The International Glaciological Society will hold an International Symposium on ‘Ice Streams and Outlet Glaciers’ in 2025. The symposium will be hosted by the Department of Geography, Durham University, Durham, UK, on 21-25th July 2025.
1. THEME
Ice streams and outlet glaciers are important components of an ice sheet’s mass balance and their behaviour directly impacts on global mean sea level. These corridors of fast-flowing ice have been described as the ‘arteries’ of an ice sheet and their distinction is largely semantic, with ice streams bordered by slower-moving ice and outlet glaciers bordered by exposed bedrock at the surface. Since the recognition of the importance of these features in the 1970s, there has been a huge growth in their investigation. This began with the pioneering work on West Antarctic ice streams and has subsequently expanded to studies of ice streams and outlet glaciers in all of the world’s major ice sheets and ice masses. Of urgent concern for society are recent observations of dynamic changes in ice streams and outlet glaciers which are thought to be partly responsible for an acceleration in global mean sea-level rise.
In parallel, those studying palaeo-ice sheets have long-recognised the distinctive geomorphology of ice streams in both marine and terrestrial settings. The study of palaeo-ice streams offers an unprecedented opportunity to reconstruct their behaviour over time-scales much longer than modern observations permit, generating new insights into the spatial and temporal controls on their flow, including longer-term perspectives on retreat rates and thinning histories. The beds and marginal areas of palaeo-ice streams and outlet glaciers are also more accessible for investigation, leading to new insights regarding the mechanisms of sediment erosion, transport and deposition beneath fast-flowing ice, including the formation of subglacial bedforms; while also informing understanding of meltwater transport pathways and processes operating at the ice-ocean interface.
In addition to empirical studies, there have been major advances in our ability to simulate ice stream and outlet glacier behaviour in numerical models. Moreover, observations and reconstructions of ice streams/outlet glaciers have provided useful data to test and calibrate numerical models, and recent developments have seen improved projections of mass loss.
The aim of this symposium is to bring together scientists working on both modern and palaeo-ice streams/outlet glaciers, along with those using numerical modelling, in order to facilitate greater interaction and the cross-pollination of ideas, data and theoretical insight on one of glaciology’s most important topics.
2. SUGGESTED TOPICS
We seek papers and presentations on any aspect of ice streams and outlet glaciers, including observations at a range of spatial and temporal scales and insights gleaned from numerical modelling. Key topics include (but are not limited to):
1. Observations of ice streams/outlet glaciers and their links to the ocean-climate system
2. Interactions between ice streams/outlet glaciers and floating ice shelves/ice tongues
3. Geophysical studies of ice streams/outlet glaciers, including englacial and subglacial observations, and processes of sediment erosion, transport, and deposition
4. The influence of hydrology on ice stream/outlet glacier dynamics (e.g. evolution of subglacial drainage systems, meltwater pathways and supraglacial/subglacial lake drainage)
5. Reconstructions of palaeo-ice streams/outlet glaciers, including their links to the ocean-climate system and investigations of their subglacial sediments and landforms
6. Numerical modelling studies of past, present and future ice stream/outlet glacier behaviour and/or of key processes relating to their behaviour
7. The role of ice streams/outlet glaciers in ice sheet instabilities (e.g. Heinrich events)
3. INVITED SPEAKERS
Chris Clark(University of Sheffield, UK), Ellyn Enderlin (Boise State University, USA), Christina Hulbe(University of Otago, New Zealand), Ian Joughin (University of Washington, Seattle, USA), Eric Rignot (University of California Irvine, USA), Monica Winsborrow (UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway).
4. ABSTRACT AND PAPER PUBLICATION
Participants who wish to present at the Symposium (oral or poster) should submit an abstract by 24th March 2025. Accepted abstracts will be posted on the Symposium’s website.
The Council of the International Glaciological Society will publish a thematic issue of the Annals of Glaciology on topics consistent with the symposium themes. Submissions to this issue will not be contingent on presentation at the Symposium, and material presented at the symposium is not necessarily affirmed as being suitable for consideration for this issue of the Annals. Participants are encouraged, however, to submit manuscripts for this Annals volume. Paper submissions will open on 1st May 2025 and the deadline for submitting papers is 1st December 2025. https://www.igsoc.org/annals/a84_call_4_papers.pdf[CS1]
5. REGISTRATION FEES
All fees are in UK pound sterling (£)
Early-bird registration until 5th May 2025
– Participant (IGS member): £355
– Participant (not IGS member): £385
– Student or retired (IGS member): £295
– Student or retired (not IGS member): £325
– Delegate registration surcharge from 5th May to 5th July 2025: add £50
The registration fee includes the event management and organisation, conference pack, the Icebreaker on the Monday evening, the mid-week excursion, all lunches and morning/afternoon refreshments on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and refreshments during the poster session.
The Conference Dinner on Thursday is limited to 200 people (first come, first served) and can be paid for separately at registration:
– Conference Dinner (three course meal, including some complementary drinks): £50
Accompanying persons are welcome to attend the excursion and conference dinner, which can be paid for separately.
Please check whether you will require a visa to enter the UK. If you need an invitation letter, please contact the IGS office at igsoc@igsoc.org. The sooner you do this the more likely it is that your visa will be processed in time.
