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Congress: ICASS VII in Akureyri, Iceland, 2011
IASSA (International Arctic Social Sciences Association) organizes the seventh International Congress of the Arctic Social Sciences (ICASS VII) which will be held 22-26 June 2011 in Akureyri, Iceland. The working title for ICASS VII is Circumpolar Perspectives in Global Dialogue: Social Sciences Beyond the IPY. 

IASSA calls for concrete proposals, ideas and thoughts concerning themes of special interest for sessions and workshops at ICASS VII. Please submit your session proposals by September 15, 2010 to IASSA secretary Lara Olafsdottir and IASSA president Joan Nymand Larsen.

The congress provides various venues for the sharing of Arctic social science research and analysis of  outcomes of the International Polar Year in social-, human sciences, and related fields. This includes special project sessions, discussion panels, plenary presentations, and invited talks. A list of proposed ICASS sessions will be announced in October 2010.

Call for ICASS VII abstracts will be circulated by October 1, 2010, with a deadline for submission by December 15, 2010.

Please visit the IASSA webpage for updates on ICASS VII.

Conference: Climate Adaptation in the Nordic Countries: Science, Practice, Policy
Climate Adaptation in the Nordic Countries: Science, Practice, Policy is an international conference held in Stockholm 8-10 November 2010.

Climate change is rapidly becoming a reality to which society has to adapt. Scientists, planners and policymakers have started to address this challenge and the conference sets out to meet a growing demand for knowledge sharing on climate adaptation in the Nordic countries.

Climate Adaptation in the Nordic Countries will explore the links between adaptation science, practice, and policy. Taking an interdisciplinary perspective and involving stakeholders, the aim of the conference is to deliver insights for a socially relevant research agenda that advances the emerging science of adaptation and meets the needs of practitioners and policymakers.

Science, practice, policy: The conference invites scholars interested in climate risk, vulnerability and adaptation in a Nordic setting. Practitioners and policymakers are explicitly invited in order to stimulate discussion and the development of ideas between the realms of science, practice and policy.

The conference is an initiative of the Nordic Climate Change Adaptation Research Network (NORDCLAD-Net), which is funded by the Nordic Top-level research Initiative Effect Studies and Adaptation to Climate Change. It is coordinated and co-funded by the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Swedish research programme Mistra-SWECIA. It is also co-funded by the Swedish research council FORMAS and by the PLAN project, Oslo University.

For more information and updates, look at the conference website.

Dr Joan Nymand Larsen Coordinating Lead Author of Polar Regions chapter in 2014 IPCC Report
Dr Joan Nymand Larsen, Senior Scientist at the Stefansson Arctic Institute in Iceland has been selected to lead, with Dr Oleg Anisimov (Russia) the Polar regions (chapter 28) of the Working Group II (Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability) contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) due in 2014.    

New Report: Arctic Social Indicators
The Arctic Social Indicators (ASI) project is a project following up on the activities of the Arctic Human Development Report (AHDR), initiated by the Stefansson Arctic Institute. The report is now available here.

Visit by EU Working Group on Enlargement
EU Working group on enlargement visited the Stefansson Arctic Institute on 13^th May 2010 (Ascension Day). Presentation and discussion with director Níels Einarsson, Senior Scientist Dr Jón Haukur Ingimundarson and Senior Associate Scientist Dr Astrid Ogilvie on human dimensions of circumpolar issues: international organizations, educational initiatives and other projects with the Institute’s involvement and relevance for European presence and policy in the Arctic.

Seminar: Geopolitical and Legal Aspects of Canada’s and Europe’s Northern Dimensions
A seminar on Geopolitical and Legal Aspects of Canada’s and Europe’s Northern Dimensions will be held at the University of Alberta, Canada, May 27-28, 2010. See more here.

The seminar is jointly organized by the Canadian Circumpolar Institute (Canada), the Thule Institute (Finland), the Stefansson Arctic Institute (Iceland) and the Northern Research Forum.

With common concerns over circumpolar issues, international security, environmental protection, and sustainable development, Canada and the Nordic states display a strong sense of shared values and outlook. The aim of the seminar series (Biennial International Seminar Series: Canada’s and Europe’s Northern Dimensions) is to bring together policy-makers and researchers to explore common perspectives and future challenges of Canada's and Europe's northern regions. 

The seminar, the second in the series, will cover the following topics:
• The geopolitics of continental shelf claims
• Boundaries, borders and cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region
• The Northern North Atlantic: Greenland, Iceland and new political horizons
• Rethinking polar law: resource development and its consequences
• History of Northern development: lessons for the future
• Resource futures and Northern passages: energy, shipping and environment
• Roundtable Discussion

 There is an impressive line up of speakers for what promises to be an important event. The seminar has support from a number of Nordic embassies in Canada and will include speakers from Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, the Netherlands and the USA. Keynote speakers include H.E Mr Erik Vilstrup Lorenzen, the  Danish Ambassador to Canada, the Hon. Palle Christiansen, Minister of Finance and Nordic Cooperation in the Government of Greenland, and Dr. Ken Coates, Dean of Arts at the University of Waterloo.

