Trump Appoints Top US Arctic Research Position to Key Person Behind Greenland Visits US President Trump has appointed Tom Dans to lead the federal agency that advises the White House and Congress on America’s research activities in the Arctic. Dans has recently been involved in promoting closer US-Greenlandic ties.
Scientists Will Freeze Into the Arctic Ice for Research Next year, a crew of up to 18 will drift across the Arctic Ocean in the newTara Polar Stationresearch vessel while collecting data and knowledge about the sea ice and the Arctic Ocean.
Secretary McMahon Should Consider Establishing a National Resource Center on Arctic Studies within the University of Alaska System The U.S. Department of Education needs to address the geographic bias against Arctic Studies and Pacific Studies in the NRC Program. That could start with the establishment of a Center for Arctic Studies within the University of Alaska System, writes researcher Michael Walsh in this op-ed.
A Quick Playbook for Congressional Oversight on Arctic Research Op-ed: It is clear that there are many Arctic research issues that warrant more engagement by the U.S. Congress, including potential non-compliance issues with statutory obligations, writes researcher Michael Walsh.
ARCUS Shuts Down, Highlights Dire Situation for US Arctic Researchers The Arctic Research Consortium of the United States has shut down, illustrating the tense situation among US Arctic researchers, says researcher Michael Walsh. "There is tremendous fear among Arctic researchers in the United States. I have colleagues who are afraid to speak to the press about the shutdown due to fears of retaliation."
US Arctic Research Consortium Shuts Down The Arctic Research Consortium of the United States will shut down this month after having its funding slashed earlier this year. The closure reflects the Trump Administration's move toward securitizing US Arctic research, according to Arctic researchers.
Arctic Research Should Advance More Than U.S. National Security Interests The U.S. Government does not have a good grasp on the federally funded research needs for advancing U.S. national interests in the Arctic. That became clear to me when the U.S. Arctic Research Commission (USARC) recently published a new report that was intended to articulate those needs, writes researcher Michael Walsh in this op-ed.
New Nordic Cooperation to Study Sami Rights and Environmental Protection in the North A new Nordic research project will explore how climate change and tourism add pressure to the nature and Indigenous ways of living in the Arctic. The project will look at how legislation and political frameworks can be utilized to ensure the sustainable management of national parks in Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
Researcher Anka Ryall Highlights Female Voices in the Norwegian Polar History Anka Ryall's research career has been marked by a series of coincidences, but women's travel literature has remained a recurring theme throughout. In the bookPolar Women, she sheds light on the women in what is usually a very masculine representation of the Norwegian polar history.
Research Institute Wilson Center Shuts Down After Executive Order The Trump administration's attack on research and education has claimed another victim, the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. The nonpartisan foreign policy think tank is home to the Polar Institute, a leading forum for discussion and policy analysis of Arctic and Antarctic issues.
Trump Cuts Target US Arctic Research Commission to Reverse Course Days Later, Wilson Center’s Polar Initiative Also Affected In a continuation of the chaotic political environment in Washington DC a new Trump executive order initially targeted the US Arctic Research Commission, only to reverse course days later. The Wilson Center, home of the Polar Initiative, has also been slated for cuts.
Need for a Canadian-European Security Consensus, Says Researcher Trump's comments about acquiring Canada and Greenland reinforce the importance of developing Canadian-European collaboration regarding the Arctic, says research fellow Gabriella Gricius at the North American and Arctic Defense and Security Network.
"The Norwegian Government 'Greenwashes' the Norwegian Svalbard Policy" Bodø (High North News): Svalbard Researcher Tiril Vold Hansen wants her research to clarify to the Svalbard inhabitants how the government thinks and prioritizes when implementing new regulations for the archipelago. "Norwegian authorities prefer local frustration over an international Svalbard debate," she says.
Beate Has Researched the Arctic Conferences: “They Gather an Arctic Elite” Researcher Beate Steinveg at Nord University in Northern Norway has written her doctorate on the major Arctic conferences and their function in politics and research. "The conferences gather the same people, a kind of Arctic elite," she says.
Only Half of the Arctic Will Convene in Northern Norway: "A Sensitive Topic" At the end of May, three Arctic conferences are combined to form the Arctic Congress. Around 1,500 researchers, policymakers, businesses, and students will gather in Bodø, Northern Norway, but half of the Arctic will be absent as sanctions against Russia continue to restrict Arctic research cooperation.
US Department of Homeland Security on New Visit in Tromsø: Seeking Arctic Knowledge Dimitri Kusnezov at the US Department of Homeland Security was recently in Tromsø, Northern Norway, for the second time in less than a year. At UiT, he was introduced to a wide range of Arctic research. Kusnezov says the department wants insight into how the world and the Arctic region appear, as seen from Norway.
