Barrow Arctic Research Center, US

Research Center and Barrow Environmental Observatory are managed by UIC Science, a business unit of the Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation.

Contact

Terri.Mitchell[at]UICCS.com
Lindsay.Cameron[at]UICCS.com

Location

Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow, 5256 inhabitants) is located at the northern tip of Alaska (USA) on the junction of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. The adjacent Barrow Environmental Observatory comprises 30.21 km2 of tundra, lakes, and wetlands reserved for scientific research including long-term environmental monitoring and habitat manipulation experiments.

Website

https://eu-interact.org/field-sites/barrow-arctic-research-centerenvironmental-observatory/

Facilities

Facilities include modern laboratories, storage, vehicle support, internet access, local accommodations, and cafeteria or self-catering facilities. UIC Science offices, labs, and conference rooms are centralized in the Barrow Arctic Research Center (BARC). The BARC, a modern, state of the art Arctic Research Facility built in 2007, is located at the now de-commissioned Naval Arctic Research Laboratory (NARL) campus. UIC Science hosts 40 to 50 projects per year at the BARC. Restaurants, supplies, and grocery stores are available in town. Several other programs funded through the US government maintain additional facilities in Utqiaġvik including the National Weather Service and Earth System Research Laboratory (both part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin.), Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility (Dept. of Energy), and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Dept. of Interior). Additionally, the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management is based in Utqiaġvik.

Availability for access

Time frame for access preparation

Applications for requesting transnational access or remote support at the Barrow Arctic Research Center (BARC) will be reviewed by UIC Science (UICS) and selected based on the feasibility of the project, safety, and benefit to the community. If approved, research groups must contact UICS 6 months ahead of fieldwork to begin planning discussions. Each project will be assigned a project manager, who will be the point of contact for all project needs and scheduling.  Â

Permits, licenses and training

Depending on field activities, a variety of permits may be required. Any researcher accessing the tundra (off the road) will need a UIC Land Use Permit. UICS can assist with submitting these permits to UIC Lands. Every project operating out of Utqiaġvik will also need a North Slope Borough permit, which will be reviewed by the local governments planning department. These need to be submitted at least 1 month prior to fieldwork. If needed, UICS can assist with completing and submitting this permit as well. Depending on the nature of the research, additional permits and permission may be needed. The community of Utqiaġvik participates in subsistence whaling and during those months researchers must be respectful and work away from whaling activities. Sensitive months are April – May and September – October. If fieldwork is conducted on the sea ice during whaling, typically the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission will need to be contacted. UICS can help advise on timing of visits and locations for fieldwork. 
Prior to arrival, the Arctic HSE Specialist will meet with the team to review planned fieldwork, identify any potential risks that may occur, and suggest safety precautions. Upon arrival, the Facilities Manager will present a Welcome Orientation to review UICS facilities and operations, provide cultural information of the area, highlight safety tips, and answer any questions. Anyone utilizing snowmachines or 4-wheelers will receive a snowmachine/4-wheeler orientation in Utqiaġvik and are required to be accompanied by a bear guard in the field. Polar bears are commonly spotted near Utqiaġvik, and bear guards are trained to use deterrent measures and carry a firearm. It is imperative that teams defer to their bear guard’s judgement.

Medical guidelines

 UtqiaÄ¡vik emergency services are supported by North Slope Borough Search and Rescue, North Slope Borough Police, and the Samuel Simmons Memorial Hospital. UICS is ultimately not responsible for the safety the research team. It’s the responsibility of the research team to have their own health insurance, workers’ compensation, general liability insurance, and evacuation insurance. Â