Arctic Palaeoclimate and its Extremes (APEX)

APEX is a network research programme aiming to understand Arctic climatic changes beyond instrumental records. Our particular emphasis is to focus on the magnitude/frequency of the climate variability and, in particular, the "extremes" versus the “normal” conditions of the climate system. It is an interdisciplinary programme that integrates marine and terrestrial science and utilises modelling and field observations. APEX involves scientists from 15 European countries, Canada and USA and is one of the coordinating programmes for palaeoclimate research during the International Polar Year (IPY) http://www.ipy.org/ 2007/2008. APEX is endorsed by IASC http://www.iasc.se/

For more information about APEX, please visit: http://www.apex.geo.su.se/

Human Dimensions of Arctic Environments: A Multilingual Web Resource

This IASC supported project is led by the Stefansson Arctic Institute in Akureyri, Iceland, (www.svs.is) with the goal of developing the Human Dimensions of Arctic Environments - A Multilingual Web Resource. The web resource aims at disseminating information on Arctic cultures and environments moving beyond the image of the Arctic as a frozen wasteland and wilderness without people. The new web resource, built on the existing webpage, www.thearctic.is, will provide a venue for scientific collaboration, communication and dissemination, seeking to enhance understanding of key human dimensions of Arctic social and ecological systems.

For more information about the project, please contact: Níls Einarsson, Stefansson Arctic Institute, ne@unak.is

Polar Archaeology Network (PAN)

The Polar Archaeology Network (PAN), encompassing Arctic, Subarctic, and Subantarctic archaeology, is a forum to meet the need for addressing scientific issues, research policies, education, public outreach, cultural heritage and other questions relating to archaeology and early history of the Arctic and Antarctic. Goals of the PAN are:

to strengthen continuity and development of archaeological research, education and public outreach in the polar regions of the world
to further and strengthen international contacts and collaboration among and between scientific environments and researchers from the North and the South dealing with polar archaeology
to communicate archaeological research to the wider community of polar researchers
to promote dialogue and collaboration between researchers and the public
to encourage interdisciplinary approaches to and circumpolar and global perspectives on polar prehistory and early history
to facilitate development of new methodological and theoretical directions
to enhance awareness of research on cultural resource management and the protection of sites and monuments in the Arctic and Antarctic
to encourage and promote the involvement of local communities in the development and the conduct of archaeological projects

For more information about the network, please contact: Hans Peter Blankholm, University of Tromsø, Norway, Hans.Petter.Blankholm@sv.uit.no