Author name: Maria Grigoratou

POLARIN Brokerage Event for its 2nd Transnational Access Call to Polar Research Infrastructures: Agenda & Registration Open Registration Agenda (pdf) On September 2, 2025, from 15:00- 17:00 CEST, POLARIN is organizing a brokerage event for the Second POLARIN call for Transnational access to Polar research infrastructures. The Transnational Access (TA) programme gives researchers worldwide free access to 64 Arctic and Antarctic infrastructures. Transnational access can be either in-person (hands-on), provided to selected users that visit the installation to make use of it, or remote, through the provision of remote scientific services (e.g. provision of reference materials or samples, remote access to a high-performance computing facility). The September 2 event will: Provide an overview of the POLARIN project and its Transnational Access Calls Highlight selected research infrastructures from the 64 available Introduce the new POLARIN Geographic Information System (GIS) Registration Agenda (pdf) Key Dates for the 2nd POLARIN Transnational Access Call September 1, 2025 – Call opens October 30, 2025 (16:00 CET) – Call closes Mid-March 2026 – Access decisions communicated April 2026 – Negotiations with successful projects begin Related Upcoming Events: To support the polar research community, POLARIN is also organizing an information webinar on September 18, 10:30–13:00 CEST. The seminar will cover the application and evaluation process, as well as the principles of Transnational Access. A dedicated Q&A session will give participants the opportunity to address specific queries. The webinar can be accessed via this link: https://oulu.zoom.us/j/69306892467#success. Expert Pool: POLARIN is inviting experts to join its Expert Pool, contributing to the review of proposals submitted under the Transnational Access calls. Interested individuals are encouraged to register and indicate their field of expertise here.

POLARIN presented at the 37th COMNAP Annual Meeting in Warsaw The 37th Annual Meeting of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) and the 21st COMNAP Symposium were held from August 5–8 in Warsaw, Poland, bringing together leaders and experts dedicated to advancing Antarctic science and operations. On August 8, Dr. Nicole Biebow, Coordinator of the POLARIN project, presented an overview of the initiative’s objectives. Her presentation highlighted two upcoming milestones: the opening of the second POLARIN Transnational Call on September 1, and the launch of the POLARIN Geographic Information System (GIS) on the same date. COMNAP, established in 1988, is an international association that coordinates and supports Antarctic operations among governmental National Antarctic Programs. Its 33 member programs represent nearly all scientific and logistical activity in Antarctica. These programs are tasked with conducting and enabling research in the Antarctic Treaty Area on behalf of their respective governments, ensuring that data from the region is shared globally in the spirit of international cooperation. You can find more information about COMNAP here.  

POLARIN Brokering Event and Webinar on the Upcoming 2nd Transnational Access Call The POLARIN project is preparing to launch its second Transnational Access (TA) Call for Proposals, offering researchers the opportunity to conduct fieldwork across a broad network of polar research infrastructures. The call will open on September 1, 2025, and close on October 30, 2025. Final decisions are expected by mid-March 2026, with contract negotiations for selected projects scheduled to begin in April. Funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, POLARIN brings together 54 partners to provide coordinated access to 64 research infrastructures located in the Arctic and Antarctic including  38 research stations, 12 polar vessels, 18 observatories, 4 core repositories and 7 data infrastructures. The aim of the Transnational Access programme is to foster international collaboration and support scientific work in some of the most challenging and environmentally sensitive regions on Earth. To assist potential applicants, POLARIN will host two dedicated online events in September: On September 2 (15:00–17:00 CEST), the Brokering Event will provide an overview of POLARIN’s objectives, showcase examples of research infrastructures within its network, introduce the POLARIN GIS tool, and share insights from the first access call. Further details, including the agenda and registration links, will be published soon on the POLARIN website. On September 18 (10:30–13:00 CEST), an Informational Webinar will offer detailed guidance on the application process, eligibility requirements, and evaluation criteria. A Q&A session will allow participants to raise specific questions about the call. In addition to welcoming applications from research teams, POLARIN is also calling for experts to join its Evaluator Pool, contributing their knowledge to the peer-review process. Interested individuals are encouraged to register and indicate their areas of expertise.