Hokkaido University, in collaboration with the National Institute of Polar Research and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), has launched the Arctic Challenge for Sustainability III (ArCS III) . ArCS III is the largest comprehensive Arctic research project in Japan, and will be carried out from April 1, 2025 to the end of fiscal year 2029 with the support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Subsidy Program for Promoting Environmental Technology and Other Accelerated Development.

The Arctic region is the region where the effects of global warming are most pronounced, and the rapid changes are having a major impact on the entire planet, including the mid-latitudes. Therefore, the development of interdisciplinary research is required to contribute to solving social issues related to the sustainability of the Arctic region. In addition, it is an urgent task to fill the observation gaps in the Arctic region, understand the actual state of environmental change, and improve the reliability of future predictions based on that understanding.

From Hokkaido University, researchers from a wide range of fields, including natural sciences, humanities and social sciences, and engineering, will participate in the ArCS III project. In particular, Professor Tomonori Sato Faculty of Environmental Earth Science will lead the research on the "climate disaster issue" as the representative of the project, and Professor Hiroji Ueno Faculty of Fisheries Sciences will lead the research on the "biodiversity issue" as the representative of the project. In addition, we will continue our interdisciplinary research in Greenland, where we have had a proven track record, in collaboration with the local community. Furthermore, we will be responsible for human resource development projects to train the next generation of Arctic researchers, centering on the Arctic Arctic Research Center. In addition to sending young researchers and graduate students overseas, including to the Arctic region, we will provide a comprehensive polar education program, including practical training and special lectures both domestically and overseas.

For more information, please see here. *You will be redirected to the Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center website.