The next PYRN meeting will be held together with the Ninth International Conference on Permafrost. Here is a list of what we’re planning, with more detailed synopses below:

1) PYRN Social & Mixer

Tuesday, July 1 ~6:30PM

(probably at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus Pub)

2) PYRN Award

3) Field Trip Volunteers

4) PYRN Panel Discussion

Careers in Permafrost Science: Research and Trajectories Since the 1950s

(tentatively) Tuesday, July 1, afternoon session

5) PYRN National Representatives Meeting (UAF campus: room and time TBA)

There are currently five PYRN members interacting with the NICOP
Local Organizing Committee (LOC) to help plan and schedule these
activities. If you have any questions or would like to participate in
planning/running any of these events, we would like to hear from you.

We are:

Andrew Balser (UAF) andrew.balser at uaf.edu

Daniel Fortier (UAF) ffdf at uaf.edu

Oliver Frauenfeld (UC Boulder) oliverf at colorado.edu

Guido Grosse (UAF) ggrosse at gi.alaska.edu

Katey Walter (UAF) ftkmw1 at uaf.edu

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1) PYRN Social & Mixer

Tuesday, July 1, 2008, ~6:30PM, UAF Campus Pub

Here is a chance to meet researchers from around the world – young
and senior alike. Get to know people from far and wide, or catch up
with friends you haven’t seen in a while. ICOPs only happen every five
years – it’s a great reason to celebrate. Beer and wine will be
available, and the company will be first rate – after all, it’s a PYRN
event. (The UAF Pub is central to the Conference venue at UAF; within
walking distance for those staying on or near campus).

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2) PYRN Award

PYRN members are doing incredible research on a broad spectrum of
topics, and the PYRN Award will provide additional visibility,
recognition and funds to the best submission by a Young Researcher. To
be considered, you must complete the PYRN Award submission form through
the NICOP registration page before September 1, 2007. (http://www.nicop.org/pyrn.html)

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3) Field Trip Volunteers

There are currently seven extended field trips scheduled immediately
before/after NICOP – six in Alaska and the Yukon Territory, and one in
Colorado. In addition, there are a number of local field trips planned
during the conference. These are good opportunities to volunteer, and
to interact with other researchers in the field. Each trip is being
organized by a specific trip leader, and these leaders will decide what
opportunities exist for volunteer roles. The NICOP website has
information on each trip, and contact information for the trip leaders (http://www.nicop.org/fieldtrips.html).
Since the trips are planned separately, trip leaders should be
contacted individually to inquire about possible volunteer roles. We
can help by providing additional context and background on PYRN,
introducing potential volunteers to trip leaders, and possibly by
exploring options to handle costs that may arise. If you would like
assistance in making an inquiry, please feel free to contact us.

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4) PYRN Panel Discussion

Careers in Permafrost Science: Research and Trajectories from IGY to IPY (1957 – 2007)

Tuesday, July 1, afternoon session (schedule is tentative)

One of PYRN’s primary functions is to help early career scientists
and students better interact with their colleagues and with senior
scientists. The purpose of this panel is to ‘break the ice’ and help
generate conversation among those who know the field best: senior
scientists, and those who could benefit most from their experience and
perspective: young researchers and students. The panel will consist of
4 to 6 senior scientists, with careers ranging back to (hopefully) the
1950s. We’ll use their past and current research as a platform to
explore permafrost science overall, and how past trends have influenced
current trajectories. We plan to include presentations by panelists as
well as an ample question and answer period. This panel, coupled with
the PYRN social event, will help foster interactions early during the
conference so PYRN members can follow up and expand on these contacts
throughout the conference.

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5) PYRN National Representatives Meeting

Time/Date to be determined

PYRN will be two and a half years old at NICOP - Join us to shape PYRN’s future.

We will meet to discuss the process of PYRN’s creation, to review
its activities since inception, and to set the orientation for the next
five years. PYRN has now reached a critical size (over 350 members) and
we need to refine the scope of the network, its role in permafrost
science and its relations to other young researcher activities
initiated for the IPY.