Science in Frozen Environments

The earth’s frozen regions feature in diverse ways throughout the history of modern science. As destinations for scientific expeditions, sites for the establishment of observatories and testing grounds, contact zones for western scientific and indigenous knowledge traditions, and as repositories of water supplies or climate data, these environments have been—and continue to be—sites of significant scientific interest and activity. Increasing concern over rising global temperatures has only helped to stimulate this interest and activity.
 

This working group offers a forum for scholars across the humanities and social sciences working on the history of science in (and on) frozen environments. Alongside high-altitude and high-latitude regions of the earth, it also includes the study of frozen materials such as snow, ice, and permafrost, as well as the role these materials play in wider earth systems. Sessions are designed to support new projects and publications exploring these histories. Participants will have the chance to give and receive feedback on their work, meet collaboration partners, discuss outreach opportunities, and generally help raise the profile of this diverse and pressing area of historical research.