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EPB at the Arctic Science Summit Week 2023 in Vienna

The Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) is organised annually by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) to provide opportunities for coordination, cooperation and collaboration between the various scientific organizations involved in Arctic research. It was initiated by the IASC in 1999 and has evolved into the most important annual gathering of the Arctic research organization.

This year's ASSW was held in Vienna, Austria from 17 - 24 February 2023. Austria has been an IASC member country since 2014, and 2023 is a very special year for polar research in Austria - it is the 150th anniversary of the Austro-Hungarian expedition to Franz Josef Land.

ASSW in Vienna inlcuded Business and Community Meetings, Science Symposium Sessions and Exhibitions. The EPB Secretariat attended meetings and sessions throughout the entire conference and contributed to the following events:

  • “European Coordination of Polar Research” Meeting (18 February) co-organised by the EPB, EU-PolarNet 2 and BAS as co-coordinators of the EU Polar Cluster.
     
  • "INTERACTTransnational, Remote and Virtual Access: The past, the present and the future" (20 February) – panel discussion with by the EPB’s Executive Secretary R Badhe.
     
  • “EU-PolarNet 2: advancing European Polar research strategies” (21 February) organized by the EU-PolarNet 2 and chaired by the EPB’s Executive Secretary R Badhe on behalf of the EPB’s chair, N Biebow.
     
  • “Polar Research Communications Meeting” (21 February) organised by the EPB as co-coordinators of the EU Polar Cluster. Find the output from the meeting, "Best Practice Recommendations for Polar Research Communications", in the Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS): https://repository.oceanbestpractices.org/handle/11329/2231
     
  • Informal get-together of EPB Representatives and Alternate Representatives attending ASSW (23 February) organised by the EPB.
     
  • The EPB's upcoming "Synthesis Report on Environmental Impacts of Polar Research in the Polar Regions" was introduced by the EPB’s Project Officer, P Elshout, at several meetings / sessions:
    - Forum of Arctic Research Operators (FARO) Annual Meeting (17 February);
    - Carbon footprint and Environmental Impact Reduction Workshop (20 February);
    - "Building a path through the new Arctic in the age of melt-down, plastic litter and social media" Session (21 February).
     
  • Polardex, an online platform for polar infrastructure, logistics discovery, & planning developed by the EPB and partners was presented by EPB's Policy Officer, G Couser, at "Observing the Arctic" session (23 February).

Many thanks to the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) for organising & the Austrian Polar Research Institute (APRI) for hosting this successful conference. A huge thank to the Student Organising Committee of the University of Vienna for supporting us throughout these intense 8 days!