Registration fee: $150 CDN (includes lunches and Reception). Registration deadline: May 25, 2010.
 

Conference: The Wealth of Sea and Coast: Initiatives, Innovation and the use of Cultural Heritage
The conference The Wealth of Sea and Coast: Initiatives, Innovation and the use of Cultural Heritage  will be held in Ketilshús in Akureyri, Friday the 7th of May 2010 as part of the European Union Project Fishernet – Fishing Cultural Heritage Network. See conference programme.

The Stefansson Arctic Institute is involved in the European Project Fishernet, a three year collaborative effort of fishing nations in Europe. The Fishernet Project was launched in September of 2008 with the objective of preserving, disseminating and utilising cultural heritage connected with sea-farers, environmental knowledge and the unique culture of fishing communities. For further information we invite you to visit the Fishernet website.  

The Stefansson Arctic Institute is a forum for co-operation with regards to multi-disciplinary research. The primary objectives are to promote sustainable development in northern areas and strengthen Icelandic participation in international endeavours in this field. Further to facilitate and coordinate Arctic research, gather and disseminate information regarding northern issues and provide advise for the Government.

Lecture: Fires from Beneath and Smoke from Above
Dr Astrid E.J.Ogilvie from the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) University of Colorado gives a lecture called Fires from Beneath and Smoke from Above: Environmental, Climatic, and Social Impacts of Volcanic Eruptions in Iceland in Historical Times in the Borgir foyer, University of Akureyri Campus, Wednesday May 12th at 12:10. The lecture is open to the public.

 

Health and Wellbeing in the Circumpolar Area: Master's Programme
The Master's Degree Programme in Health and Wellbeing in the Circumpolar Area (MCH) is an international two-year Master's Degree programme of 120 ECTS (60 North American credit hours) concentrating on the special features, questions, and challenges related to health and wellbeing in the circumpolar area. MCH graduates will be awarded a Master of Health Sciences from the University of Oulu, Finland. The MCH graduates can work in administrative and managerial positions within health care services and in health promotion, education, development, planning, and research.

Application Deadline is Wednesday, 31 March 2010
For further information, please visit the MCH website, and the University of Oulu Master's Degrees website.

The Second FISHERNET Newsletter Is out
The second issue of the newsletter of the European project FISHERNET: Fishing Cultural Heritage Network in which the Stefansson Arctic Institute is a partner, has now been published. This is a three year project funded by the European Union Culture Programme. Key participants in addition to Iceland are Galicia (Spain), Norway, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and the Orkneys (Great Britain). The object of the project is the preservation, dissemination and utilisation of cultural heritage connected with fisheries, seafaring peoples and the unique cultural of coastal fishing communities. The Stefansson Arctic Institute contributes to the project in various ways but with a special focus on fishing cultural heritage in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The Icelandic component is called Trossan and can in part be observed through the website www.fishernet.is.

The FISHERNET newsletter provides stories and news from the various project partners, including an item on the Foldal fishfactory in Finnmark, Norway which is today used as a cultural centre with an arena for concerts and festivals, a living museum, a gallery and accommodation for tourists. There is a story concerning adaptive capacity in the Orkneys and information on the  meeting of the project partners in Iceland May 2010. During that time the group will we traveling to Reykjavík, Siglufjörður, Húsavík and Akureyri where an international seminar called The wealth of sea and coast: Initiatives, innovation and use of cultural heritage will be held on May 7^th 2010.

The newsletter can be downloaded at www.fishernet.is where you can also find a variety of material useful for research or general interest, such as articles and essays related to fisheries and coastal culture in Iceland and the northern North Atlantic.

Evelyn Stefansson Nef has died
Writer, psychotherapist and philanthropist Evelyn Stefansson Nef died peacefully at her home in Washington, D.C. on the 10^th of December. She was 96 years old, born in New York City 24^th July. Evelyn was the widow of Arctic explorer and anthropologist Vilhjalmur Stefansson and a good friend of the Stefansson Arctic Institute. She will be sorely missed.

Photo: Evelyn and Vilhjalmur Stefansson
 

2010 State of the Arctic Conference: Second Call for Abstracts and Conference Updates
For further information, please go to http://soa.arcus.org

The State of the Arctic Conference will be held 16-19 March 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Miami in Miami, Florida, USA. The main goal of the
conference is to review our understanding of the arctic system in a time of rapid environmental change.

