2023
February 15, 2023 | Washington, DC
Release of USARC’s 2023-2024 Goals Report
The US Arctic Research Commission will publicly release its “Report on the Goals and Objectives for Arctic Research 2023-2024” at the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute on February 15, 2023, starting at 1:00 pm ET. This biennial report, to the president and Congress, established national Arctic research priorities and recommendations. The event will include remarks from Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, and senior officials from the White House, the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, State Department, and from USARC commissioners and staff.
2022
October 25-26, 2022 | University of Alaska Fairbanks
115th USARC Meeting
The US Arctic Research Commission held its 115th meeting in person at the University of Alaska Fairbanks on October 25–26, 2022. Presentations, open to the public for viewing, convened at 8:30 am on October 25 with a public comment session from 11:30 am–noon on October 26.
> Agenda
April 6, 2022 | Anchorage, Alaska
114th USARC Meeting
The US Arctic Research Commission held its 114th meeting at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska on April 6, 2022.
> Meeting Video
> Agenda
April 5, 2022
President Biden Appoints Nikoosh Carlo to the USARC
“I look forward to working with the other Commissioners to help build a long-term, action-oriented vision for Arctic research that is driven by community priorities and supports a healthy environment and regenerative economy,” said Carlo.
2021
September 24, 2021
President Biden Appoints New USARC Chair and Commissioners
On September 24, 2021, President Biden appointed commissioners to the US Arctic Research Commission and designated a new chair. These appointments coincide with other Arctic-related actions announced by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
March 22, 2021
President Biden Designates David Kennedy as Chair of the USARC
“I’m honored to be entrusted by President Biden with the responsibility of leading the USARC, a small, but important independent commission focused on advancing US Arctic research interests for the benefit of the nation,” said Kennedy.
February 3, 2021
Tracing the Pandemic Through Wastewater Workshop Presentations Now Online
View presentations from this virtual workshop focused on using sewage monitoring to investigare infectious disease. The workshop featured guest speakers and panelists from Alaska and around the world.
January 25, 2021
Alaska Electric Vehicle Workshop Report Available!
Report of a virtual workshop held to bring together technical and academic experts and policymakers to share information, research findings, emerging research questions, and best practices relevant to electric vehicles in Alaska and the Arctic.
2020
November 18, 2020
Commissioner Larry Mayer elected fellow of the American Geophysical Union
Dr. Larry Mayer was among the 62 members of the 60,000-member American Geophysical Union (AGU) elected to the 2020 class of Fellows, scientists who have made considerable contributions to geological and geophysical research.
November 10, 2020
University of Alaska Arctic Research Director appointed to the USARC
On November 10, 2020, President Donald J. Trump appointed Maj. Gen. Randy “Church” Kee, USAF (ret), to the USARC. “I…look forward to supporting the important work of the Commission in advising the President and the Congress on the Arctic Research enterprise,” said Kee.
August 14, 2020
President Trump appoints Jon Harrison as Chairman of the USARC
“It is an enormous privilege to lead the US Arctic Research Commission,” said Harrison. “At a time of profound change in the world’s most critical but least understood region, the importance of research, exploration, and cooperation could not be greater.”
August 14, 2020
Legal expert appointed to the US Arctic Research Commission
On August 14, 2020, President Donald J. Trump appointed Michael A. Newton to the USARC. “The Commission is an important aspect of an integrated national policy towards this vital region, and I am honored to contribute to this team and the people it serves,” said Newton.
May 29, 2020
Larry Hinzman named White House Assistant Director of Polar Sciences
As an OSTP Assistant Director, Hinzman will coordinate the broad national suite of research in the Arctic and Antarctic, and will serve as an information resource to the White House and Federal agencies.
May 25, 2020
COVID-19 Impacts in the Arctic
As if ongoing climate and environmental change in the Arctic wasn’t enough, along comes COVID-19, with new challenges to human life, Arctic communities, operations, economic prosperity, and scientific research.
