The Polar Marine Science GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.
Critical nodes in the Earth system, the polar oceans are undergoing dramatic change, with increasing temperatures and loss of sea ice. Many fundamental processes controlling the circulation, ecosystems, and biogeochemistry of both the Southern and Arctic Oceans are shifting, generating new conditions not seen before in human history. The changes occurring in the polar oceans have global implications, not least through climate change feedbacks in global albedo and atmospheric composition. Yet, the complexity of the Arctic and Southern Oceans defies simple explanations of these changes and their impacts.
The 2027 incarnation of the Polar Marine Science GRC will provide an interdisciplinary exploration of some of the most tenacious controversies in polar oceanography, particularly within the context of a changing climate. Each session will delve into a topic to help scientists in complementary disciplines understand the complications and challenges faced by their colleagues. Questions such as how changing freshwater sources will impact the Arctic and Southern Oceans, whether deepwater formation and primary production are increasing or decreasing, and what are the most important sources of climatically active aerosols in the polar regions will be discussed from the perspective of why these questions are difficult to answer. Additional sessions on the challenges of studying the ice-covered oceans of Earth's past and other planets will further stretch participants' perspectives on how polar oceans can function.
This Polar Marine Science GRC will be preceded by a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), which will focus on the response of both Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems to rapid changes due to anthropogenic climate change. Organized by young investigators, this seminar will convene graduate students, post-docs, and other scientists with comparable levels of experience and education in a highly-stimulating and non-intimidating environment, allowing them to develop an international network of peers that can lead to a lifetime of collaboration and scientific achievement. The majority, if not all, of the GRS participants are expected to also participate in the following GRC.