6. STUDENT AND EARLY CAREER EVENTS AND SUPPORT
The Early-Career Glaciology Group (EGG:http://igsegg.org/) will be organising an interactive panel discussion on the evening of Tuesday 21st for Early Career Scientists (ECSs). A panel of Editors from leading glaciology/palaeo-glaciology journals will provide their top tips for successfully navigating the publication pathway. Discussion will be encouraged throughout the panel and will include ample question time from participants. It is anticipated that this discussion will have a duration of around 1.5 hours. This will be followed by a dinner that will be an excellent opportunity to connect with other cryosphere ECSs. More information will follow soon on the local website and at ‘@egg_igs'.
7. PROGRAM
The symposium will include oral and poster sessions, with ample free time for discussion. Additional activities will include an opening icebreaker (evening of Monday 21st), a conference dinner in Hatfield College (Thursday 24th) and a mid-week excursion on Wednesday 23rd to explore the glacial history and glacial geomorphology of palaeo-ice stream beds in northern England, including a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of ‘Hadrian’s Wall’.
8. VENUE
The symposium will be held in the Teaching and Learning Centre, Durham University, which is located on the Lower Mountjoy Campus, just 10-15 mins walk from the historic centre of Durham city, where there are numerous restaurants and traditional pubs, bars and cafes; as well as several tourist attractions and walking trails along the wooded banks of the River Wear. Durham University is England’s third oldest and the Department of Geography (founded in 1928) is recognised as one of the leading centres of geographical research and education in the world and with a strong focus on ice sheets, ice streams and sea level change.
9. LOCATION
Durham is a small (pop. 50,000), but spectacular cathedral city in north-east England with a rich heritage. Narrow cobbled streets wind their way around the rocky peninsula carved by a meander in the River Wear to the majestic Norman cathedral and castle, which are a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.
10. ACCOMMODATION
We are pleased to be able to offer budget bed-and-breakfast accommodation in one of the University’s 16 residential undergraduate colleges:
Single En-suite room at Hatfield College(DH1 3LG), £60 per room, per night; which includes breakfast.
A number of hotels have provided University rates for the symposium delegates. You must contact these hotels and make the bookings yourself, quoting ‘Durham University’ in your booking. All hotels listed below are located within 15-20 min walking distance of the conference venue. July can be busy with tourists and early booking is recommended.
Hotel Indigo
Durham Royal County Hotel, Marriott
Radisson Blu, Durham
Kingslodge Inn, Durham
Travelodge, Durham
Premier Inn, Durham City
11. TRAVEL
Durham city is well-served by various transport links. Newcastle International Airport is only 45 mins by road/rail and is well-connected to various European hubs (e.g. London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Paris). There are also regular train services along the East Coast railway line to London (2 hr 40 mins) and Edinburgh (1 hr 40 mins), and regular services to Manchester, including direct train routes to Manchester Airport (2 hr 30 mins).
12. CONFERENCE DINNER
The conference dinner will be held in Durham University’s Hatfield College on the evening of Thursday 24th July. Founded in 1846, it occupies a city centre site above the River Wear on the World Heritage Site peninsula, lying adjacent to North Bailey and only a short distance from Durham Cathedral. The cost (£50) includes a three-course meal with complementary drinks, and a cash bar will also be available.
13. MID-CONFERENCE EXCURSION
On Wednesday 23rd July, there will be a mid-conference field trip to explore the glacial history and glacial geomorphology of palaeo-ice stream beds in northern England, including a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of ‘Hadrian’s Wall’.
14. SYMPOSIUM ORGANISATION
Local organising committee:
Caroline Clason & Chris Stokes (Co-Chairs), Tom Chudley, Katherine Deakin, Stewart Jamieson, Holly Jenkins, Grant Macdonald, Colm Ó Cofaigh, Dave Roberts, David Small, Matilda Weatherley, Holly Wytiahlowsky.
Science steering committee and scientific editors
Chief Editors: Chris Stokes (Durham University, UK) and Caroline Clason (Durham University, UK)
Scientific Editors: Louise Callard (Newcastle University, UK), Adrian Jenkins (Northumbria University, UK), Dave Roberts (Durham University), Andreas Vieli (University of Zurich, Switzerland); ice sheet remote sensing - TBC
15. FURTHER INFORMATION
Further information, including registration and abstract submission, is available via the conference website.
16. IMPORTANT DATES
International Symposium on Ice Streams and Outlet Glaciers
Opening of online abstract submission and registration: 1st February 2025
Abstract submission deadline: 24th March 2025
Notification of abstract acceptance: 7th April 2025
Registration deadline: 5th May 2025
Late registration surcharge starts: 6th May 2025
Deadline for full refund: 5th June 2025
Deadline for late registration: 5th July 2025
Symposium starts: 21st July 2025
Paper submission deadline: 1st December 2025
Final revised papers deadline: 1st May 2026
The Call for Papers for the Annals of Glaciology is posted on https://www.igsoc.org/annals/a83_call_4_papers.pdf.
Accepted papers will be published as soon as authors have returned their proofs and all corrections have been made.
Hard copy publication is scheduled for mid to late 2026.
PROGRAM
The symposium will include oral and poster sessions, with ample free time for discussion. Additional activities will include an opening icebreaker, a conference dinner and a mid-week day-trip to explore the glacial history and glacial geomorphology of palaeo-ice stream beds in northern England, including a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of ‘Hadrian’s Wall’.
