Arctic Frontiers are also happy to announce the science themes that will be explored at the 2026 conference. Seven science themes will be explored and serve as a knowledge base for the conference and span social sciences, natural sciences, management and ethics. Abstract submission will open on August 4th.

1. Monitoring, Modeling, and Mitigating the Consequences of Arctic Permafrost Change

Permafrost in the Arctic region is undergoing accelerating change under climate warming, with emerging impacts on methane emissions, Arctic ecosystems, infrastructure, and Indigenous communities. Understanding these processes is crucial for risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
This session invites research on monitoring and modeling Arctic permafrost dynamics, with a particular focus on recent advances in high-resolution simulations, ground-based observations, and empirical studies. Arctic Frontiers seek contributions that explore the mechanisms driving permafrost thaw, spatial variability in degradation patterns, and the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, from thawing permafrost.
Arctic Frontiers also encourage submissions investigating the cascading effects of permafrost change on infrastructure stability, ecosystem health, and socio-environmental vulnerability of Arctic communities. The session aims to foster dialogue on interdisciplinary approaches, integrating climate science, geotechnical analysis, and community-based research.
Contributions addressing policy-relevant insights and informing adaptation and mitigation efforts in polar regions are highly encouraged. By sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration, this session seeks to advance understanding of permafrost dynamics and support sustainable development pathways in the Arctic.

Session Committee:

2. Maritime Extremes: Communication, Uncertainty and Emerging Technologies

Maritime hazards are rapidly evolving in the Arctic, creating complex, cross-cutting challenges for operations, infrastructure, safety, and policy. This session will address the need to balance research, operations, and policy in a dynamic Arctic, meanwhile considering the rising role of transformative changes in research and society.  

Arctic Frontiers call for abstracts which include the following aspects:

  1. The importance of understanding various maritime hazard forecasting needs and requirements, while taking into account how we communicate uncertainty to inform safety and policy in maritime operations and activities.
  2. The use of AI in both modelling and communication, with a particular focus on how AI can be used in forecasting and/or responding to hazardous maritime events. This session seeks to highlight the benefits and challenges of building dependencies on new technologies, from both a scientific and societal perspective.
  3. The importance of public perception towards the changing Arctic and how that impacts Arctic policy-making. A special focus is placed on how the rise of disinformation in society impacts awareness and understanding of changes in the Arctic, and the potential impacts that has on Arctic policies and funding priorities.

Arctic Frontiers aim for interdisciplinary perspectives in this session. By bringing together scientists, operational service providers, policy-makers, maritime end-users and media representatives, we can better prepare for, effectively communicate about, and respond to Arctic maritime hazards.

Session Committee:

  • Dina Abdel-Fattah, Norwegian Meteorological Institute
  • Penny Wagner, Norwegian Meteorological Institute

3. High Tide for Arctic Preparedness

The Arctic faces a tidal wave of new challenges originating from accelerated climate change, reduced sea ice, the increased economic and commercial interest with increasing human presence, as well as the new geopolitical situation with increased international competition and reduced cooperation. The challenges call for new emergency planning that addresses increased uncertainty and contributes to building resilience and in societies, from the top of government policies to engaging the whole civil society.

Total preparedness and increased resilience in the Arctic must mobilize all parts of social economy, i.e. building knowledge across authorities, industry and the civil society, including peoples’ values and trust in societal functions, democracy and institutions.

This science session invites multidisciplinary contributions across social, cultural, economic, political, technological, legal and ethical aspects of total preparedness in the Arctic. Arctic Frontiers welcome abstracts on research focusing on:

  • Overall challenges related to risk assessment and the combined risks in the Arctic
  • Governance, management and administrative tools at local, regional and national levels
  • Ocean governance, maritime security, and hybrid threats
  • Reducing conflict at local levels and between different cultures
  • Emergency preparedness systems related to the interlinked climate extreme events, food and energy security, critical infrastructure, societal functions and health
  • Tackling disinformation and mistrust in science, knowledge and authorities
  • General literacy and preparedness to change within civil society

Session Leaders:

4. Governance and Policy for Sustainable Space Activities

The space sector has expanded across the Arctic and beyond over the last few decades. From Earth system observations to communications and security, space now plays a critical role in science, politics, and society. But who decides who gets access to outer space? And who bears responsibility for accidents or other problems? Space operations involve both commercial and public initiatives, with Arctic nations playing a prominent role. However, deteriorating geopolitical conditions are making international collaboration increasingly difficult, while the space arena remains dominated by a handful of actors. Could existing maritime and coastal governance frameworks be adapted to regulate this international and largely ungoverned domain?

This session explores the underexamined legal and political dimensions of space activities in the Arctic, emphasizing their interplay with maritime and coastal governance. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue on policy, regulation, and environmental monitoring, the session aims to strengthen our understanding of sustainable space development.

Arctic Frontiers welcome abstracts which focus on research and understanding of the following topics:

  1. Legal Frameworks – Examining the interplay between Arctic space operations and multilayered regulations, integrating diverse legal

  2. Space Politics – Assessing geopolitical interests and cooperation in the Arctic space

  3. Governance – Exploring the role of space technologies in Arctic socio-economic ecosystems, including local stakeholder

  4. Industrial Layer – Highlighting the critical role of space industry in implementing sustainable practices and how businesses should work closely with Indigenous and local Arctic communities to ensure local value chains and ripple effects from industry gains.

Abstracts are welcome from researchers, philosophers, lawyers, Indigenous knowledge holders, industry experts and political specialists. The objective of this session is to facilitate knowledge-sharing among researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to identify gaps in Arctic space governance and develop practical solutions.

