scientific sessions

The fragile balance between societal processes, human activity, and the vulnerable polar ecosystems is the main topic of the social science and humanities session. This session summons against the backdrop of environmental issues and planetary well-being. Exploring the evolution of attitudes and behaviours toward environmental stewardship within polar regions, the discussions centre on governmental policies and their alignment with the unique demands of these areas. The session delves into how economic shifts and global developments have influenced policies, funding, and strategies in polar research, thus shaping the trajectory of conservation and scientific exploration. It aims to highlight approaches to improve the preservation of polar ecosystems while establishing a sustainable relationship between human society and the overall health of the world. It does this by emphasising cutting-edge methods of public involvement, education, and digital collaboration. This session aims to improve polar research within the context of global sustainability by bringing together varied perspectives and experiences.

Focusing on the profound insights garnered from the examination of polar regions, the physical science session resonates with the overarching theme of “Polar Research for Sustainability & Planetary Health”. It engages with the critical role that physical sciences play in interpreting the intricate dynamics of these polar environments. The session explores the thorough study of glaciers, ice sheets, atmospheric conditions, and oceanography that provides crucial information to understand the Earth’s larger climatic shifts using the most recent advances in technology and methodology. This session opens the path for a greater comprehension of processes affecting the global climate by closely examining the complex interactions of natural systems in polar regions. As scientists and researchers share their advancements in data collection, modelling, and analysis, this session serves as a catalyst for cross-disciplinary collaboration, steering humanity towards informed decisions for the preservation of planetary health.

The polar regions are one of the last remaining pristine environments for research, especially in the field of life sciences. The Antarctic, in particular, offers a one-of-a-kind setting for this purpose, with the eastern and western regions warming at different rates. These contrasting regional warming provided good habitats for researchers to study the diversity of all life forms, and how they adapt to cold and respond to thermal changes may provide insights into how simple life forms survive in the absence of complex activities by higher organisms like humans. Incorporating a biological approach to Antarctic science has resulted in the advancement of cross-disciplinary research because regional climate change has the potential to affect Antarctic environments and inhabitants. The adaptations and responses of these living organisms to their current environments and warming can help us predict the effects of global climate change on the biosphere. Thus, the polar region serves as a natural laboratory for scientific research.