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Today's Congressional Action:
The House and Senate are not in session.
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 UAF Professor Receives Polar Medal. The American Polar Society has awarded University of Alaska Fairbanks professor Lawson Brigham its Honorary Member Polar Medal. Brigham received the medal during the society's 80th Symposium recently at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, Calif. A certificate from the society notes that the award was in "recognition of your contribution to polar science and exploration and your support of the society's mission to encourage polar research and education and to preserve polar history." Lawson Brigham was the former Alaska Director of the US Arctic Research Commission. University of Alaska Fairbanks
Suicidal Thoughts More Than Four Times Higher Among Inuit Adults: StatsCan. Nearly one in four Inuit adults, 26 to 59 years, say they have had suicidal thoughts throughout their lifetime, says a study released released Jan. 19 by Statistics Canada. Protection against suicidal thoughts seems to be offered by good health, having a partner, along with no smoking, drug use, or heavy drinking. The data in the report is drawn from the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey and describes the lifetime prevalence of suicidal thoughts among First Nations, Métis and Inuit adults and relates them to key risk factors, many of which have been shown to be related to suicidal thoughts among other populations. Nunatsiaq Online
 Ocean Species Mix as Sea Ice Melts, With Unknown Consequences. Melting Arctic ice is not only opening up new passageways for ships. Birds and marine species are also traveling to uncharted waters. Seabird McKeon, a marine biologist with the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, and his colleagues compiled a list of the marine birds and mammals that have been spotted in the wrong ocean. CBS News
Top Army Nominee Says He's Not Keen to Cut Alaska Troop. When Pentagon nominees comes before the Senate Armed Services Committee for a confirmation hearing, it's a sure bet that Sen. Dan Sullivan will press them on the 4-25th. That's the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the one slated for reduction. Alaska Public Radio
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Legislative Action
No Arctic legislation was formally considered yesterday.
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Future Events
 2016 Arctic Frontiers, January 24-29, 2015 (Tromso, Norway).The Arctic is a global crossroad between commercial and environmental interests. The region holds substantial natural resources and many actors are investigating ways to utilise these for economic gain. Others view the Arctic as a particularly pristine and vulnerable environment and highlight the need to limit industrial development. Arctic Frontiers 2016 will discuss the balance between resource utilisation and preservation, and between industrial and environmental interests in the Arctic. Envisioning a well-planned, well-governed, and sustainable development in the Arctic, how can improved Arctic stewardship help balance environmental concerns with industrial expansion? How can the industrial footprints from future business activities be minimised? And last, but not least, what role will existing and emerging technologies play in making industrial development profitable and environmentally friendly, securing a sustainable growth scenario for Arctic communities?
Alaska Forum on the Environment, February 8-12, 2016 (Anchorage, Alaska, USA). The Alaska Forum on the Environment (AFE) is Alaska's largest statewide gathering of environmental professionals from government agencies, non-profit and for-profit businesses, community leaders, Alaskan youth, conservationists, biologists and community elders. The diversity of attendees and comprehensive agenda sets this conference apart from any other. Each year there are over 80 technical breakout sessions and sensational Keynote Events. There will be a full week of sessions on climate change, energy, environmental regulations, cleanup and remediation, fish & wildlife, solid waste, and more.
5th Annual Fletcher Opening Arctic Conference, March 12, 2016. The Opening Arctic Conference builds on the Fletcher School's Warming Arctic International Inquiry series, to bring together high-level thought leaders from across disciplines, Fletcher's hallmark. Staged annually, Fletcher's event continues to address the foreign policy, economic, environmental and security implications of the opening Arctic, while dispelling myths.
Alaska Rural Energy Conference, April 26-28, 2016 (Fairbanks, Alaska, USA). The Alaska Rural Energy Conference is a three day event offering a large variety of technical sessions covering new and ongoing energy projects in Alaska, as well as new technologies and needs for Alaska's remote communities. Building on the growing success, the Alaska Energy Authority and the Alaska Center for Energy and Power have joined forces again to organize and sponsor the 10th annual Alaska Rural Energy Conference.
14th IATS Seminar, June 19-25, 2016 (Bergen, Norway). The University of Bergen (UiB) is honored to host the 14th IATS Seminar in Bergen, Norway, from Sunday 19 to Saturday 25 June 2016 in co-operation with the Network for University Co-operation Tibet-Norway, an academic network with the universities of Oslo, Bergen and Tromsø as partners. The convenor is Professor Hanna Havnevik, Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages, University of Oslo, and Chair of the Network.
Inuit traditions are a repository of Inuit culture and a primary expression of Inuit identity. The theme for the 2016 Inuit Studies Conference invites Elders, knowledge-bearers, researchers, artists, policy-makers, students and others to engage in conversations about the many ways in which traditions shape understanding, while registering social and cultural change. The institutional hosts of "Inuit Traditions," Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Nunatsiavut Government, invite you to contribute to an exchange of knowledge to be held in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, October 7-10, 2016. Presentations on all aspects of Inuit studies will be welcome.
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2016 (Fairbanks, AK, USA).