25 March 2025 | 16:00 - 18:00 (MDT)
Open Session - HYBRID
Room: UMC Third Floor - 384
Organisers: Michaela Louise Coote (University of Galway, Ireland); Charlotte Gehrke (Nord University, Norway); Christine Barnard (ArcticNet, Canada)
Session Description:
Research cooperation and science diplomacy have a long and dynamic history in the Arctic. For the most part, this cooperation has been based upon the need to work on shared challenges across various epistemological and practical divides. The focus in the Arctic has been on a variety of topics, from environmental protection to sovereignty, as well as human rights through the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) perspectives in decision-making processes. However, it is often difficult for all actors to agree on a path ahead making win-win scenarios difficult to achieve. Thus, research cooperation and science diplomacy help stake- and right-holders build methodologies and outcomes that meet shared goals. Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent condemnation of Russia's actions, there have been diverging approaches to Arctic research cooperation and science diplomacy across the Arctic states, institutions, and communities. Further, the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in decision-making and awareness of the roles of IPs is constantly evolving. This means that Arctic research cooperation and diplomacy is in a state of normative transition and, as a result, it is important to reassess and articulate the aims and objectives of Arctic research cooperation and its role in diplomacy moving forward.
This session aims to inform the work of ICARP Research Priority Team 4: Arctic Research Cooperation and Diplomacy (RPT4). It will build on and share insights from previous discussions and engagement – in particular, a community-inclusive scoping exercise undertaken by RTP4 at the Arctic Circle Assembly (ACA) to understand who the main actors and stakeholders are in Arctic research cooperation. This session aims to include and seek the input of a variety of actors such as youth, business, researchers, IPs, and other key stake- and right-holders to understand why Arctic research cooperation and diplomacy is important and for whom. In this session, RPT4 will present the results of the scoping exercise at the ACA and other engagements, encourage discussion to further articulate the current and future aims and objectives of Arctic research cooperation, and explore what additional information and/or discussions may be needed to further develop the finding and recommendations of ICARP IV.