UAF to host arctic change symposium

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: 907-474-7902
08/04/06

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will host the Helge Ingstad Memorial Symposium on Arctic Change Sept. 8-9 in the UA Board of Regents conference room on the UAF campus. The symposium, presented in cooperation with the Royal Norwegian Embassy, will focus on increasing collaboration among arctic research institutions and on understanding the human dimensions of arctic change. In addition, sessions during the two-day symposium will explore changes to marine and terrestrial ecosystems in the Arctic and the effects of those changes on traditional communities in the region. The symposium will include presentations from top arctic scientists, as well as UA President Mark Hamilton, UAF Chancellor Stephen Jones, Norwegian Ambassador to the United States Knut Vollebaek and Norwegian State Secretary of Fishery and Coastal Affairs Vidar Ulriksen.

The symposium commemorates Norwegian explorer, scientist and author Helge Ingstad, who lived with the Nunamiut people of Anaktuvuk Pass from 1949-1950. During his stay, he documented the lives of the people there. His work culminated in a book, "Nunamiut: Among Alaska’s Inland Eskimos,"? which was reissued in June.

Following the symposium, delegates from Alaska and Norway will travel to Anaktuvuk Pass for a naming ceremony for Ingstad Mountain, which Native elders symbolically gave to Ingstad when he left the area five decades ago.

CONTACT: Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at (907) 474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@uaf.edu. Ann Ringstad, associate vice chancellor, at (907) 474-5922 or via e-mail at ann.ringstad@gmail.com.

ON THE WEB: www.uaf.edu/ingstad