Polar Symposium 2026: From Arctic to Antarctic
The Symposium opened today in Monaco, bringing together leading scientists, research institutions, and international organisations to strengthen global scientific coordination at a pivotal moment for polar research. It provides a platform for addressing urgent environmental, societal, and policy challenges linked to polar change, while exploring opportunities for translating scientific knowledge into global action.
Co-organized by the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), and the Musée Océanographique de Monaco, the event explores how polar regions, sentinels of climate disruption, affect oceans, ecosystems, and societies worldwide. Participants highlighted the importance of sustained observations, open data sharing, and international collaboration to produce robust, actionable scientific knowledge.
Robert Calcagno, Director General of the Institut Océanographique de Monaco and Interim President of CIESM, together with other participants, including Prof. Jiuxin Shi, Lars Kullerud, Prof. Bettine van Vuuren, Prof. Nicole Webster, Daniela Liggett, Yitong Chen, Prof. Gary Wilson and Yitong Chen, opened the pre-event session, highlighting the value of independent, interdisciplinary, and socially-relevant science. They emphasized that polar research provides insights not only for marine ecosystems but also for human societies that depend on ocean health, underlining the need for research that informs policy and societal decision-making.
These discussions closely reflect CIESM’s mission and vision: reinforcing marine research across disciplines, fostering cooperation among Member States, and integrating human dimensions into ecosystem management. By bridging natural and social sciences, CIESM contributes to a forward-looking approach that anticipates emerging marine risks and ensures scientific knowledge is meaningful for society.
The Commission warmly thanks the organisers for their invitation and looks forward to continued dialogue throughout the Symposium, contributing to a decade of coordinated, independent, and forward-looking scientific endeavour.