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
Abstracts are now being accepted for oral parallel sessions and posters.There are 18 session topics, which have been structured to facilitate cross-disciplinary exchange and discussion. Each session is designed to incorporate abstracts from the social, physical, natural, and political sciences. There is no fee for abstract submission. Abstract submission deadline is next Monday, 14 December 2009. To submit an abstract, please go to: http://soa.arcus.org/abstracts.

PROGRAM UPDATES
Many updates have been made to the conference program, including confirmed keynote and plenary speakers, and the program for Day 4 on "International Coordination." The tentative conference program can be found at: http://soa.arcus.org/program.

STUDENT TRAVEL AWARDS
A student travel awards program, which will provide funding for selected students and recent graduates, will be launched shortly and announced via ArcticInfo.

WEBCASTING
Some portions of the conference will be webcast live via the State of the Arctic website to allow "virtual" participation for those unable to travel to Miami. More details will be announced soon.

LOGISTICS INFORMATION
For meeting logistics information, including details on lodging and travel, please go to: http://soa.arcus.org/logistics.

REGISTRATION
The early-bird registration deadline is Sunday, 31 January 2010. To register for the conference, please go to http://soa.arcus.org/register.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
For further information, including an outreach video, please go to http://soa.arcus.org. Be sure to check the website regularly for updates and new features.

For questions regarding abstract submission, please contact Judy Fahnestock, ARCUS .
For questions regarding registration, please email soa_registration@arcus.org.
For questions about the conference program, please contact Helen Wiggins, ARCUS .

New Director of the Nordic Institute in Greenland/NAPA
Leise Johnsen has been employed as a director of the Nordic Institute in Greenland/NAPA from 15 February 2010.
See press releases in Danish and Greenlandic.

 Arctic Governance Project
Stefansson Arctic Institute  participates in an international project on Arctic governance. The project is a collaboration with Centre for Sámi Studies  at the University of Tromsø, Norway;  Heinz Centre, USA;  Arctic Centre in Rovaniemi, Finland, and Stefansson Arctic Institute, Akureyri, Iceland.
The project's purpose is to join scientists and policiy makers in defining the most urgent problems of Arctic governance in times of rapid change in nature and communities, and looking for creative  solutions  for a sustainable future in the Arctic. Níels Einarsson, director of Stefansson Arctic Institute is in a group of advisers for the project.
More information on the project's website:  www.arcticgovernance.org.

FISHERNET Newsletter
See the first newsletter of the FISHERNET project; a European network of fishing cultural heritage in which the Stefansson Arctic Institute participates.

Lecture and an opening of an exhibit in Honningsvåg, Norway
On Thursday 24^th September 2009 Dr Jón Haukur Ingimundarson, Stefansson Arctic Institute, will give a lecture on Iceland, Climate Change and the Friendly Arctic, during the Norwegian Science Week  in Honningsvåg, Norway.

This is also the day of the opening of an exhibit of photographs from Vilhjálmur Stefánsson's expeditions in the Arctic and texts from his diaries which the travelling exhibit The Friendly Arctic is based on. The photographs and diary texts are also available on the web.
 

New Website: The Forgotten Story of Inuit Whalers
Qikiqtani Inuit Association has announced the completion of The Forgotten Story of Inuit Whalers project, funded through Heritage Canada Partnerships Fund Program. As a result, a new educational multimedia web site on the historical interactions between inuit and European and American whalers has been launched.

Conference: Environments, Movements, Narratives in the Circumpolar North
Organizers of a conference entitled Environments, Movements, Narratives in the Circumpolar North, announce a call for student participants. The conference will be held 28-31 October 2009 in Rovaniemi, Finland, at the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland. More information here.

Students from the circumpolar north, and those interested in northern humanities and social sciences, are invited to apply for funding. Travel, meals, and lodging will be covered by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Applicants must submit the following:
- Cover letter, including an introduction and contact information;
- One-page essay describing how participation in the conference will further the applicant's academic and career goals in arctic humanities and science;
- CV or resume; and
- Short letter of recommendation from a professor or other professional with whom the applicant has worked closely.
All materials must be submitted no later than 14 September 2009.
To apply, or for further information, please contact Karl Mertens, Boise State University, Department of Anthropology.