Session Committee:

  • Florian Vidal, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway
  • Vito de Lucia, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway
  • Hervé Baudu, National Maritime College of France
  • Michael Byers, University of British Columbia & Outer Space Institute, Canada
  • Gunhild Hoogensen Gjørv, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway
  • Clémence Poirier, ETH Zürich

5. Ocean Observational Pyramid: From Seabed to Space Monitoring

The Arctic Ocean is one of the least observed yet rapidly changing regions on Earth. There is a critical lack of in situ observations—especially beneath sea ice and at the seafloor—which hinders our understanding of the earth system. This limitation also affects the development of reliable forecasting services essential for the growing Arctic maritime activity.

In the field of surveillance, satellite and remote sensing capabilities are starting to close the gap in in-situ observations.  New sensor-carrying platforms, sensor technologies, and artificial intelligence algorithms are reshaping how we collaborate and compete in the Arctic. The coupling between remote sensing observations and in-situ measurements can simultaneously increase the spatial coverage of observations and increase the accuracy of remote sensing data.

Dual use of technology is now being explored, whereby sensors and data can be used for both science and security purposes. The proposed session will explore how multiscale multisensory collaborative observations are poised to revolutionize how we interact with and how we safeguard the Arctic.

Arctic Frontiers specifically call for abstracts focusing on:

  • The next generation of observing systems, emphasizing autonomous, resilient and scalable technologies.
  • Novel sensor technologies and signal processing methods for remote sensing.
  • Arctic applications with use of ice-tethered profilers, under-ice floats, seabed observations, moored sensor arrays, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) and remotely operated vehicles (ROV).
  • Integration of in-situ observations with remote sensing data.
  • Assessment of data quality to enhance the accuracy of predictive models.
  • Near real-time data transmission, long-term operation, and system interoperability.

Session Committee:

  • Ingvar Henne, University of Bergen
  • Tor Arne Johansen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
  • Agnieszka Beszczynska-Møller, Polish Academy of Sciences 
  • Thor Storm Husøy, Kongsberg Discovery 
  • Espen Stormheim, The Nansen Center 
  • Asgeir Johan Sørensen,  NTNU and UiT – The Arctic University of Norway
  • Kjersti Moldeklev, Arctic Surveillance Program, Norwegian Space Agency  
  • Richard Hall, Equinor 

6. Maintaining and Developing Arctic Observing Capabilities

Sustained observing is the basis for monitoring, forecasting, research and knowledge development. A comprehensive Arctic Observing System is challenging to develop and operate due to vast areas covered by ocean, ice and tundra. A large part of the observing is conducted by the research community but how do we ensure involvement of Indigenous communities, businesses and international stakeholders? Linking observing systems to coupled data assimilation and operational models helps bridge gaps between research and operations. International coordination and cooperation are crucial.

 

Conducting operations in ice-covered waters, especially with a focus of reducing the environmental footprint of research expeditions, is difficult, costly and requires international collaboration. In a time when connections across the Arctic are strained or limited, how can we continue to observe the whole Arctic system? Large amounts of data are collected, stored and shared and safe storage and management of data needs prioritising. But who decides the governance and management of data and large-scale research programs?

In this session Arctic Frontiers call for abstracts including, but not limited to,

  • The gaps and shortcomings in the current observing systems.
  • How do geopolitical conditions affect international cooperation and the quality and effectiveness of observing systems?
  • How can the geopolitical impact on science be mitigated?
  • The role of Indigenous and local knowledge in observing systems.
  • What opportunities do we see for the development of a full-fledged Arctic observation system?
  • Overcoming the logistical and governance challenges of Arctic field operations.
  • Enhancing collaboration between Indigenous communities, researchers and industry.

Session Committee:

  • Arild Sundfjord, Norwegian Polar Institute
  • Ilker Fer, University of Bergen
  • Øystein Godøy, Norwegian Meteorological Institute

7. Arctic Transformation: Climate Change and Cumulative Effects on Ecosystems

The Arctic is undergoing rapid change due to climate warming and intensified human activity, reshaping ecosystems, biodiversity, and food webs. Rising temperatures and sea ice loss are driving shifts in species distributions and community structures, leading to large-scale ecosystem reorganization. These changes are compounded by cumulative pressures – from climate impacts to anthropogenic stressors – that threaten Arctic biodiversity and ecosystem stability. 

Significant knowledge gaps persist, especially in remote regions like the Central Arctic Ocean,

where research on sea ice is limited. Understanding biodiversity, species interactions, and food web dynamics is essential to grasp the full scope of these changes. Addressing these challenges requires interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative research approaches to guide effective ecosystem management.

This session is structured around three key themes, culminating in a panel discussion to explore future challenges and opportunities:

  1. Ecosystem Reorganization and Marine Dynamics
    Rapid shifts in species composition and environmental conditions are disrupting food webs and fish stock dynamics. This session welcomes new insights into current and projected ecosystem changes, as well as adaptive management options.
  2. Cumulative Impact
    Arctic ecosystems face multiple, overlapping stressors, and climate change often compounds their cumulative impact. This session will address the cumulative impact of multiple anthropogenic pressures on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
  3. Life at the Extreme: Central Arctic Ecosystems
    Arctic Frontiers invite new insights into the biodiversity and ecological interactions in the underexplored Central Arctic Ocean—from microbes to marine mammals—to illuminate one of Earth’s most extreme and least understood environments.

Session Committee:

  • Maria Fossheim, Institute of Marine Research, Norway
  • Janne E. Søreide, The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)
  • Raul Primicerio, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway