Tools, Games, and Data
Phot by Sergey Furman in Tilichiki, Russia
Ecochains
The polar regions are special places full of unique animals who depend on sea ice to live. They are also the fastest changing places on Earth. How do these changes affect the ecosystems, what can the animals do to survive, and how can you help? EcoChains is a fun and easy-to-learn card game for all ages. In these 2-4 player games of strategy and survival, players build food webs, learn about the importance of sea ice, and see the potential impact of future changes on the ecosystem.
S. Pfirman is adapting EcoChains for digital gaming and the Beringia Region - including Russia.
An Iñupiaq version is in development with Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds and elder from Utqiaġvik, AK.
SITU | sea ice tracking utility
SITU enables tracking of sea ice with a starting location and time selected, the motion vector data are retrieved and applied to the parcel from the beginning to the end of the selected time interval. Time can be set to go forward or backward. The ice drifts are combined with ice concentration maps to distinguish between formation (or melting) of ice and existing ice drifting into (or out of) a location. Supported with prior external funding - SITU provides a foundation for conversations about sea ice change and has significant decision support potential.
G.G. Campbell, S. Pfirman, B. Tremblay, R. Newton, W. Meier, C. Fowler. The Ice Tracker.
coproduction of sea ice science
The team is developing a database of all Arctic sea ice research (available through Scopus). The team is analyzing the scholarship for the type of extent of participatory research methods and coproduction with Indigenous communities. Preliminary results were presented at the International Association for the Study of the Commons Anthropocene Virtual Conference in 2021.
Photo by Sergey Furman