Arctic Organic Pollutants in a Changing Environment — Arctic Climate Change as a Driver of Pollutant Mobility

The meeting is organised within the framework of UArctic, together with the UArctic Regional Centre in China, the International Joint Research Centre for Persistent and Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS) and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). Full details and registration: www.persitox.com

Scope: The Arctic is warming three to four times faster than the global average, and this is reshaping the transport, storage, remobilisation and biological fate of organic contaminants. The symposium brings together researchers, monitoring specialists and early-career scientists around five themes: long-range transport and local sources; climate-driven remobilisation from ice, glaciers, snow and permafrost; chemicals of emerging Arctic concern including PFAS and pharmaceuticals; bioaccumulation, food-web transfer and effects on wildlife and human health; and local pollution and sustainable solutions in Arctic settlements.

The format is deliberately compact and discussion-oriented, oral and poster presentations in the morning, an interactive workshop session each afternoon. The outcome will feed directly into a joint white paper and a review on "Chemicals of emerging Arctic concern in a changing environment: global implications and consequences", and participants will have the opportunity to contribute to both.

Deadlines:

Abstract submission      10 October 2026 (extended)

Notification of acceptance 19 October 2026 [confirm]

Regular registration     20 October 2026 [confirm]

Accommodation: The block booking at Funken Lodge (30 rooms at NOK 2,500 per night) has been extended to 15 October. Reservations are made through the Funken lodge Svalbard website using promo code NORULS2026 (for the period 01 - 05.November 2026) and the group name Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

Other hotels in Longyearbyen are available as well, but November is a busy period and I would encourage early booking.

Participants travelling from outside the Schengen area should note that although Svalbard itself lies outside Schengen, all routes to Longyearbyen transit mainland Norway, so a Schengen visa is required. Please contact me if you need a formal invitation letter in support of an application.

I would be grateful if you would forward this announcement within your own networks and to colleagues and students who may be interested.