The Second Akureyri Polar Law Symposium 2009, 10-12 September 2009
Polar Law Program, University of Akureyri, Iceland in collaboration with Polar Law Institute; Yearbook on Polar Law; The Stefansson Arctic Institute; The Northern Research Forum; and the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists  announce The Second Akureyri Polar Law Symposium, September 10-12, 2009. The symposium is open to the public. Location: Room L 201, Sólborg, University of Akureyri Campus. Contact: Dr. Natalia Loukacheva natalial@unak.is

Day 1: September 10 (Thursday)
15:30                Opening address
Dr. Stefán B. Sigurðsson, Rector, University of Akureyri, Iceland
The President of the Republic of Iceland, His Excellency Dr. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson
Moderator: Dr. Guðmundur S. Alfreðsson, University of Akureyri, Iceland
16:10 -16:15      Break

Theme I: New Shipping Routes and Environmental Implications for the Polar Regions 

Panel: Jurisdictional Questions on Land and at Sea; Management of Risks to the Environment Posed by Shipping in the Polar Regions  
16:15 -17:55
Mr. Ragnar Baldursson, Senior Official for Arctic and Energy Affairs, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs, Reykjavik, Iceland
Topic: Trans-Arctic Shipping-New Opportunities and Emerging Challenges
Dr. Timo Koivurova, Research Professor, Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
Topic: What has the Arctic Council done in terms of Shipping?  
Dr. R. Douglas Brubaker, Senior Research Fellow, Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Norway
Topic: Jurisdictional matters of shipping in the Arctic
Mr. Mead Treadwell, Chair, U.S. Arctic Research Commission and Senior Fellow of the Institute of the North, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Topic: How should we respond to an accessible Arctic ocean? Ideas for research, cooperation and administration
Discussion
17:55 -18:05      Break

Panel: Global, Regional or National Regulation
18:05 -19:00
Dr. Louis W. Pauly, Director, Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto. Canada Research Chair in Globalization and Governance, Toronto, Canada
Topic: The Increasing Complexity of Global and Regional Governance
Prof. Alyson Bailes, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
Topic: Potential Roles of NATO and the EU in Northern Security
Discussion
19:30                Reception (tbc)

Day 2: September 11 (Friday) 
Theme II: Effective Environmental Governance

Panel: Environmental Governance in the Polar Regions – challenges and perspectives (International environmental treaties, pollution, and marine environmental law issues)
9:05 -12:00
Dr. Kees Bastmeijer, Faculty of Law, Tilburg University, The Netherlands.
Topic: Effective Environmental Management of the Polar Regions – Protected Areas in the Arctic and Antarctic
H.E. Victor Tatarintsev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Iceland.
Topic: The Russian Strategy in the Arctic –current developments 10:05 -10:15      Break
Dr. Rasmus Ole Rasmussen, Senior Research Fellow, Nordic Centre for Spatial Development, Stockholm, Sweden
Topic: Environmental Governance: Perspectives of the Nordic Council and the EU
Dr. Tavis Potts, Centre for Coastal and Ocean Governance, Scottish Association for Marine Science, Argyll, Scotland
Topic: CCAMLR and Antarctic Fisheries: Can it offer a Solution for an Arctic Fisheries Agreement?
Mr. Níels Einarsson, Director, Stefansson Arctic Institute
Topic: Whaling, whale-watching and adaptation to marine governance and environmental change in Iceland
Discussion
12:00 -12:55      Lunch  

Panel: Climate Change, Harbors and other Infrastructure  
13:00 -13:55
Dr. Trausti Valsson, School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Environmental Planning Division, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
Topic: Harbors and infrastructure in Iceland: Their role in the advancement of Arctic shipping
Dr. Lassi Heininen, Chair of the Northern Research Assembly, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland
Topic: Security Implications of Climate Change in the Arctic
13:55 -14:05      Break

Theme III: The Exploration and Exploitation of Resources

Panel: The Continental Shelf in the Arctic Ocean, Minerals, Oil, Gas and Renewable Resources
14:05 -16:10
Mr. Ron Macnab, Geological Survey of Canada
Topic: Nationalizing the Arctic Maritime Commons: UNCLOS Article 76 and the Polar Sea
Dr. Mark Nuttall, Henry Marshall Tory Chair, Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, and Academy of Finland Distinguished Professor, Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland 
Topic: Resource Frontier or Extractive Periphery?: The Political Ecology of Oil, Gas and Minerals in the North
Mr. Lars Kullerud, President, University of the Arctic, UNEP GRID-Arendal, Norway.
Topic: UNCLOS –Art.76 and its implications for oil and gas resources in the Arctic
Discussion
15:15 -15:25       Break
Ms. Elisa Burchert, Department of Political Science, University of Hildelberg, Germany
Topic: Arctic energy governance: oil and gas security
Dr. Björn Gunnarsson, Rector, RES: The School FOR Renewable Energy Science, Akureyri, Iceland
Topic: Renewable Energy Use in Iceland: Lessons Learned
Discussion
16:10 -16:20      Break  

Theme IV: Human Rights and Polar Regions
16:20 -17:40
Mr. Mininnguaq Kleist, Foreign Affairs Directorate, Greenland Government, Nuuk, Greenland
Topic: Greenland’s  self-governance
Dr. Kári a Rogvi, M.P.  and lecturer of law,  Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
Topic: Faroese Constitutional Developments
Ms. Galina Diatchkova, Ph.D. student in legal anthropology, Anadyr’ Chukotka, the Russian Federation
Topic: Chukotka Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Prospects
17:40 -17:55      Break
17:55 -18:45      Discussion, Conclusions and Recommendations
19:00                Reception and presentation of the Association of Polar early career scientists (room L 201) 

Day 3: September 12 (Saturday)
9:30 -13:00        Location: University building at Þingvallastræti 23, room 16
A meeting of the Northern Research Forum’s working group on legal and political issues in the Arctic
Chair: Dr. Natalia Loukacheva, Director, Polar Law Program, University of Akureyri, Iceland
Topic: Legal and Political Change in the Arctic.

