ICASS is held every three years, bringing together people from all over the world to share ideas about social science research in the Arctic. ICASS VII, held in Akureyri in June 2011, attracted 450 participants from 30 different countries.

IASSA is now seeking proposals for sessions. Please submit them by 23 September 2013 to Cher Mazo (cherlyn.mazo@unbc.ca). Please include session title, name of session organizer and complete contact information, and a brief description of the session. General ideas on sessions also are gratefully accepted.

ICASS VIII's theme is Northern Sustainabilities. By using the plural, we underscore both that ‘sustainability’ has social, cultural, economic, political and environmental dimensions, and that definitions of the concept vary. Yet, while debating specific definitions, most would agree that working toward sustainable ways of living in the North and on approaches to sustainable engagement with the North, are critical both to the North’s and to the world’s future. Community sustainability in the North, whether for small settlements or large urban conglomerations, requires new models of food and energy security, and of access to employment, health care and social and cultural services for residents. The North is faced with demographic challenges to sustainability. Appropriate governance
regimes for renewable and non-renewable resources underpin sustainable development. We will welcome sessions and papers on all facets of sustainability in the North. And, as always, we also welcome sessions and papers on all other subjects of relevance to our members.

We encourage participation of indigenous peoples, northern residents, decision-makers and politicians, as well as academics, so that ICASS VIII provides a rich environment in which to advance discussions on sustainabilities in the North and on other Northern matters.

Please follow developments regarding ICASS VIII at our conference website:
http://resweb.res.unbc.ca/icass2014/index.htm

The Call for Papers will be distributed in Autumn 2013, with a preliminary list of sessions.
The University of the Arctic’s Council Meetings (20-21 May) will directly precede ICASS VIII, at UNBC.
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Cher Mazo
IASSA Secretary
E-mail: cherlyn.mazo@unbc.ca