2019
December 20, 2019
USARC Commissioner James McCarthy passed away on December 11, 2019
August 28, 2019 | Belfer Center Press Release
USARC Chair Fran Ulmer named Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
May 8, 2019
USARC’s 2019-2020 Goals Report recommends Arctic research on five topics (172 KB pdf)
April 9, 2019
Alaska Governor Dunleavy designates Ben Stevens as his representative to the USARC (49 KB pdf)
2018
October 23, 2018
Ministers from 25 nations gather in Berlin to discuss Arctic science (108 KB pdf)
May 23, 2018
New “Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation” goes into effect today (245 KB pdf)
January 18, 2018
Mental and Behavioral Health Workforce Capacity Needs Worskhop
2017
2016
December 15, 2016
2017–18 USARC report highlights progress in Arctic research & makes new recommendations (71 KB pdf)
August 8, 2016
Jacqueline Richter-Menge appointed to the US Arctic Research Commission (78 KB pdf)
May 25, 2016
Larry Mayer appointed to the US Arctic Research Commission (75 KB pdf)
February 19, 2016 | The White House Release
Alaskan David Benton reappointed to US Arctic Research Commission
2015
December 17, 2015
Alaskan Marie Greene appointed to US Arctic Research Commission (83 KB pdf)
May 15, 2015
US Arctic Research Commission names top Arctic research goals (67 KB pdf)
May 15, 2015
Obama reappoints Fran Ulmer as Chair of the USARC (75 KB pdf)
May 4, 2015
BBC World News Interview of USARC Executive Director John Farrell (16.3 MB mp4 video)
April 17, 2015
Editorial: One Arctic (104 KB pdf)
January 21, 2015
Obama’s Executive Order calls for federal coordination and consultation for the Arctic region (47 KB pdf)
2014
July 16, 2014
Fran Ulmer named special advisor to State Department on Arctic science and policy (34 KB pdf)
April 28, 2014
USARC lauds the release of two NRC Arctic reports on oil spills and emerging issues (66 KB pdf)
2013
December 12, 2013
2013 Arctic Report Card released today at AGU Fall Meeting (61 KB pdf)
November 22, 2013
Alaska’s rural water and sanitation conundrum
November 22, 2013
Field hearing of the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee on Health, Viability, and Rural Food Security (104 KB pdf)
September 17, 2013
5th Symposium on the Impacts of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic on Naval and Maritime Operations (72 KB pdf)
September 12, 2013 | The Bristol Bay Times
Research Commission to meet in Unalaska
May 16, 2013
Pete reappointed to US Arctic Research Commission (72 KB pdf)
March 20, 2013
US Arctic Research Commission identifies top priorities for a changing Arctic (82 KB pdf)
2012
December 19, 2012
Canadian Polar Commission and US Arctic Research Commission participate in the US-Canada Northern Oil and Gas Research Forum (545 KB pdf)
November 27, 2012
Two new appointees to US Arctic Research Commission (550 KB pdf)
November 13, 2012
Federal commission releases report on Arctic oil spill research (41 KB pdf)
June 18, 2012
Fisheries expert David Benton appointed to US Arctic Research Commission (68 KB pdf)
May 7, 2012
US and Canadian Arctic Commissions establish collaborative path forward (75 KB pdf)
April 3, 2012
Alaska’s Sovereignty in Peril: The National Ocean Policy’s Goal to Federalize Alaska (67 KB pdf)
April 2, 2012
Commission emphasizes value of Arctic actions in national ocean policy (84 KB pdf)
February 27, 2012
USARC 2011–12 Goals Report highlights recommendations for Arctic research (64 KB pdf)
February 8, 2012
USARC supports Arctic oil spill response management tool (49 KB pdf)
2011
November 21, 2011
Ulmer promotes Arctic research policy
September 12, 2011
US Arctic Research Policy
July 28, 2011
Defending U.S. Economic Interests in the Changing Arctic: Is There a Strategy? (67 KB pdf)
April 14, 2011
What does the National Ocean Policy mean for the Arctic region? (72 KB pdf)
March 10, 2011
President Obama appoints Fran Ulmer Chair of the US Arctic Research Commission (80 KB pdf)
2010
August 18, 2010
Mary Pete to testify on subsistence lifestyle before Senate Commerce Committee (38 KB pdf)
August 17, 2010
Virgil Sharpton named Acting Chairman of the US Arctic Research Commission (37 KB pdf)
July 22, 2010
Obama reassigns responsibilities for Arctic Research to a White House council (61 KB pdf)
61July 16, 2010
Mary Ciuniq Pete appointed to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission (72 KB pdf)
July 15, 2010
Science plan released for the Navy’s submarine Arctic science program (58 KB pdf)
March 25, 2010
Youth suicide in the Arctic (99 KB pdf)
March 1, 2010
USARC presses for greater scientific and technical research on oil spills (57 KB pdf)
January 11, 2010
Coming Challenges of the Arctic Region
Presentation by Mead Treadwell at the Naples Council on World Affairs on January 11, 2010
56 MB pdf | 54 MB PowerPoint file
Presentation by Mead Treadwell at the Naples Community School on January 11, 2010
49 MB pdf | 39 MB PowerPoint file
2009
December 2, 2009
Cheryl Rosa appointed Deputy Director of U.S. Arctic Research Commission (48 KB pdf)
October 22, 2009
An Accessible Arctic Ocean (60 KB pdf)
October 21, 2009
Coastal communities and subsistence use (60 KB pdf)
October 19, 2009
Arctic Fisheries: Five Things We Should Commit to Now (60 KB pdf)
September 29, 2009 | Science
Science lags on saving the Arctic from oil spills
August 20, 2009
USARC calls for Arctic oil spill research program as shipping lanes move north (84 KB pdf)
August 20, 2009
US Strategic Interests in the Age of an Accessible Arctic…What We Need to Know and Do Now (60 KB pdf)
January 9, 2009
National Security Presidential Directive and Homeland Security Presidential Directive (151 KB pdf)
January 9, 2009
President Bush signs Arctic policy that emphasizes scientific research and international cooperation (59 KB pdf)
2008
July 25, 2008
New USARC Commissioners’ expertise broadens agency’s reach (48 KB pdf)
July 16, 2008
Is America Prepared For An Accessible Arctic? (80 KB pdf)
> Icebreaker Support (102 KB pdf)
> Letter to President (60 KB pdf)