2010 State of the Arctic Conference - New Website and Call for Community Input
The organizers of the State of the Arctic Conference have launched a conference website.

The Organizing Committee would like your ideas on conference themes, topics, structure, or other suggestions relevant to the conference program. This is not a formal call for sessions, but rather an opportunity for the broader arctic community to provide initial input to the conference planning. A formal call for abstracts will be forthcoming. 

To submit a suggestion, go to the website and click on "submit a suggestion." The deadline for this initial community input is Monday, 14 September 2009. The tentative conference program, registration, and call for abstracts will be available soon. (19 August 2009)

Lecture in Verið, Sauðárkrókur
Tuesday 18 August at 4 pm, Dr. Bruno Tremblay, professor at Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, McGill University, Canada will give a talk: Rapid Sea Ice Decline in Summer Arctic Sea Ice Drift. Everyone welcome!

Pre-announcement within the Top-level Research Initiative
The Top-level Research Initiative is launching a call for Nordic Networks within the subprogramme “Effect studies and adaptation to climate change” in August 2009. The subprogramme aims to create knowledge about the effects of climate change, about the society’s need for adaptation, and about the possibilities that some effects of climate change may provide the Nordic region.

A Nordic Network brings together prominent research groups from at least three Nordic countries in order to strengthen and increase the quality of research and research training at the Nordic, European and international level. Interdisciplinary applications are encouraged. Participants from industry, policy makers and societal actors should be included in the Nordic Network when relevant.  Please find the pre-announcement here.

Arctic Frontiers 2010 – First call for papers
The scientific conference of Arctic Frontiers 2010 (27-29 January 2010 in Tromsø, Norway) consists of three parallel sessions that will focus on the effects of ongoing climatic changes on sea-ice and marine biodiversity as well as social science and health research on economy, self-governance, and well-being in Arctic communities;
 - Session I: Ice and climate, including paleo climate
 - Session II: Sustainable communities in the High North
 - Session III: Marine biodiversity under change
Oral and poster presentations on these topics are welcomed. Deadline for submission of abstracts is 19 October 2009. For full details and instructions on submitting an abstract please see the Arctic Frontiers homepage: www.arcticfrontiers.com

2010 State of the Arctic Conference
The State of the Arctic Conference, to be held 16-19 March 2010 in Miami, Florida, will be an international meeting to present, exchange, and discuss the latest knowledge on the state of the Arctic and future directions of arctic science and policy. The conference will review our understanding of the arctic system in a time of human-induced, rapid environmental change. It will provide an open international forum to discuss future research directions towards a better understanding of the arctic system and its trajectory. It will address topics ranging from basic understanding of the Arctic and system-wide change, to developing response strategies for better adaptation to, and mitigation of, the impacts of change.

Additional information, including registration, abstract submission, and other materials, will be available soon through a State of the Arctic Conference website, which will be announced via the ArcticInfo mailing list and linked through the ARCUS website.

For more information, please contact:Helen V. Wiggins, Arctic Research Consortium of the U.S. (ARCUS).

Northern Governance Policy Research Conference
The Northern Governance Policy Research Conference will be in Yellowknife, NT, Canada, 3-5 November 2009. This conference will be the first of its kind in the NWT. It will bring together an emerging resource of Northern community-based researchers to discuss how to connect effective research with policy development in Indigenous and community organizations. Specifically, it will:

• Empower and encourage resident northern researchers who serve as researchers to nascent Indigenous and community organizations;
• Network researchers, decision makers, and negotiators from across the NWT who have responsibility for making decisions based on information generated by community-based research;
• Discuss how research projects and their results contribute to building the knowledge and capacity necessary to assist in community, program and service development, and for negotiating rights-based agreements; and,
• Make recommendations to governments and funders about what is needed to support and promote community-based research that responds to the needs and priorities of communities rather than priorities of governments, universities or funding bodies.

12^th North Atlantic Fisheries History Conference
The 12^th North Atlantic Fisheries History Conference will be held in Norfolk, Virginia,USA, 19-22 August 2009. Conferences of the North Atlantic Fisheries History Association (NAFHA) are held every two years. This meeting is designed to stimulate scholarly exchange between researchers at all levels (from graduate students to senior scientists) and all disciplines which relate to the long-term development of fishing activity and its impact on the marine environment. The focus of the conference will be on: Fisheries Management in a Historical Perspective. See invitation letter and registration form.

