Permafrost Comics: Bridging the gap between science and society

• Main Authors: Rudy, A., Bouchard, F., Deshpande, B., Fritz, M., Malenfant-Lepage, J., Paquette, M., Hogström, E., Lepage, J., Morgenstern, A., Nieuwendam, A., Oliva, M., Siewert, M., Weege, S.
• Format: Lecture
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: Arctic; Climate change; International Permafrost Association; permafrost
• Online Access: https://gfzpublic.gfz-potsdam.de/pubman/item/item_5023076

Here we present the first results of an entertaining and easily understandable scientific-based comic on the impacts of climate change in permafrost areas. Education and outreach is a fundamental component of scientific research activities. Especially for Arctic science, the involvement of local communities and the diffusion of scientific knowledge in schools is now an essential task on every researcher?s to-do list. The International Permafrost Association (IPA) Action Groups ?A Frozen-Ground Cartoon? and ?Permafrost and Culture? aim at filling the gap between indigenous knowledge, complex scientific results and outreach to the general public. It is possible to change global thinking, especially in relation to environmental friendly policy and industry, but only if awareness to the sensitive Arctic regions can be brought to the general public and to political decision makers. This can be hard to achieve, as scientific publications and knowledge are difficult to access for the general public. Permafrost comics explain the impact of climate change in permafrost areas, its effects on local communities, 172 ASM2016 Conference Program Oral Presentation and Poster Abstracts wildlife and changing landscape. We provide handouts with simple scientific background information that can be used by school teachers as educational material. The comics are part of a larger outreach and education project including posters and a short Frostbyte video. Everything will be freely available on the IPA website for download. For more information: https://www. researchgate.net/project/A-Frozen-Ground-CartoonExplaining-international-permafrost-research-usingcomic-strips http://ipa.arcticportal.org/activities/actiongroups