INTERACT will host the session “Co-Designing an IPY Arctic Access Programme” on 9 October 2026 during the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík, Iceland, as part of an IASC-funded cross-cutting project.
The session will support the development of an International Polar Year Arctic Access Programme (IPY-AAP), which aims to facilitate access to Arctic research infrastructures and their data for research addressing key scientific priorities and societal challenges in the Arctic. The programme is being developed in support of the priorities of the Fifth International Polar Year 2032–33 and ICARP IV, building on INTERACT’s longstanding experience in coordinating international access to Arctic research stations and infrastructures.
The event will bring together Arctic stakeholders and rightsholders, including representatives from science organisations, Indigenous Peoples’ organisations, early-career researchers, research infrastructure operators, funding organisations, and policymakers. Through presentations and breakout discussions, participants will help shape key elements of the future programme, including research priorities, eligibility and evaluation criteria, ethics and impact assessment, governance, engagement, and funding structures.
The outcomes of the session will feed into the further development of the IPY Arctic Access Programme, including a concept paper and materials for engagement with potential funding organisations.
The session takes place on 9 October 2026, 11:00–15:45, in Room Akrafjall, Harpa Conference Centre, Reykjavík, during the Arctic Circle Assembly. Read more here and register your interest in attending here.
The development of the IPY Arctic Access Programme and the co-design event are supported through the Call for IASC Cross-Cutting and Working Group Proposals 2026.