For further information please contact Dr. Ingo Heidbrink, Associate Professor Dept. of History, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, USA, tel.: 757-683-3656 or -3949, fax: 757-683-5644, mail: iheidbri@odu.edu.

Visit from Nunavut Sivuniksavut
On Tuesday 28 April the Institute had a visit from a group of college students and their instructors from Nunavut and Nunavik. They come from Nunavut Sivuniksavut (NS), an Inuit education program in Ottawa, and started their study tour to Nuuk, Greenland, with a few days stopover in Iceland. In Akureyri they visited the Stefansson Arctic Institute, the CAFF and PAME offices, and received information on the Polar Law Program offered by the University of Akureyri.
In the NS programme students also develop the cultural skills of throat singing and drum dancing, and before leaving they gave us examples of throat singing.

David Serkoak, instructor
Jón Haukur Ingimundarson, SVS
Anne-Marie Aitchison from Kuujjuaq
Lára Ólafsdóttir, SVS
Kiah Hachey from Baker Lake
Karen Flaherty from Iqaluit
Níels Einarsson, SVS
Janice Grey-Scott from Aupaluk
Morley Hanson, instructor

14^th International Congress on Circumpolar Health -  Registration Deadline: June 15, 2009
The health and wellness of northern peoples are the focus of the International Congress on Circumpolar Health (ICCH), the world's premier circumpolar health event. Hosted every three years by the International Union for Circumpolar Health, the 14^th  ICCH will take place in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada from July 11 to 16, 2009. It will follow the conclusion of International Polar Year (IPY) making it an ideal vehicle for sharing IPY findings as well as health-related research throughout the circumpolar regions.

The exciting scientific programme is expected to bring 750 health care leaders, decision-makers, and researchers from all over the world to Yellowknife. Hundreds of papers and posters will be presented in a variety of topic areas. Dynamic keynote speakers, poster sessions, and networking events will round out the programme.

ICCH14 will be co-hosted and organized by the Canadian Society for Circumpolar Health in association with the Arctic Health Research Network – NT. This event was last held in Canada in 1990 and in Yellowknife in 1974.

IPY 2007-2008 and Social Sciences
Igor Krupnik,curator at the Arctic Studies Center, Smithsonian Institution, has written a report on IPY 2007–2008 and Social Sciences: A Challenge of Fifty Years.

The Nordic Institute of Greenland/NAPA is looking for a manager
The Nordic Institute of Greenland/NAPA is looking for a manager from 1^st March 2010. Application deadline: 3 May 2009. See more here and on www.napa.gl og www.norden.org .

Seminar at the end of the International Polar Year
Joan Nymand Larsen, scientist at Stefansson Arctic Institute, will talk at a seminar held by the Swedish Parliament (Riksdagen) in Stockholm, Wednesday 11 March 2009. The seminar is called: The Arctic needs an appartent space on the map! – How will we continue after the International Polar Year? See more here.

The 39^th Annual International Arctic Workshop
Organizers of the 39^th Annual International Arctic Workshop announce a call for abstracts. The workshop will be held 21-24 April 2009, at Bates College, in Lewiston, Maine, USA. The deadline for both submission of abstracts and early registration is Wednesday, 26 March 2009.

The meeting is open to all interested in the Arctic and will consist of a series of talks and poster sessions covering all aspects of high-latitude environments, past and present. Previous Arctic Workshops have included presentations on arctic and Antarctic climate, archeology, environmental geochemistry, geomorphology, hydrology, glaciology, soils, ecology, oceanography, quaternary history, and more. See further information here.

International Polar Field School Announcement
The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) announces the International and Interdisciplinary IPY Polar Field School. The field school, organized in collaboration with UNIS, UArctic, and IPY Norway, will be held 15 June through 3 July 2009, at the University Centre, in Svalbard, Norway.

In celebration of IPY (the International Polar Year 2007-09), this 3-week course will focus on environmental change in the Arctic and Antarctic through a series of lectures and field excursions in Svalbard, Norway. The course will cover topics on glaciology, geology, meteorology, oceanography, marine/terrestrial biology, and the human dimension in the polar regions.

Applicants should be undergraduates or Masters students, with a minimum of one year in physical, technical, and/or natural sciences. The application deadline is Friday, 27 March 2009. Applicants will need to complete the online application where they will be required to upload a one-page CV and a copy of their university transcripts. A letter of recommendation from an academic referee (tutor, advisor or lecturer who you have worked closely with) is also required.

Further information here or contact Liz Thomas.

