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Jensen Arctic Museum will host three-day event covering variety of topics

As a general rule, a quest to learn anything about the Arctic region of our planet would begin in Monmouth.

That is especially true this week.

Western Oregon University and the Friends of the Jensen Arctic Museum are hosting "Why the Arctic Matters," a free symposium that takes place Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 28-30, on the WOU campus. Running in conjunction with the symposium is a "Four Winter Nights: An Arctic Film Festival," which features an Arctic-themed movie at 7 p.m. each night through Friday in Room 211 of the Instructional Technology Center.

Symposium presentations and the movies are all free.

"This is an excellent opportunity to educate people about climate change and about the Arctic," said Roben Jack-Larrison, curator of Jensen Arctic Museum. The museum is the only Arctic-themed one on the West Coast, and one of only two in the nation.

Jack-Larrison said the symposium has been a dream of museum patriots for several years. In the fall of 2008 and last spring, efforts were accelerated to bring it to fruition.

"I have been working here for three years, and the goal of the Friends to have this symposium has been discussed frequently," she said. "Everything fell in place this year."

Presentations will be wide reaching with a variety of visiting experts, covering topics that include climate change, wildlife biology, anthropology, Eskimo culture, Arctic security issues and native rights.

"It goes back to educating people about the arctic ecology and culture, so each presenter will give the audience the opportunity to understand a little bit about different parts of the Arctic," Jack-Larrison said.

Presentations are scheduled throughout the day Thursday and Friday, while Saturday will feature "Celebrating Arctic Arts," from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Museum on Church Street (next to the New PE building) with family activities, music, handicrafts and exhibits.

Jack-Larrison noted that the museum is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Corvallis Gazette-Times

The Jensen Arctic Museum, on the campus of Western Oregon University, is sponsoring a symposium, "Why the Arctic Matters," Thursday, Jan. 28, through Saturday, Jan. 30. (Contributed photo)

MONMOUTH -- The Jensen Arctic Museum, on the campus of Western Oregon University, is sponsoring a symposium, "Why the Arctic Matters," Thursday, Jan. 28, through Saturday, Jan. 30.

Symposium sessions are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Columbia Room of the Werner University Center.

Admission to all symposium sessions and the Saturday family activities at the museum is free. Parking permits can be obtained from the Public Safety office on campus on weekdays. Maps of campus are available on the WOU website.

The symposium has attracted international scholars to present lectures and poster sessions.

On Thursday, Jan. 28, the topic will be "Understanding the Arctic," and includes talks by experts on climate, wildlife habitat, Eskimo culture and archeology. There will be a reception from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Gentle House to meet the speakers. The film, "Quallunaat: Why White People are Funny" will be shown at 7 p.m. This film is a collaboration between filmmaker Mark Sandiford and Inuit satirist Zebedee Nungak.

On Friday, Jan. 29, the topic will be "Do Your Part," and the day will include a report from a NASA-funded team working on a teacher training program focused on climate change.

Another session is related to security issues raised by changes in the Arctic ice pack. Local author, Greg Craven will discuss his book, "What's the Worst Thing That Could Happen?" A film at 7 p.m.,"Before Tomorrow," depicts a tale of subsistence and survival. It is set in the Canadian far north of 1840.

Complete schedules and information at:

www.wou.edu/arctic.