U.S. Northern Command and multiple research organizations just wrapped up a joint, three-year experiment to test new radar technology that could enable the Northern Warning System to detect incoming threats at longer ranges across Alaska and northern Canada. The Sept. 7-14 test event marked the conclusion of live-fly testing in the experiment series, which explored how existing radar infrastructure and emerging technology could complement current surveillance capabilities, according to an Oct. 19 release from Alaskan Command, a subordinate command under NORTHCOM.

The October 2026 edition of the Thematic Networks' Monthly Highlights showcases the work of several networks engaged in collaborative research, education, and outreach activities across the Circumpolar North.

The International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA) invites researchers, practitioners, Indigenous representatives, students, and others to submit proposals for the 12th International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences (ICASS XII). ICASS XII will take place in Nuuk, Greenland, from 31 May to 4 June 2027.

In a future battlespace, boats, vehicles and weapons could deploy and travel with outer shells or coverings that change with the terrain — or even light and time of year — to add an extra layer of concealment. That concept was one of the key testing lines of effort in an Army Corps of Engineers and Army Research Laboratory experiment in Pituffik, Greenland, earlier this year. The whole endeavor was part of a broader testing series organized by the International Cooperative Engagement Program for Polar Research (ICE-PPR) and the Office of Naval Research, a multi-national endeavor that underscores the ever-increasing importance of the Arctic as a warfighting domain.

Hosted by the Sitka Sound Science Center, Sitka WhaleFest brings together scientists, educators, artists, conservation leaders, and community members to explore marine ecosystems, ocean conservation, and coastal culture through public presentations, wildlife experiences, educational programming, and community events focused on the North Pacific environment.

The Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic 2026 will bring together researchers, early-career scientists, stakeholders, and government agencies to discuss Sweden’s preparations for the 5th International Polar Year and the future of Swedish polar research.



The event is hosted by the University of Gothenburg and organized in collaboration with the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic at Luleå University of Technology, Arctic Centre at Umeå University, Bolin Centre for Climate Research at Stockholm University, Chalmers University of Technology, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, and the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) Sweden.

ArcticNet’s Annual Scientific Meeting brings together researchers, students, knowledge holders, policymakers, and other Arctic stakeholders to share current research and discuss issues affecting the North. Programming includes scientific sessions, networking opportunities, cultural activities, and interdisciplinary discussions designed to strengthen connections between research, communities, and decision-makers.

Hosted by the American Geophysical Union, the 2026 AGU Annual Meeting covers research across the Earth and space sciences. Its Arctic-focused sessions will feature research on sea ice, permafrost, glaciers, oceans, atmospheric conditions, ecosystems, and freshwater systems, as well as the broader effects of Arctic change.

The Alaska Marine Science Symposium brings together scientists, educators, resource managers, students, and members of the public to discuss current marine research in Alaskan waters. More than 700 participants typically attend, with programming that includes keynote presentations, scientific sessions, workshops, and poster presentations covering marine ecosystems, fisheries, ocean conditions, and other research relevant to Alaska and the Arctic.

The program connects science, policy, business, and Arctic communities, with an emphasis on knowledge-based dialogue, collaboration, and informed decision-making. Discussions will explore the growing global attention on the Arctic, the influence of information and disinformation, trust in science, and the importance of ensuring Arctic perspectives are represented as governments, researchers, industries, and communities make decisions affecting the region’s future.

The seminar will address developments in polar shipping, including navigation challenges, maritime safety, international regulations, shipping trends, Arctic port infrastructure, search and rescue, and lessons learned from recent vessel groundings. The event is co-sponsored by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Kingdom of Denmark's Chairship of the Arctic Council, in cooperation with the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment Working Group (PAME).

The Alaska Forum, formerly Alaska Forum on the Environment, brings together community leaders and operators — from industry, business, federal, state, and tribal governments across Alaska and the Arctic — for technical training, professional development, and collaboration on issues facing the region. Topics span energy, infrastructure and community resilience, emergency preparedness, fish and wildlife, subsistence, resource development, public health, water and wastewater, workforce capacity, and Arctic and coastal change. Sessions draw on technical expertise, Indigenous Knowledge, and direct experience from communities across Alaska and the Arctic. AF2027 takes place February 1–5, 2027, at the Dena'ina Center in Anchorage. Join the conversations shaping Alaska and the Arctic.

The program will cover aerosol measurements, remote sensing, atmospheric modeling, long-range dust transport, polar air pollution, and aerosol-related climate impacts. The symposium is co-organized by the Icelandic Aerosol and Dust Association, UArctic's Thematic Network on High Latitude Dust, and the Agricultural University of Iceland.

Hosted by the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Anchorage Post, the Arctic Industry Forum brings together senior leaders and practitioners to discuss national security priorities and infrastructure issues affecting the Arctic’s built and natural environments.

SAVE THE DATE! The Joint (AC)3 - MOSAiC Conference 2027 (JAMC27) offers a forum for open, multi-disciplinary scientific exchange on the overarching theme of "Drivers and Impacts of a Changing Arctic." The international polar research community is invited to present and discuss scientific results achieved over the past decade, including findings from (AC)3, MOSAiC, and other Arctic research activities. Conference goals are to synthesize recent advances, inform future research actions, and enhance societal uptake of research outcomes. Abstract submission will open in October 2026.

Hosted by the Arctic Council as part of the Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship program, the Arctic Biodiversity Summit will bring together scientists, policymakers, Indigenous Peoples, youth leaders, and other Arctic stakeholders to strengthen collaboration on biodiversity conservation across the Arctic region. The summit is intended to serve as a strategic platform for advancing knowledge exchange, supporting sustainable development, and helping transform scientific and Indigenous knowledge into action-oriented policy and conservation efforts focused on protecting Arctic ecosystems and biodiversity for future generations.

Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) 2027 will bring together scientists, research organizations, and international partners to discuss Arctic research and scientific cooperation. The event will include scientific meetings, workshops, and the Ninth International Symposium on Arctic Research (ISAR-9). The event is organized by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) in collaboration with its Japanese hosts.

The Arctic Encounter Summit (AES) will bring together policymakers, diplomats, industry representatives, national security officials, researchers, and other stakeholders to discuss Arctic policy, security, economic development, infrastructure, energy, and research. The event will include keynote presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities at the Dena’ina Convention Center and Anchorage Museum. The summit is organized by Arctic Encounter, a nonprofit organization based in Anchorage, Alaska.

A pre-Congress session will be held above the Arctic Circle in Kotzebue, Alaska, with a focused agenda on syndemic infectious disease issues and research governance.

With 60 years of history, ICCH offers a forum for health professionals and students to exchange knowledge and strengthen partnerships.  We welcome researchers, clinicians, policymakers, community stakeholders, indigenous leaders to participate in discussions about health topics affecting northern communities.