Okhotsk Konru is a 3-day workshop focused on Ainu indigeneity and sea ice science. One focus of the workshop will be widening contributions to the upcoming International Polar Year.

Place & Dates

The workshop is scheduled to take place from the 24th until the 27th of February 2027 in Hokkaido, immediately following the 41st International Symposium on the Okhotsk Sea and Polar Oceans. This travelling workshop will be held in multiple locations along the Okhotsk Sea coast: Monbetsu, the town where the international symposium will be held, as well as Abashiri and Wakkanai.

Funding

There is a limited amount of funding available. If you would like to request support, please outline your reasons and provide estimated costs.

The workshop is funded by the International Arctic Science Committee and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and is co-organised by Drs Seira Duncan, Robbie Mallett and Alistair Duffey.

Eligibility

Applicants should be advanced master’s students, doctoral or postdoctoral researchers with demonstrated interest in bridging Western science and Indigenous knowledge systems and experiences, ideally in cryospheric environments. Indigenous candidates including Ainu community members are highly encouraged to apply.

Application

Applicants are required to submit a maximum 4-page CV and a maximum 1-page statement of motivation outlining what they expect to learn from the experience as well as what they can contribute to the workshop. Please send your application in PDF format via this form (which requires a Google account).

We look forward to receiving your application!

Organisation

The workshop is organised by:

Dr Seira Duncan (Hokkaido University, Harvard University)

Dr Robbie Mallett (UiT The Arctic University of Norway)

Dr Alistair Duffey (Reflective, University College London).