Washington, DC, September 27, 2006 -- The Arctic is melting, according to Norwegian and American scientists. In our Arctic back yard, climate change is no longer a matter of if or when, it is happening now. The Royal Norwegian Embassy and the Carnegie Institution will host a research conference on October 2-4 at the Carnegie Institution, 1530 P Street NW, Washington, DC. The conference highlights the observed rapid Arctic warming as a bellwether for global climate change.

The conference features leading scientists, such as Nobel Prize laureate Dr. Peter Agre of Duke University, presenting the latest research in their area. Speakers also include Andrew Revkin, renowned science writer for the New York Times.

Opened by Dr. Richard A. Meserve, president of the Carnegie Institution, and H.E. Knut Vollebaek, Ambassador of Norway to the United States, the 4th Transatlantic Research Conference focuses on the Arctic as a key observation post for global climate change. The conference will emphasize the importance of transatlantic research cooperation and explore how research on the Arctic can form a basis for policy initiatives.

Additional program includes exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution and the Carnegie Institution as well as a tour of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and a concert premiere of a Norwegian work by flutist Sir James Galway at the Kennedy Center. See program link below for details.

The conference comes as the governments of the United States and Norway is set to sign a continuation of a bilateral cooperation agreement on space exploration and as we look ahead to the International Polar Year in 2007. The International Polar Year was proclaimed by the International Council for Science and the World Meteorological Organization (United Nation agency) to focus scientific study on climate change in the Polar Regions.

The conference is organized by the Norwegian Research, Innovation & Higher Education Fo
'"/>

Contact: Christian Hansson
cha@mfa.no
202-944-8930
Carnegie Institution
27-Sep-2006