Four keynote talks from an interdisciplinary perspective

Cryptogam ecology in the Arctic (Impulse 01)

Martin Grube — University of Graz, Austria

Abstract to be announced

Palaeoecological archives in the Sermilik region (Impulse 02)

Petra Heinz — University of Vienna, Austria

Microorganisms such as foraminifera and ostracods occur throughout the global ocean and are key components of marine ecosystems. Their high sensitivity to environmental change and the long-term preservation of their shells in sediments make them powerful sentinels and archives of past ocean conditions. Yet, records from East Greenland remain scarce. We have recently begun collecting and analyzing surface sediments from shallow nearshore settings around the Sermilik Station to establish a baseline of the present-day foraminiferal and ostracod assemblages. Going forward, it will be important to conduct regular sampling and to obtain deeper sediment cores, including from the deep fjord, to generate high-resolution paleoecological archives and evaluate recent change. Analyses will target foraminiferal and ostracod assemblages, test preservation, stable isotopes, and complementary sedimentological indicators. These records are expected to document Holocene-to-modern variability in glacier–ocean interactions, including pulses of meltwater and sediment, with assemblage shifts and isotope excursions tracing variability in water-mass properties. In parallel, we aim to establish regular monitoring to quantify present-day dynamics and variability. Together, the paleo-records and monitoring will resolve the sensitivity of Sermilik’s marine ecosystem to cryospheric forcing and provide a baseline for assessing ongoing and future ocean–glacier feedbacks under continued warming.

Supporting Polar Research with Satellite Communication and Environmental Monitoring (Impulse 03)

Cornelia Tieber-Hubmann — Graz University of Technology, Austria

The Department of Communication Networks and Satellite Communications at Graz University of Technology provides an overview of its current research activities in the fields of satellite communication and environmental monitoring. Selected projects and technological approaches are presented, addressing challenges in remote sensing, data transmission, and communication infrastructures, especially in remote environments. In addition, the role of interdisciplinary approaches is highlighted, particularly in the context of enhancing monitoring capabilities and supporting future research activities in arctic environments. The presentation aims to identify points of connection between existing expertise and the needs of the polar research community.

SermilikT – Training Hub for interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary and decolonial research (Impulse 04)

Gertrude Saxinger — University of Graz, Austria