Welcome to the June 2025 NERC Arctic Office Bulletin. If you have an event or news that you would like us to promote and share with the wider community, please let us know. We’re always glad to hear from you. If you haven’t received this Bulletin direct, you can sign up to our mailing list on the website’s home page. For all previous bulletins, please visit the Arctic Office bulletins page
Call for applications: ‘Supporting Impactful UK Arctic Science Engagement Scheme’
An opportunity has just been launched for researchers based in the United Kingdom to apply for funding, provided by the UK Government, to support practical research and engagement that aligns with the work of the Arctic Council’s Working Groups, and the priorities and initiatives of The Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship 2025 -2027.
The aims of this funding scheme are to:
- support the active and effective work of projects across the six Arctic Council Working Groups and beyond;
- provide valuable opportunities for UK-based researchers to share and expand their expertise, for mutual benefit; and
- support the UK’s role as a committed and active Observer to the Arctic Council addressing priorities of joint benefit.
The scheme is being delivered in active partnership with the NERC Arctic Office and the UK Science and Technology Network.
Full details of the call available here: https://www.arctic.ac.uk/news/call-for-applications-supporting-impactful-uk-arctic-science-engagement/
Application deadline: 1600 on 25 July 2025
Call for applications: Global Change in the polar regions: Introduction to safe and effective fieldwork for PhDs
Are you a PhD student eager to gain hands-on experience in the polar regions? This is your opportunity to develop essential field skills in one of the most extraordinary environments on Earth.
Join us for an immersive training course at the NERC Arctic Research Station in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard supported by UK Government. Over six days, you’ll work alongside leading UK polar scientists and operations managers to learn how to turn bold scientific ideas into safe, practical, and impactful fieldwork. This course is designed for NERC and UKRI-funded PhD students whose research focuses on the polar regions but who have limited or no fieldwork experience. PhD students from under-represented and minority groups are actively encouraged to apply.
Further details available here: NERC BAS Advanced Training Short Course – British Antarctic Survey
Application Deadline: 23:59 on 1 July 2025
For informal enquiries, please contact Ali Teague at British Antarctic Survey.
Polar Initiative 2025 – call for projects now open
The 2025 Call for Projects under the Polar Initiative is now open! The Polar Initiative aims to use science diplomacy and global collaboration to develop evidence-informed strategies to protect Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems in the face of local and global changes. The Polar Initiative was launched in February 2022 during the first Polar Symposium in Monaco.
The pre-application stage is open online from 02 – 30 June 2025. Shortlisted projects will be appraised for potential funding starting in 2027. Therefore, the application for funding must be for activities starting in 2027. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application by email by 31 March 2026 at the latest.
All details regarding eligibility, selection criteria, and how to apply are available on the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation website: https://www.fpa2.org/en/depots/the-polar-initiative-02
Arctic Science Summit Week 2026
The next ASSW will take place in Aarhus, Denmark from 25 March to 1 April 2026 and will include the Arctic Observing Summit 2026.
The call for Community Meetings and Workshops is now open: https://assw.info/program/assw-2026-community-meetings-and-workshops
Preliminary ASSW 2026 agenda:
- 25–29 March 2026: Community Meetings and Workshops
- 29 March 2026: Science Day
- 30 March-1 April 2026: Arctic Observing Summit (AOS)
Important dates:
- 21 May–30 September 2025: Call for ASSW 2026 Community Meetings and Workshops
- November 2025: Registration opens
- 25 March-1 April 2026: ASSW2026
Further information is available on the ASSW2026 website
Upcoming events:
UK Arctic Science Conference, 9 – 11 September 2025, Northumbria University (Further details will be announced shortly)
Arctic Circle Assembly 2025, 16 – 18 October 2025, Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre, Reykjavik, Iceland
Svalbard Science Conference 2025, 28 – 29 October, Oslo, Norway
Greenland Science Week, 10 – 16 November 2025, Nuuk, Greenland