Dozens of scientists are descending on Unalaska this week for the Aleutian Life Forum.
Starting Tuesday, the five-day conference will bring together researchers and community leaders as they promote conservation and coastal resilience across the Aleutian Islands in the face of a changing climate.
At a recent City Council meeting, Mayor Shirley Marquardt encouraged community members to sit it on some of the many public lectures and workshops.
"It's a really extensive agenda talking about everything from subsistence fishing to ocean acidity to working with elders," she said. "It's huge."
The conference also includes presentations on coastal erosion, endangered species, and the risks of increasing vessel traffic.
The event features speakers from the Qawalangin Tribe, the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, the Alaska Sea Grant program, the Aleutian and Bering Sea Islands Landscape Conservation Cooperation, and more.
The Aleutian Life Forum starts Tuesday and runs through Friday. Register at the Grand Aleutian Hotel on Monday from 5-7 p.m. or on Tuesday before the conference kicks off at 8:15 a.m.