The 3rd Asian Conference on Permafrost (ACOP 2026) was successfully held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 29 June to 2 July 2026, under the theme “Challenges Posed by Asian Permafrost Thaw to the Global Community.” Hosted by the Institute of Geography and Geoecology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and the Mongolian Permafrost Association under the auspices of the International Permafrost Association (IPA), ACOP 2026 brought together approximately 350 scientists, engineers, students, and practitioners from 23 countries to exchange the latest scientific knowledge and strengthen international collaboration in permafrost research.
The scientific programme featured 17 thematic sessions covering climate change and permafrost dynamics, cryohydrology, ecosystem responses, carbon cycling, geohazards, engineering in permafrost regions, remote sensing, numerical modelling, monitoring networks, and interactions between frozen ground and society. Participants delivered approximately 250 oral and poster presentations, highlighting new observations, methodological advances, and innovative approaches to understanding and managing rapidly changing permafrost environments.
Several side events enriched the scientific programme. On 28 June, the Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN) Workshop, the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P) Workshop, and the Rock Glacier Inventories and Kinematics (RGIK) side meeting brought together early-career researchers and international experts to discuss monitoring strategies, data sharing, scientific networking, and future collaborative initiatives. These events provided valuable opportunities for capacity building and strengthened connections among the next generation of permafrost scientists.
One of the distinguishing features of ACOP 2026 was its strong support for early-career researchers. The Local Organizing Committee, together with the IPA, PYRN, and conference partners, provided travel and registration support to numerous young scientists. The Mongolian organizers awarded travel grants to 22 undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral researchers, while PYRN, together with the IPA, supported 22 additional early-career researchers from universities and research institutes across Asia, Europe, and North America, enabling broader participation and international scientific exchange.
A significant scientific outcome of the conference was the agreement to publish selected contributions in a Special Issue of Permafrost and Periglacial Processes. This special issue will showcase high-quality research presented at ACOP 2026 and further disseminate recent advances in Asian and global permafrost science to the international research community.
Scientific field excursions formed an important component of the conference. More than 180 international participants joined excursions to the Khentii, Khangai, Khuvsgul, and Altai Mountains, where they observed Mongolia’s diverse mountain permafrost environments, long-term monitoring sites, glaciers, cryogenic landforms, and the environmental impacts of permafrost degradation.
The conference also celebrated outstanding scientific achievements. During the closing ceremony, Professor Sebastian Westermann (University of Oslo, Norway) and Professor Tonghua Wu (Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China) were awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences in recognition of their internationally recognized scientific contributions and their long-standing collaboration with Mongolian researchers.
ACOP 2026 further strengthened international cooperation by providing a platform for discussions on expanding collaborative research projects, establishing joint laboratories, enhancing long-term monitoring programmes, and promoting capacity building in both fundamental and engineering permafrost science.
The successful organization of ACOP 2026 was the result of more than a year of dedicated preparation by the Organizing Committee in close cooperation with the IPA. The conference was supported by session conveners, reviewers, numerous volunteers, partner institutions, sponsors, and members of the International Advisory Committee, whose collective efforts ensured the successful delivery of the largest Asian Conference on Permafrost held to date.
Participants expressed overwhelmingly positive feedback, highlighting the high scientific quality of the programme, the excellent organization, and the warm hospitality of the Mongolian hosts. Beyond the scientific sessions, the conference provided opportunities to experience Mongolia’s unique landscapes, nomadic culture, and rich natural heritage, fostering new friendships and strengthening international scientific networks.
The Organizing Committee sincerely thanks the IPA, the International Advisory Committee, all participating institutions, sponsors, volunteers, and every participant whose enthusiasm, expertise, and scientific contributions made ACOP 2026 a memorable and highly successful event.
With our sincere appreciation and warmest regards,
Provided by: Dashtseren Avirmed
