EPB and EPCO at the 2026 ASSW

The European Polar Board (EPB) and the European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO) will participate in the 2026 Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW), taking place in Aarhus, Denmark, from 25 March to 1 April. EPB and EPCO will organise two hybrid sessions on 29 March.

EU Polar Cluster Workshop

March 29, 08:00-12:00 local time, venue: Mødelokale 2

Title: ID-67: Polar Science Beyond Projects: Legacy, Policy, and Impact

Organizer: Kylie Owen (European Polar Coordination Office and European Polar Board, Sweden)

Context and Rationale
The polar regions are key to understanding and addressing changes in the climate–ocean–biodiversity nexus. Yet funding for polar research is often unstable: project-based structures and shifting priorities create fluctuations that could run counter to the urgent need for sustained, long-term investment. While stable support is indispensable, effective coordination and dissemination can help reduce the risks of fragmentation, ensure that knowledge is not lost when projects end, and increase the likelihood that findings inform policy and global dialogue.

Workshop Focus
The workshop will bring together EU Polar Cluster projects and external experts to exchange experiences and lessons learnt on science dissemination, project legacy, and the role of projects in informing policies and missions. It will also explore how projects can enhance their links with coordination and dissemination tools, such as the EU Polar Cluster and the Polar Catalyst platform. These tools, currently coordinated by the European Polar Coordination Office, are legacy outcomes of the EU-PolarNet projects. While centred on EU-funded projects, international experts will be invited to share perspectives and lessons learned.

EPB session and business meeting

EPB Session, March 29, 13:30- 18:00 local time, venue: Aula

Organizer: Maria Grigoratou (European Polar Board, Sweden)

Title: ID-42 Dialogue and Cooperation in Polar Research: Regional Contributions to International Initiatives

Climate change is the primary driver of transformation in the polar regions, shaping not only climate and ecosystems but also questions of safety, security, and geopolitics. Within this evolving landscape, polar research is entering a period of renewed momentum, with major international initiatives such as IPY-5, the UN Cryosphere Decade, the UN Ocean Decade, and flagship programmes including Antarctica InSync, Arctic Pulse, and Arctic Ocean 2050. These efforts reflect a shared recognition of the accelerating pace of change and the central role of the polar regions in understanding and addressing its global impacts. While collaboration in the Arctic and Antarctic research has advanced, opportunities remain to deepen international cooperation, particularly in the Arctic. The region’s shifting geopolitical dynamics, together with diverse national approaches to funding polar research, highlight the importance of building inclusive and durable frameworks for dialogue and joint action. The session aims to strengthen regional dialogue on Polar research, with particular emphasis on the Arctic, fostering exchange both within and between continents. After a short closed EPB business meeting, a longer open session will explore regional contributions to international initiatives, with emphasis on IPY-5. Discussions will focus on how polar research can help address interconnected challenges that span local realities and global transformations, how cross-continental collaboration can be strengthened, and how partnerships beyond Europe can be expanded on the basis of mutual benefit.

More detailed information on the EPB and EPCO sessions will be shared closer to the ASSW.