Arctic Sea Ice Restoration Research Fund

Ocean Visions' fund created to identify, prioritize, and support research on cutting-edge ideas to slow the loss of Arctic sea ice and reduce escalating climate risk.

Geographic Scope: Arctic region, with global implications

Focus Areas: Research on novel approaches to protect and restore Arctic summer sea ice

Current Research Priorities (2026 cohort):

Cloud-based approaches (4 funded projects):

• Mixed phase cloud thinning (enhancing release of trapped heat)
• Marine cloud brightening (increasing reflection of solar energy back to space)
• Different methods to explore how clouds and their heat-trapping/heat-reflecting properties influence sea ice

Sea ice retention approaches (2 funded projects):

• Reducing or blocking sea ice export through Nares or Fram Straits

Research methodology: Projects use historical or model data; do NOT include fieldwork or collection of new observations

Scientific Justification:

• Arctic summer sea ice is critical to global climate regulation and regional climate stability
• Projected to disappear by 2050
• Current declines have accelerated regional warming in the Arctic
• Arctic warming increases melt of Greenland Ice Sheet and thaw of Arctic permafrost
• These changes contribute to sea level rise and greenhouse gas release, disrupting Arctic ecosystems, ocean circulation, global weather patterns, and societal systems
• Most projections show emissions reductions and carbon removal alone unlikely to prevent complete disappearance of summer sea ice in time

What They Support:

• Research grounded in Ocean Visions' Arctic Sea Ice Road Maps (which assess 21 potential approaches)
• Prioritizes scientific merit, interdisciplinary approaches, and careful risk assessment
• Foundation for future work to advance knowledge on ecological, social, and ethical dimensions
• Development of guidance on safeguards and stage gates for future research

Selection Process: Competitive process including review by independent international expert panel; final award decisions made by Ocean Visions

Key Partners: UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency (which also funds sea ice restoration research)

Application Process

Open Call: Ocean Visions solicitSed proposals through an open call for "Advancing Understanding of Approaches to Protect and Restore Arctic Sea Ice"

Review & Selection:

• Competitive review process
• Independent international expert panel review
• Final award decisions made by Ocean Visions
• Scientific merit, interdisciplinary approaches, and careful risk assessment prioritized

Current Status: 2026 cohort of six projects recently selected and funded (announced February 12, 2026)

Note: Specific application deadlines and detailed submission requirements not provided in source material. Contact Ocean Visions for current application information.