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 Today's Congressional Action:
The House is expected to consider the Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act. The bill contains provisions to allow for the importation of certain polar bear trophies and to foster opportunities for hunting and fishing on public lands. The Senate is not in session due to a Democratic issues conference and the Republican retreat.
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Hundreds of Scientists Sign Letter Urging EPA to Act Against Pebble. A group of 360 scientists, researchers and university professors signed a letter hand-delivered Tuesday that urges the Environmental Protection Agency to protect Bristol Bay from the proposed Pebble mine. The letter was given to Dennis McLerran, the Seattle-based administrator of EPA's region 10, before his morning talk at an environmental conference in Anchorage. Anchorage Daily News
 Murkowski Gets Answers She Wants on Arctic Energy. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she has been reassured the Interior Department will provide clear regulations for arctic oil and gas exploration. Murkowski, R-Alaska, quizzed Janice Schneider, the nominee for assistant secretary for land and minerals management at the Interior Department, on arctic exploration. UPI
Belfast Scientist and Explorer Awarded Polar Medal. The Queen has awarded the Polar Medal to a retired Belfast scientist and explorer for his pioneering work in Greenland and the Canadian Arctic. Dr. Philip Gribbon, 84, who was educated at Campbell College and Queen's University, is believed to be the first from these shores to win the prestigious award for exploration in the Arctic. Now living in St. Andrews, where he was a physics lecturer at the university, he led six student expeditions to Greenland, climbing over 60 of its highest mountains, most of them first ascents. News Letter
 'Science and the Climate.' As part of the 30th annual Political Studies Students' Conference (PSSC), on Jan. 30 a panel of scientists gave a lecture titled "Science and Climate Change" on issues facing our warming Arctic ecosystems. University of Manitoba professors C. J. Mundy, Gary Stern, Gordon Giesbrecht, and PhD candidate Emily Choy each provided brief presentations in University College structured around their areas of expertise as related to climate science and the Arctic. The Manitoban
Arctic Cod Inspire New Way to Help Hospitals Keep Blood on Ice. Antifreeze proteins from fish living in icy seas have inspired a new way to freeze blood which could one day increase the precious stocks available for medical procedures. University of Warwick researchers have found a new application for a common polymer which allows blood cells to better survive being stored at freezing temperatures. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications. Polyvinyl alcohol - which mimics antifreeze properties found in cold-acclimatised fish like arctic cod - works by inhibiting the growth of ice crystals during thawing which would otherwise damage the blood cells and make them unusable in medical settings. Phys.Org
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Legislative Action
No Arctic legislation was formally considered yesterday.
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Future Events
The Arctic Encounter Symposium, February 7-8, 2014 (Seattle, Washington). The goal of the Arctic Encounter Symposium is to engage participants in a focused discussion, through a balanced forum, highlighting shared interests and concerns of the United States and the global community as we look north to the last emerging frontier - the Arctic. The Symposium will incorporate a diverse group of leaders and experts to debate how a rapidly changing Arctic will impact international law, domestic policy, business and commerce, the environment, and the people of the Far North. Speakers include policy makers, industry leaders, scientists, and academic experts. The two-day Symposium will take place at Seattle University School of Law with a dinner reception at the Seattle Aquarium on Pier 59. US Arctic Research commissioners Fran Ulmer and Edward Itta will be speaking.
Arctic Technology Conference, February 10-12, 2014 (Houston, TX). Founded in 1969, the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) provides offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production and environmental protection. The Arctic Technology Conference (ATC) is built upon OTC's successful multidisciplinary approach, with 14 technical societies and organizations. The conference is an international event focused on continuing innovative technologies and solutions needed for exploration and production of energy within the circum-Arctic. Developing Alaska's Marine Workforce, February 14, 2014. (Anchorage, Alaska, USA). The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) hosts the luncheon. Discussion will focus on industry strategies for moving forward to secure Alaska's future needs for an educated and trained workforce are met. Feature presentations include a recap of NAMEPA's 2012 meeting, University of Alaska updates on the FSMI (Alaska's Fisheries, Seafood, Maritime Initiative) Workforce Development Plan and trends in education and training.
Arctic Ambitions, February 27-28, 2014 (Girdwood, Alaska). World Trade Center Alaska will host Arctic Ambitions III: Commercial Development of the Arctic. This conference focuses solely on Arctic international trade and business opportunities. It is anticipated that about 200 business and government leaders attending next year's conference.
Arctic Ambitions III will concentrate on the theme of international trade and business opportunities that flow from resource development in the Arctic. While policy and research inform the discussion, the conference focuses on global markets, international trade and logistics. The previous two conferences brought together presenters from Canada, Finland, Norway, Russia, Korea and Alaska. USARC Chair Fran Ulmer will be a speaker.
Arctic 2050, March 12, 2014 (Brussels, Belgium). The 4th European Marine Board Forum will bring together Arctic stakeholders from multiple sectors (science, industry, policy & governance, NGOs, etc.) to: discuss current trends and patterns of change in Arctic Ocean ecosystems, including human activity; identify possible "2050" scenarios for Arctic Change and the corresponding implications for human health and well-being; highlight key research gaps, needs and challenges in support of understanding, mitigating against, or adapting to Arctic change; stimulate dialogue across sectors to aid common understanding, collaborative actions and sustainability targets; promote a vision for a sustainable ecosystem-based management of the Arctic Ocean by 2050.
44th Annual International Arctic Workshop, March 14-16, 2014 (Boulder, CO). The Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research of the University of Colorado will host the workshop. This year's theme is "Arctic's New Normal." The workshop will consider shifting environmental baselines over decades to millennia and comparisons with the Antarctic. Previous workshops have included presentations on Arctic and Antarctic climate, atmospheric chemistry, environmental geochemistry, paleoenvironment, archeology, geomorphology, hydrology, glaciology, soils, ecology, oceanography, Quaternary history and more.
Association of American Geographers Polar Geography Sessions, April 8-12, 2014 (Tampa, Florida). Polar Geography Sessions are being planned in areas such as Sustainable Development in the Arctic, Urbanization and Transportation in the Arctic, etc. Contact Scott Stephenson (stephenson@ucla.edu) for more information, and see attached flyer.
Arctic Science Summit Week April 5-8, 2014 and Arctic Observing Summit, April 9-11 (Helsinki, Finland). ASSW is a gathering for Arctic research organizations. Any organization engaged in supporting and facilitating arctic research is welcome to participate. The ASSW meeting in 2014 will be arranged during April 5-8 in Helsinki Kumpula Campus, in the facilities of FMI and Physics Department of the University of Helsinki. Second circular here.
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