26 March 2025 | 10:30 - 12:00 (MDT)
Open Session - HYBRID
Room: Glen Miller Ballroom - UMC 208
Organisers: Manish Tiwari (National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research); Rohit Srivastava (National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research); David Hik (Polar Knowledge Canada)
Session Description:
Arctic research typically involves scientists, policymakers, other stakeholders from various countries, Arctic residents and Indigenous rights-holders pooling their resources, expertise, and infrastructure to address pressing issues related to climate change, biodiversity, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic development in the Arctic. These programs often focus on interdisciplinary approaches, integrating Indigenous knowledge and traditional scholarship from fields such as environmental science, climatology, oceanography, biology, and anthropology.
National Arctic programs often involve partnerships between government agencies, research institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and Indigenous organizations. They may also leverage international platforms such as the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum for Arctic states and Indigenous Peoples, to develop and coordinate research efforts and implement policy recommendations. These programs play a vital role in advancing scientific knowledge, informing policy decisions, and promoting sustainability of the Arctic, ultimately contributing to the long-term health and well-being of Arctic people, the changing Arctic region and the planet as a whole.
The challenges of Arctic research include remote locations, limited infrastructure, data collection and sharing issues, interdisciplinary collaboration, socio-economic and cultural complexities, and impacts of climate change. Nevertheless, international cooperation and engagement with Indigenous Peoples is essential for the success of Arctic research. The present session invites papers from different nations, NGOs, and Indigenous Organizations on the challenges they face in conducting research in the Arctic and the opportunities for collaborations to overcome these challenges.