27 March 2025 | 10:30 - 12:00 (MDT)
Open Session - HYBRID
Room: UMC Fourth Floor - 425
Organisers: Hazel Shapiro (US Arctic Observing Network, USA); Sandy Starkweather (University of Colorado, CIRES/NOAA, USA); Vanessa Raymond (Alaska Center for Energy and Power, USA)
Session Description:
Creating ethical, equitable, and impactful connections between researchers from ‘western’ traditions and Indigenous communities are increasingly recognized as a critical success factors for developing inclusive and just observing and data systems. Funding agencies have increased emphasis on research that has tangible benefits for communities and decision-makers. In response, ‘western' researchers and funders have taken steps to center societal benefits in their proposals or funding calls; whereas, Indigenous community-centered work often emphasizes building and maintaining meaningful relationships. Engaging with Indigenous communities through societal impact evaluation is one path toward achieving these diverse objectives in observing and data system design. The session invites contributions that explore the diverse practices of societal impact-based approaches in guiding research, observing, and data system planning. In addition to sharing good practices, we seek to identify actionable areas where improvements are needed or where practice convergence can achieve broader goals. In particular, we invite ideas to achieve greater equity for Indigenous-led efforts and innovative participatory presentations. This includes reflecting on how these practices are in conversation with Indigenous data sovereignty considerations encapsulated in the CARE principles such as collective benefit, ethics, and responsibility concerns related to research, observations, and data governance.