I am currently a PhD candidate at the University of Lapland and a Research Associate at the University of Galway. My work focuses on Arctic meta-science, particularly in areas such as research cooperation, diplomacy, and the capacity of research networks to meet societal needs.
I was fortunate to attend the Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) for two key reasons. Firstly, I had the opportunity to present a project funded by Science Foundation Ireland titled “The Ability of Research Networks to Meet Societal Needs: Knowledge, Policy and Co-production.” I presented this work in the session ‘Approaches and Benefits to Research Coordination’, which brought together researchers engaged in coordinating Arctic science to meet a range of community and research needs. This session was incredibly insightful, allowing me to both deepen my understanding of coordination practices and expand my network, particularly across North America.
Secondly, I co-hosted a session titled ‘Actor Scoping: Aims and Objectives of Arctic Research Cooperation & Diplomacy’ as part of my ongoing role in the IASC Research Cooperation and Diplomacy sub-team. This session was especially timely, given the current challenges facing research diplomacy and the wide-ranging impacts on Arctic actors. Facilitating forward movement in this space is essential for both environmental protection and peacebuilding. My main goals in attending ASSW were to share my own research, engage with others working on similar topics, and build collective knowledge that can benefit the broader Arctic research community. I’m pleased to say that these objectives were met: I learned a great deal, made meaningful connections, and gained fresh perspectives that will inform my future work.
Part of the YoungArctic project, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. YoungArctic is a collaboration between High North Center (at Nord University), UArctic, and the International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA).Follow the project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngarcticproject/