Finnish Snow-how The Arctic region ranks high on
and large-scale resource extrac-
the list of Finland’s priorities and
tion industries, just to name a few.
among mine as the Foreign Min-
Lack of infrastructure has been
ister. We aspire to unlock the Arc-
identified as one of the bottle-
tic business potential and achieve
necks for Arctic development. This
economic growth that is based
is why efforts to improve trans-
From the Executive Director
on our expertise in northern cir-
port and data communication
cumstances. While pursuing this
infrastructure are needed. The
goal, however, we must utilize our
U.S. has brought telecommunica-
knowledge and develop our skills
tions to the Arctic Council agenda,
in protecting the natural environ-
a worthwhile initiative also from
Current challenges are increasingly complex and
ment and ensuring healthy living
the Finnish point of view.
global by nature. Broad-based international co-
conditions for the people of the
operation between countries is therefore of para-
Arctic.
The Fulbright Arctic Initiative is a great example of scientific
mount importance, and we need specialists from
Today the Arctic attracts more
collaboration in the Arctic region
many fields to join forces and develop solutions to
international attention than ever.
and Fulbright Finland has an
challenges that do not recognize traditional aca-
The warming climate will ease the
important role in it. High-quality
demic boundaries. In this issue of the Fulbright Center
access to the region’s rich natural
research helps us meet the com-
News we focus on global challenges, and we intro-
resources. At the same time, con-
mon challenges and reach the
duce you to the minds dedicated to finding solutions:
cerns are raised: the rapid change of
opportunities that await us in the
our current Fulbright grantees and alumni.
the Arctic environment transforms
Arctic. I am especially delighted
Fulbright Specialist Alex Stepick and his Finn-
living conditions within the region
to note that both Finnish and U.S.
ish hosts are working on issues related to migration,
itself, but it can also have serious
scholars have worked on renew-
refugees, and migrant integration (p. 16). Fulbright-
global implications. I regard Arctic
able energy within the Fulbright
VTT scholar Anton Schindler’s research in Finland
cooperation as a fundamental tool
Arctic Initiative. That is the kind of
focuses on developing long-term storage for nuclear
to address both the challenges and
research we really need.
fuel waste (p. 17). And graduate student researcher
opportunities in the Arctic.
Unlike the Arctic migratory
Sol Kim swapped California for Finland in order to
Finland will take over the
birds, most Finns cannot fly south
immerse himself in the study of climate change
chairmanship of the most impor-
for the winter, and we have to cope
(p. 17). This past academic year Fulbright Finland
tant Arctic cooperation forum, the
with the long cold season on our
provided funding to a total of 94 Finnish and Ameri-
Arctic Council, from the United
Arctic grounds. This is why Finland
can grantees who have expanded the boundaries of
States next spring. During the U.S.
excels in cold climate technolo-
science and research on topics ranging from renew-
chairmanship, all Arctic countries
gies in various fields, from mobile
able energy to educational leadership.
and the Arctic indigenous peoples
communications to ship building.
Among the most critical global questions facing
have continued their collaboration
We are proud of our Arctic snow-
us today is how we deal with the Arctic. Fulbright
for sustainable development in the
how. Over half of the icebreak-
Finland, together with the Thule Institute of the
region. U.S. Secretary of State John
ers in the world, including all the
University of Oulu, jointly hosted a week-long ple-
Kerry and I agreed last year that
good ones, have been designed and
nary meeting of the international Fulbright Arctic
our governments will ensure con-
built in Finland and sold or leased
Initiative (FAI) in February (p. 13). This inaugural
tinuity between the Finnish and
to international customers. These
group of researchers representing all eight Arctic
U.S. chairmanships of the Council.
impressive vessels can be used for
Council member countries came together in Oulu to
Finland appreciates the lead-
commercial purposes, but also to
discuss their research challenges, and to present –
ership that the U.S. has shown in
for the first time as a cohort – their work to the pub-
climate issues, both in the Arctic
When it comes to the Arctic,
lic. The research of Arctic Fulbright scholars such as
Council and in the global climate
Finland and the United States are
Linda Chamberlain is transforming practices and
negotiations. Work on climate
practically neighbors. During the
informing policy development (p. 11).
change mitigation – and adapta-
last twenty years, it has become a
We are so pleased to have the Minister for Foreign
tion to irreversible changes – is
new and natural area of coopera-
Affairs of Finland, Mr. Timo Soini, as our invited
a self-evident part of the Arctic
tion for our countries.
columnist to address Arctic cooperation between
cooperation. The Arctic countries
Finland and the United States (p. 2).
also have a great responsibility
The core of Fulbright Finland’s mission is to bring
in the reality check of the Paris
people together, bridge divides and reach beyond
climate agreement – putting our
traditional boundaries. It is thus quite appropriate
climate pledges into practice and
that we will conclude this academic year by host-
striving for even more ambitious
ing the 2016 European Fulbright Conference, where
emission reductions.
Fulbright leaders from over 40 countries from both
The Arctic is a sparsely popu-
sides of the Atlantic will come together in Helsinki
lated region. Nevertheless, it is
to share best practices and consider strategies for
home to many people and many
future exchanges under the theme of Crossing Bor-
kinds of businesses – indigenous
ders for Global Partnerships.
peoples’ traditional livelihoods, nature tourism, companies mar-
Terhi Mölsä
keting Arctic natural products,
assist scientific voyages.
Timo Soini Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland