Arcticportal News

(Photo: INTERACT) Khibibny station during the winter Register to the on-line application system already now, and apply INTERACT Transnational Access to conduct research at the coolest places of the North!

The INTERACT project under EU FP7 has a Transnational Access program that offers access to 20 research stations in the northernmost Europe and Russian Federation. The sites represent a variety of glacier, mountain, tundra, boreal forest, peatland and freshwater ecosystems, providing opportunities for researchers from natural sciences to human dimension.

Transnational Access includes:

Free access for user groups/users to research facilities and field sites, including support for travel and logistic costs

Free access to information and data in the public domain held at the infrastructures

The call for proposals will be open at the INTERACT website on 1st August – 30th September 2013 for Transnational Access visits taking place between October 2013 and October 2014.

Transnational Access is available to user groups, where the group leader and majority of group members work in an institution established in a EU Member State or Associated State. The maximum amount of access per user group is 90 person-days, including previously granted INTERACT Transnational Access.

You can find the eligibility rules and application instructions, stations available for Transnational Access, descriptions of stations and their facilities, and registration to the on-line application system from the INTERACT website.

For additional information, visit the INTERACT website or contact WP4 coordinator Hannele Savela, hannele.savela(at)oulu.fi, or WP4 leader Kirsi Latola, kirsi.latola(at)oulu.fi

(Photo: Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network) University of Akureyri, IcelandToday, 7th of May the representatives from newly established Icelandic – Arctic Chamber of Commerce: Haraldur Ingi Birgisson and Ragnar Þorvarðarson will be present at the University of Akureyri in order to discuss important Arctic – related matters.

The representatives will establish network connection with Arctic – related organizations from northern part of Iceland in order to better fulfil the role of newly established Icelandic – Arctic Chamber of Commerce.

A Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of an Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce (IACC) was signed Wednesday, 24 April, by the Icelandic Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network and the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The establishment of the IACC presents a milestone in the implementation of Iceland's Arctic Policy, the goal of the present project being to develop and strengthen economic cooperation within the Arctic region, endeavoring to secure Icelandic competitiveness with regard to business opportunities emerging with increased economic activity in the Arctic.

The Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce will operate similarly to bilateral Chambers of Commerce already active under ICC's wing, creating a platform for connections between enterprises and companies all over Iceland, stakeholders in the increased economic activities in the Arctic region, as well as serving as an information center for arctic issues.

The IACC will furthermore work closely with Icelandic authorities, Universities and research forums as well as other interested parties, to encourage lucrative, yet responsible harnessing of business opportunities in the Arctic, for the long term benefit of the Icelandic economy as well as for the Icelandic society in general.

The present initiative creates an important venue for cooperation between Icelandic businesses and parties specialized in Arctic affairs, and not least an international cooperation network. The Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce will be formally launched at a meeting mid-May, where a board of directors will be chosen to further the project.

(Photo: Getty Images)Before the weekend, the White House warned on imminent Arctic ice death spiral.

National security officials are worried by the rapid, progressive loss of the Arctic ice as it might cause permanent global food shortages.

Senior US government officials are to be briefed at the White House this week on the danger of an ice-free Arctic in the summer within two years.

The meeting is bringing together Nasa's acting chief scientist, Gale Allen, the director of the US National Science Foundation, Cora Marett, as well as representatives from the US Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon.

This is the latest indication that US officials are increasingly concerned about the international and domestic security implications of climate change.

Senior scientists advising the US government at the meeting include 10 Arctic specialists, including marine scientist Prof Carlos Duarte, director of the Oceans Institute at the University of Western Australia.

This time scientists and policy makers will work together to bring the solutions for not only the Arctic nations but also, the rest of the world that might be effected by the melt.

(Logo: University of the Arctic) The NVP-Nansen summer school 2013 "Shipping in Arctic Water: The interaction of sea ice, ship technology, climate change, economy and other operational conditions" will be organized in Longyearbyen on Svalbard from 18th to 25th August. Graduate & postgraduate students are invited to submit applications for participation by 31 May 2013.

Participation is based on individual applications from Ph.D. students and Post-docs in the fields of Arctic Climate, Arctic Resources, Maritime Transport and Geopolitics. Up to 30 graduate and post-graduate students from different countries and research topics will be selected based on an evaluation of their applications.

For more information, see the Summer School´s Website. Click here to download the program.

The application deadline is 31 May 3013. Applications should be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the subject: "Application summer school 2013". The selected candidates will be notified by mid-May.

(Photo: Getty Images)A Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of an Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce (IACC) was signed Wednesday, 24 April, by the Icelandic Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network and the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The establishment of the IACC presents a milestone in the implementation of Iceland's Arctic Policy, the goal of the present project being to develop and strengthen economic cooperation within the Arctic region, endeavoring to secure Icelandic competitiveness with regard to business opportunities emerging with increased economic activity in the Arctic.

The Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce will operate similarly to bilateral Chambers of Commerce already active under ICC's wing, creating a platform for connections between enterprises and companies all over Iceland, stakeholders in the increased economic activities in the Arctic region, as well as serving as an information center for arctic issues.

The IACC will furthermore work closely with Icelandic authorities, Universities and research forums as well as other interested parties, to encourage lucrative, yet responsible harnessing of business opportunities in the Arctic, for the long term benefit of the Icelandic economy as well as for the Icelandic society in general.

The present initiative creates an important venue for cooperation between Icelandic businesses and parties specialized in Arctic affairs, and not least an international cooperation network. The Icelandic-Arctic Chamber of Commerce will be formally launched at a meeting mid-May, where a board of directors will be chosen to further the project.