Vacancies at GRID-Arendal
GRID-Arendal is seeking a Head of the Polar Programme to take the lead in further developing GRID-Arendal as UNEP’s key Polar centre to identify, develop and implement projects related to climate change, environmental governance, ecosystems management and environmental information and networking, with a specific focus on the Polar region. He or she will be managing a small, highly motivated international team. Application deadline 20 February 2009. Read more.

GRID-Arendal is also seeking a Research Assistant to support and assist with development and implementation of the Polar and Marine Programme projects. The enthusiastic candidate will be working with a small, highly motivated international team. This position is under the supervision of the Polar Programme Manager. The position is based at GRID-Arendal headquarters in Arendal, Norway. Application deadline 13 February 2009. Read more.

IPY Educational Posters available for download
UNEP/GRID-Arendal, with financial support from the Research Council of Norway (Forskningsrådet), have released a set of five free downloadable educational posters for the International Polar Year (IPY), aimed at high school students. This project supports the education, outreach, and communications efforts of IPY. The five posters are available for download in high resolution and accessible formats, in English and Norwegian texts, and are free to use.

The posters address the question: "Why, and how, are the polar regions and polar research important to all people on Earth?" These posters present and illustrate a broad sample of polar issues and facts -- they are a "textbook" for your wall.

1. The Polar Regions
2. Climate Change and the Poles
3. Polar People
4. Research in the Polar Regions
5. Biodiversity and the Poles

Fellowships Available
The Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College, Hanover, USA, has fellowships available for recent doctoral graduates and established scholars to spend a minimum of one term and up to a year in residence researching and writing about international issues related to one of the Center's research areas: conflict and conflict resolution, human dimensions of environmental change at the earths high latitudes, and global health.
The Institute of Arctic Studies is focused on climate change and its social and political consequences for Arctic residents. It is home to Dartmouth's NSF IGERT graduate training program in polar environmental change and partnerships with Greenland. Fellows who add to these initiatives are especially encouraged to apply. Areas of interest include: Arctic change and traditional knowledge; polar politics and institutions; climate change and ecosystem services; environmental change and language loss. While at Dartmouth, fellows are expected to participate in seminars and colloquia relevant to their area of interest, and to work towards the completion of a scholarly monograph or similar project.
For more information about the Institute of Arctic Studies and the IGERT Program and to apply, visit the Dickey Center website.

Review of applications begins February 1, 2009, and will remain open until all Dickey Fellows have been appointed. For additional information, contact arctic@Dartmouth.edu .

Dartmouth College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and has a strong commitment to diversity. They welcome applications from a broad spectrum of people, including women, persons of color, persons with disabilities, and veterans.
 

BOREAS Conference
An international, interdisciplinary conference entitled: Boreal Histories, Environments, and Narratives: The Making and Uses of Knowledge, sponsored by the Stefansson Arctic Institute, was held at Reykholt in the west of Iceland during 21-26 October. The presentations took place mainly in the former district school, while the 50 participants (from Iceland, USA, Canada, UK, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Greenland, Russia, Belgium and Holland) were accommodated at the local Fosshotel. The conference showcased two research projects which are funded by various agencies including: RANNÍS (Iceland); the National Science Foundation (USA); Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada; the Research Council of Norway; and the Danish Agency for Science. These two projects, entitled “Northern Narratives: Social and Geographical Accounts from Norway, Iceland and Canada (NORSAGA)” and “Colony, Empire, Environment: A Comparative International History of Twentieth Century Arctic Science (CEE)” have their basis in a European Science Foundation programme entitled BOREAS. This has an emphasis on histories, environments, movements and narratives from the North. The conference was convened by Astrid Ogilvie (University of Colorado, Boulder/Stefansson Arctic Institute); Ronald Doel (University of Tallahassee, Florida); Níels Einarsson (Stefansson Arctic Institute); and Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir (University of Iceland). The Principal Investigators on NORSAGA are Astrid Ogilvie, Níels Einarsson, Ingibjörg Jónsdóttir and William Patterson.

Social Science Forum
Lee Huskey, Professor of Economics from University of Alaska, Anchorage will give a lecture on Wednesday 5th November, at 12:00 in room L201 at Sólborg, University of Akureyri. The lecture's title is Understanding Migration in the Circumpolar North.

Migration is a major influence on the size and demographic structure of the population in Arctic regions. The patterns of migration differ significantly across countries and between indigenous and non-indigenous people. Migration patterns also differ across demographic groups in the North; rates of migration differ by gender, age, and education level. Migration involves long-term social and cultural consequences for communities in the north as well as for the migrants themselves.

Material necessity is a major determinant of population movement, so the creation or loss of income earning opportunities in the north will affect migration decisions. Migration decisions will also reflect more general estimates of the quality of life offered by different communities. The pursuit of jobs, education, family, and bright lights will each influence migration in the north.

