21 March 2025 | 09:00 - 18:00 (MST)
Open Session - HYBRID
Room: UMC Fourth Floor - 415
Organizers: Navigating the New Arctic Convergent Working Groups: Fostering Indigenous-led Research and Arctic Observing Systems and Technologies, Mary Beth Jager, Heather Sauyaq Jean Gordon, Aurora Roth, Margaret Rudolf, Stanislav Ksenofontov, Dylan Blaskey, Casey Brayton, Louise Mercer, Courtney Carothers, Stacey Lucason Kitrea Takata-Glushkoff, & Mike DeLue
Event Description:
This workshop is co-hosted by NNA’s Convergent Working Groups on Fostering Indigenous-Led Research and Arctic Observing Systems and Technologies. It is designed for Arctic researchers at all career stages, with a special early morning session tailored for graduate students. Each interactive session builds on related concepts from earlier discussions, and participants are encouraged to commit to the full day.
Agenda:
9:00-10:00: “Setting the Scene” is a facilitated discussion providing valuable context for researchers from outside Arctic Indigenous communities who plan to work in these areas. It aims to equip participants with the tools and self-awareness needed for successful collaboration in these regions. This session will set the scene for the day from early career to experienced PIs.
10:30-12:00: “Low-cost, open-source, community-based methods” highlights how recent advances in low-cost, open-source observing methods provide an opportunity for researchers at all stages of their academic careers – from early-career researchers and students to principal investigators (PIs) – to combine cutting-edge technologies with local observations and community priorities. The session will outline the benefits and appropriate uses of these approaches aligning with FAIR and CARE principles, explore case studies of projects utilizing these methods, discuss the training requirements for scaling environmental observations ethically in Arctic communities, and collaboratively troubleshoot barriers alongside practical solutions.
13:30-15:30: "What are Our Roles and Responsibilities?” explores the pitfalls of cultural reductionism and rigid Euro-centric research process control in Arctic research systems. It will also highlight ways for students, researchers, especially principal investigators (PIs), to hold themselves accountable. We will reflect how our positionality affects our ability, perspective, roles, responsibilities, commitments to this transformational work.
16:00-18:00: “Course correcting” focuses on strategies for advancing the co-production of knowledge, especially in projects that are already underway ("the boat has left the harbor"). This session places special emphasis on the unique role early career researchers can play in these efforts. The session will be a mix of reflection, discussion, and knowledge sharing.