The increasing pace and scale of observed environmental change in the Arctic and around the globe raises an important question: Have we reached major tipping points in the arctic system?

Interconnectedness of the Arctic is demonstrated when a single change sends ripple effects throughout the marine, terrestrial, atmospheric, socioeconomic, and global systems. Participants at the Arctic Forum will discuss how such changes may be "tipping points" that represent new, unknown, and potentially irreversible vanguards of arctic and global change. Arctic Forum sessions will explore tipping points over different scales of time and space, both environmental and socioeconomic, as well as potential consequences, opportunities, and policy and management response strategies.

The 2008 Arctic Forum is co-chaired by Martin Miles, Environmental Systems Analysis Research Center in Boulder, Colorado, and Craig Fleener, Gwich'in Council International.

In addition to highlighting current research and policy issues relevant to the Arctic through the Arctic Forum, the ARCUS Annual Meeting and Arctic Forum serve to gather together members of the arctic research community, students, key agency personnel and policy makers, as well as ARCUS member institution representatives, board members, and staff.

Additionally, the Council Forum, the ARCUS annual membership meeting, will take place Wednesday morning, 14 May 2008, and will include presentations from member institution representatives and sessions on various issues of interest to the research community, member institutions, and the public. On Tuesday, 13 May 2008, 7:00-9:00 p.m., the opening reception of the 2008 Arctic Forum will be held at the Finnish Embassy in Washington DC. All are welcome.

Registration and poster abstract submission is free. The deadline for both is: Friday, 2 May 2008.

For further information, to register, and to submit an abstract, please visit Arcus.

Or contact:

Tina Buxbaum, ARCUS
Phone: 907-474-1600