The COVID-19 pandemic is intensifying as the autumn approaches in the Northern Hemisphere and the number of confirmed cases has been increasing, particularly in western Europe.

It is unlikely that the pandemic situation will improve in the upcoming months unless a vaccine or an effective treatment will be developed, which might still take several months. This situation has direct consequences on traveling and on conferences involving large number of participants like ASSW2021.

Therefore, the ASSW2021 Local Organizing Committee in coordination with IASC decided to move the Science Symposium part of ASSW2021 (23 – 26 March 2021) into an online event.

As the Business and Community Meetings (20 – 22 March 2021) involve less participants, we are still considering the possibility of organizing this part of ASSW2021 in a hybrid format (partially in-person and partially online). A final decision on this part of ASSW will be made in December.

The Local Organizing Committee is disappointed with the need to implement this decision, but we think that it was a necessary given the current circumstances. We are working towards an excellent online Science Symposium in ASSW2021, which will also allow for wider access across the world. We expect that it will be a very good opportunity to discuss Arctic science, engineering, education, as well as Indigenous and local community issues. Hence, we are looking forward to meeting you all online soon and to organize a very fruitful ASSW2021.

Helena Pereira, President of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology
João Canário, Chairman of the ASSW2021
Gonçalo Vieira, Chairman of the ASSW2021 International Scientific Committee

On behalf of the Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the Local Organizing Committee we are pleased to invite you to take part in the Arctic Science Summit Week 2021, which will take place in Lisbon from 20 to 26 March 2021. The Conference is organized by FCT, Ciência Viva, AIR Center, the Portuguese Arctic Community and by IASC and partners.

Framed by the overarching theme for the Science Conference “The Arctic: Regional Changes, Global Impacts”, Lisbon invites International experts on the Arctic and Indigenous Peoples to discuss the “New Arctic” and also its impacts and interactions to and with the lower latitudes.

It will be a pleasure to warmly receive you all in Lisbon for the ASSW2021.

Looking forward to seeing you all Lisbon next year.

Helena Pereira, President of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology
João Canário, Chairman of the ASSW2021
Gonçalo Vieira, Chairman of the ASSW2021 International Scientific Committee

Dear colleagues,
The call for abstracts for the science days of the Arctic Science Summit Week 2021 (24-26 March 2021) under the overarching topic “The Arctic: Regional Change Global Impacts” is now open. Despite the focus on the Arctic, several sessions accept contributions on the Antarctic, aiming at fostering networking and advances on research on both poles.

The conference will be held online and will include oral and e-poster presentations.
Submissions of abstracts is open for the following themes:

• A) The Arctic: Regional Changes, Global Impacts
• B) The Changing Arctic Ocean: Dynamics and Impacts
• C) Arctic Climate Dynamics
• D) The Changing Terrestrial Environments: Dynamics and Impacts
• E) Unravelling Arctic Ecosystem Dynamics
• F) Education and Capacity Building for The Polar Regions
• G) Living in The Arctic
• H) Observing the Arctic

Each lead author may submit up to one oral and one e-poster presentation. The notification on abstract acceptance will be made on the 30 December 2020, with the final programme being presented in January 2021. Oral presentations will be of up to 12 minutes. The e-posters are to be submitted in pdf format. Detailed Guidelines will be made available in January.

Abstracts text is limited to 1500 characters and the title should not be longer than 150 characters.

Thank you very much for your interest in ASSW2021 and looking forward to meet you online in March.

Gonçalo Vieira, Chair of the International Scientific Committee

Themes (To view the science sessions, select the theme photo)