Public policy will also affect migration. While migration in most Arctic nations is a decision made by households or individuals, in some past periods migration decisions have been a matter of public policy. Public choices about transfer payments and the provision of services and infrastructure influence migration decisions today.

This talk discusses research being done around the circumpolar north and draws general lessons from the different experiences of northern migration in the Arctic nations. Similarities and interesting differences among patterns and determinants of migration will be discussed.

Lee Huskey is a Professor of Economics at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). He holds a Ph.D. in economics from Washington University in St. Louis.  At the UAA Lee has served as Chairman of the Department of Economics, Director of the Center for Economic Education, and Director of the Experimental Economics program. He was elected President of the Western Regional Science Association in 2005. He has been active in a number of northern pursuits including the Arctic Social Indicators project, the University of the Arctic, and the Northern Research Forum.

Lee’s current research examines the patterns and determinants of rural-urban migration in Alaska. He is currently the principal investigator for two projects on northern migration funded by the US National Research Foundation and the European Science Foundation which involve social scientists from a number of countries and disciplines. More generally his research has examined economic development in rural regions and particularly the influence of institutions on this development.

The Friendly Arctic - Exhibition
To celebrate Stefansson Arctic Institute's 10^th anniversary a web version of the Friendly Arctic Exhibition has been made in English, Danish and Icelandic.

Photographs from Vilhjalmur Stefansson's excursions and extracts from his diary are also to be seen at Borgir (first floor), Nordurslod, Akureyri. 

Stefansson Memorial Lecture 2008
The Stefansson Memorial Lecture of this year is sponsored by the Stefansson Arctic Institute in collaboration with the University of Akureyri and the Centre of Gender Equality. This event is in celebration of the Stefansson Arctic Institute’s tenth anniversary. Dr Gunhild Hoogensen, associate professor of political science at the University of Tromsø, Norway, will give this year's lecture which she calls Drill baby, Drill: from Energy to Human Security in the Circumpolar North. See abstract. The lecture is open to the public.

AHDR in Finnish and Russian
The Arctic Human Development Report (AHDR) which was published in 2004 has now been translated and published in Finnish and Russian. You can read and print out the reports here.

Conference Announcement
On October 8-10, 2008 the conference Human Dimensions in the Circumpolar Arctic: An Interdisciplinary Conference under the Auspices of the International Polar Year will take place at Umeå University, Sweden.

Lecture on Antarctic Tourism
On Thursday 13 March 2008 Professor Mark Nuttall from University of Alberta, Canada, gives a lecture called 'An intolerable tempest': cultivating adventure in Antarctic tourism in Oddi (University of Iceland), room 101, from 12:00 to 13:00.

This presentation draws on anthropological work carried out while working as a lecturer and field guide on an 'expedition' style cruise ship on trips to Antarctica. It looks at the narratives about, and the representations and interpretations of Antarctic landscapes, history and adventure of both the travel company and the 'expedition' team on board the ship, as they convey them to the tourists, and considers the anticipations, expectations, perspectives and narratives of the tourists themselves. Experiences and understandings of human-environment relations are influenced by popular and literary accounts of Antarctica and the polar regions more generally.
Central to the narratives of both the expedition team and the passengers is an emphasis on the difficulty of traveling to and in Antarctica, reinforced on ship and during shore landings by the re-telling of stories, tales and histories of the heroic age of exploration, which lend themselves variously to cultural mythmaking about starvation, privation, the race to the South Pole, and death on the ice. To travel in this landscape is to evoke and attribute symbolic meaning to the spirit of great Antarctic explorers such as Scott, Shackleton, Nordenskjold and Amundsen. Tourists are taught to read Antarctica as a multilayered landscape, infused with the history of ecological impact (by sealers and whalers), of imperial hopes and ambitions, as a harsh environment to be endured and tested by, and as a continent for science and environmental protection. Furthermore, the theme of environmental change, and the representation of Antarctica as a fragile environment and region at risk from an ever-widening ozone hole and climate change, is emphasized to deepen the experience and heighten the encounter between expeditioner/tourist and landscape.

Dr. Mark Nuttall is the author of Arctic Homeland: kinship, community and development in northwest Greenland (University of Toronto Press, 1992), White Settlers: the impact of rural repopulation in Scotland (Routledge,1996) and Protecting the Arctic: indigenous peoples and cultural survival (Routledge, 1998), editor of Encyclopedia of the Arctic (Routledge, 2005), and co-editor of The Arctic: environment, people, policy (Taylor and Francis, 2000), Cultivating Arctic Landscapes: knowing and managing animals in the circumpolar North (Berghahn, 2004), The Russian North in Circumpolar Context (2003), and Arctic Oil and Gas Development (2006, a thematic issue of the journal Indigenous Affairs). Upcoming books are Pipeline Politics og Anthropology and Climate Change.

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