in the Arctic and the Third Pole is exclusively an Asian Pole a major elevation where the geography meets climate at greater heights, uniquely connect to the Arctic by land and maintain a long ang continous ocean link with the Antarctica. This connectivity needed to explored with a good collaboration. Now days with the increasing Asian power's interests in the Arctic Region can be regarded as a good opportunity to understand and unfold the script of mysterious geographies. Thd rising Asian influences in Arctic Region including the Arctic Ocean Affairs can offer a moderate opportunity for data sharing about the Third Pole which is really crucial to study the climate change and predicting the future . The Arctic Ocean Research must extend it's climatic scenario in an integrated manner rather keeping it's isolated. A multi pronged study with can hoe rest of the world is contributin̈g the Arctic climate change is critical and due a diverse geography, climate, elevation and the Asian collaboration can make climatic study more inclusive and feasible and to avoid political glitches with strong collaborative studies.
-
unfold_moreArctic Science Diplomacy and the Non-Arctic States: Opportunities and Challenges — Ebru Caymaz
Ebru Caymaz 1
1 Canakkale Onsekiz Mart UniversityFormat: Poster virtual
Poster number: 143
Abstract:
The significance of polar research is a multi-dimensional issue encompassed by conflicting perspectives since the nexus between politics and science is also complex. While environmental emergencies related to carbon emission, the expansion of maritime activities, and rapid melting have evoked resilience concerns in the polar regions, the resilience of Arctic science diplomacy has become more essential than ever due to the recent geopolitical tensions. Herein, the growing presence of non-Arctic states may assist in restoring constructive relationships in the Arctic through their mediatorship roles. Therefore, by focusing on the Turkish case, this study aims to present the future projections of Arctic science diplomacy from the perspective of non-Arctic states.