Researching Kven and Norwegian-Finnish Youth: "We Do Not Know Enough" Researchers at UiT, the Arctic University of Norway, want to reduce discrimination of Kven and Norwegian-Finnish Youth. "Young people belonging to this cultural minority must feel seen and protected," says the researcher behind the project.
Russia to Cut Coal Production on Svalbard by 80 000 Tonnes by 2032 The yearly coal production in Barentsburg is planned to be reduced from 120 000 to 40 000 tonnes, according to the Russian Minister of the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic.
Russia With Expert Support for Development of Research Station With BRICS on Svalbard Russia's company on Svalbard, Trust Arktikugol, has recently entered into a strategic partnership with a university in Arkhangelsk. The company will actively develop a research station together with the BRICS states and needs support in this work, says the director.
Russia Wants to Cooperate With BRICS Countries on Research on Svalbard Trust Arktikugol, the Russian state-owned company on Svalbard, will develop an international Arctic science station in cooperation with the BRICS countries – Brazil, India, China, and South Africa. That is announced by Russia's Minister of the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic.
Arctic Council Paused: The Search for A Future for Arctic Cooperation Continues “We are focused on making sure that what we do now will not create obstacles to our later returning to normalcy”, Norway’s Arctic Ambassador Morten Høglund says about the pause in Arctic cooperation.
The High North Tour 2021: What Happens to Cultural Entrepreneurs during the Pandemic? Harstad: “I am first and foremost worried about those who now leave the cultural sector”, says PhD Candidate Heidi Angell Strøm at UiT Harstad. What was meant to be a research project on cultural entrepreneurs in the Arctic instead became a study in how the pandemic has hit culture in the High North.
Japan to Build New Icebreaker for Arctic Research The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology will in 2021 begin the construction of a new icebreaker to conduct research in the Arctic.
Research Millions to Maritime Research in the Arctic The Centre for High North Logistics in Kirkenes, Norway has been granted more than NOK 7 million. The project funds are to be spent on research and development of Arctic maritime logistics and transport solutions in the Barents region.
Researching Fish Landing Facilities in Svalbard: “Raises A Series of Questions on Different Levels” A group of researchers are researching the opportunities and challenges related to fish-landing facilities in Svalbard. Foreign policy also matters in this context.
“Small, Invasive Sea Animals may Change the Arctic as We Know it” Are southern species already capable of invading the Barents Sea? Marine biologist Raphaelle Descoteaux works to find out. Together with colleagues at the University of Tromsø she researches small sea animals’ quest to reach the Arctic Ocean.
Corona Virus in the High North May Have Major Consequences What happens if the corona virus comes to small communities in the High North? Researcher and doctor Jon Øyvind Odland is clear that the risk is there, and that a potential spreading of the virus may happen fast.
High North Dialogue: No Dialogue, No Finding Best Solutions On 19 March, the fifth High North Hero is to be awarded at the High North Dialogue in Bodø, Norway. With former winners including a former prime minister and a world-class scientist, the award’s symbol is an important contribution to development and creativity in the High North.
Oulu is Well-Developed, Bodø is Well-Connected, and then you have Anchorage... The concept of ‘smart cities’ is linked to the use of modern technology to improve life quality in cities. Researcher thinks that ‘smart cities’ in the Arctic can contribute to attract people and making younger people stay.
One Week Into Their Overwintering Stay on Svalbard, Hilde and Sunniva Have Already Faced Challenges The lack of fresh water and firewood could be among Hilde Fålun Strøm and Sunniva Sørby's biggest challenges this winter.
Arctic Researchers Will Be Locked in Sea Ice For a Year to Study the Changing Polar Region The German icebreaker "Polarstern" is one of the world's largest research vessels. On Friday the ship will depart from Tromsø, Norway, and let itself become trapped in the ice for over one year.
Hilde and Sunniva Will Spend All Winter at a Small Cabin in the Middle of Nowhere on Svalbard Hilde Fålun Strøm's lifelong dream is about to come true. Next Friday she and Sunniva Sørheim departs from Longyearbyen to over-winter on Svalbard.
Samantha Saville think it’s important to highlight the societal changes that accompany environmental changes It has been four years since Samantha Savilles last visit to Svalbard and there was plenty to talk about given the shift away from coal mining to a more heavily tourism-centred economy, the resulting shifts in society and continuing environmental change.
Dark Skies for America’s Future Icebreaker Fleet A new report published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) casts a dark cloud over the icy shimmer of hope that the Coast Guard will be able to deliver on its 2023 icebreaker promise.
