COVID-19 in the Arctic Assessment Report: Call for Abstracts and Proposals

The Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group welcomes abstracts for papers and proposals for other diverse contributions that will form part of a COVID-19 in the Arctic Assessment Report to be published by Arctic Yearbook as a special issue that will:

1. Consider the unique conditions and characteristics of pandemic management in the Arctic,
2. Examine the impacts and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic in the Arctic,
3. Share experiences and best practices from across the Arctic, emphasizing lessons learned at the community level,
4. Present research, including Indigenous and traditional knowledge transition, that supports future pandemic preparedness in the Arctic region, and
5. Provide policymakers with insights and advice that may inform pandemic management and improve resilience in the Arctic.

This report is a continuation of work conducted by the Arctic Council in 2020 that is compiled in the COVID-19 in the Arctic: A Briefing Document for Senior Arctic Officials and it will address the themes outlined in that document. These themes include public health actions and activities across the circumpolar Arctic and the consequences of pandemic and public health responses, with an emphasis on Indigenous and community perspectives.

Papers (5000-7000 words) should address these themes and we also welcome proposals for short case studies, commentaries, stories, and other forms of artistic and cultural expression (750-1500 words) from experts and knowledge holders.

Abstracts and proposals (300-400 words) should be submitted via email to Arctic.COVID.Report@sdwg.org by 1 April 2022 (DEADLINE POSTPONED - TO BE UDPATED WHEN APPROPROPRIATE). Please review the more detailed information about the submission process below and if you have any further questions, contact Arctic.COVID.Report@sdwg.org.

Arctic Yearbook is an open access publication and content published through this special issue will be available to the public free of charge.

Instructions for Authors and Contributors

In our effort to produce a timely synthesis of issues and themes related to COVID-19 in the Arctic, we are seeking papers and contributions that address one or more of the following themes introduced in the COVID-19 in the Arctic: A Briefing Document for Senior Arctic Officials, which include:

Existing Public Health Actions and Activities Across the Circumpolar Arctic

• Epidemiological data
• Infectious disease monitoring and assessment
• Patient care, including vaccination and testing
• Public health information sharing, awareness and education
• Gathering of relevant data across local, regional, and national scales
• Risk management and mitigation
• Community and culturally grounded responses

Consequences of Pandemic and Public Health Responses

• Impacts on physical well-being and mental health
• Impacts on regional and local economies
• Impacts on social and cultural environments
• Impacts on vulnerable persons
• Impacts on knowledge production
• Community-level impacts
• Impacts on mobility
• Enabling public infrastructure

Exploring these themes and issues will help promote capacity building and resilience in Arctic communities and enhance preparedness in the face of future challenges. We are particularly interested in papers and contributions that consider the unique health and social needs of Arctic inhabitants, including the value and relevance of Indigenous traditional practices (social, cultural, and economic) and knowledge in connection with these themes.

Based on the findings and analyses presented, each paper should consider providing:

• Observations about existing knowledge gaps that require attention
• Potential areas for research collaboration
• Advice to policymakers

Authors are strongly encouraged to review and make linkages to COVID-19 in the Arctic: A Briefing Document for Senior Arctic Officials, as appropriate. We also welcome proposals for short case studies, commentaries, stories, and other forms of artistic and cultural expression (750-1500 words) from experts and knowledge holders.

Manuscript Review Process

Abstracts and proposals (300-400 words) should be submitted by 1 April 2022 (DEADLINE POSTPONED - TO BE UDPATED WHEN APPROPROPRIATE). Submissions should include the author(s) name(s), affiliation(s), and 1-2 themes that the paper will address from the list provided.

Abstracts and proposals will be reviewed and selected by the Report’s Editorial Board in cooperation with ArcticYearbook. Confirmation of accepted abstracts and proposals will be provided to authors by 20 April 2022 (POSTPONED - TO BE UDPATED WHEN APPROPROPRIATE) along with instructions and guidelines for submitted papers.

Draft papers will be due by 1 August 2022 (DEADLINE POSTPONED - TO BE UDPATED WHEN APPROPROPRIATE) and will be peer reviewed. Short case studies, commentaries, stories, and other forms of artistic and cultural expression will be due by 1 November 2022 (DEADLINE POSTPONED - TO BE UDPATED WHEN APPROPROPRIATE) and will be reviewed by the Editorial Board and external reviewers.

Feedback will be provided to authors by 1 November 2022 (DEADLINE POSTPONED - TO BE UDPATED WHEN APPROPROPRIATE) and final submissions will be due by 15 December 2022 (DEADLINE POSTPONED - TO BE UDPATED WHEN APPROPROPRIATE).

Release of the report is planned for Spring 2023 in conjunction with the 13^th Arctic Council Ministerial meeting (POSTPONED - TO BE UDPATED WHEN APPROPROPRIATE).