University of Alaska to co-host Arctic Encounter Symposium

March 18, 2022

The University of Alaska is one of four co-sponsors of this year’s Arctic Encounter Symposium to be held in Anchorage April 7-8. The Arctic Encounter Symposium is the flagship event of Arctic policy conferences in the United States.

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney will address the gathering of more than 400 delegates on Friday, April 8 as the luncheon keynote speaker. 

"The University of Alaska serves the Arctic region in many ways, especially by encouraging Alaskans to come together to visualize its future in the global Arctic," Pitney said.

"As leaders in Arctic research and policy, our role is to help bring that knowledge to important gatherings like next month's Arctic Encounter Symposium. The university is committed to supporting the symposium to bring together our partners throughout the region to advance Alaska in the national and global Arctic policy discussions."

Other speakers include members of Alaska’s congressional delegation and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Governor Mike Dunleavy, ambassadors to the United States from countries including Iceland, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, Finland, and Greenland, state and local government officials including the mayors of Kotzebue and Nunavut, officials from Alaska Native Corporations and many, many more. 

Founded in 2013, Arctic Encounter aims to address the shared interests and concerns in the circumpolar North. Policymakers, industry leaders, regional stakeholders, diplomats and leading experts from the science, technology, maritime and energy sectors, come together at AES to dialogue around critical challenges and collaborate on solutions. A number of researchers from the three universities will participate in panels and presentations.

Registration for the symposium is now open. Learn more about how to register, calls for artists, speakers, events, and health and safety protocols for the event here.