ARCTIC RESEARCH
Navigating the Dynamics of Climate Change, Security, and Human Adaptation in the Arctic
I
n the Arctic, climate change has a profound impact, leading to substantial environmental and cultural shifts in Northern communities. Also,
geopolitics has become increasingly prominent. The third round of the Fulbright Arctic Initiative (FAI) brought together professionals and researchers to focus on challenges and possibilities. It enabled us scholars to focus on Arctic issues at a general level while providing opportunities to emphasize the diversity in the Arctic. In the FAI program, our work consisted of individual research projects with research exchange visits, a thematic group’s joint project, and policy brief writing. In addition to this, we had monthly
we will also host a session at the Arctic Congress in
plenary sessions, where the experts’ presentations
Bodø. Fulbright Arctic Initiative was not a project –
inspired and deepened our knowledge, and meet-
it was a start for a process.
ings in Iceland and Canada. Finally, in April 2023,
In the beginning, the most important thing for
Fulbright Arctic Week in Washington offered the
all of us was our research project and an exchange
opportunity to present the policy recommendations
visit to a U.S. university (the University of New Mex-
at the Wilson Center to a live audience.
ico, in my case). At the end of the program, many of
Anu Soikkeli 2020-23 Fulbright Arctic Initiative Scholar Associate Professor, University of Oulu www.fulbright.fi/fin-fai
Between monthly FAI meetings, joint projects were taken forward in thematic groups. Our thematic research group studied the multifaceted dimensions of community health and well-being. We highlighted the importance of holistic well-being and the role of community empowerment and
Fulbright Arctic Initiative was not a project – it was a start for a process.
local knowledge in shaping health outcomes.
Continuing the Collaboration Working at FAI for over two years was demanding and challenging. Due to the pandemic, we worked
us agreed that the most meaningful was the oppor-
online for the first year. Despite this, we felt we
tunity for international interdisciplinary collabora-
exceeded our own goals, which underlines that the
tion and creating and strengthening the network.
interdisciplinary research was meaningful and nec-
Working on shared themes from the perspective
essary. In our group, we are continuing our collab-
of one’s discipline certainly stimulated interna-
oration by writing scientific papers. Next summer
tional cooperation on Arctic issues.
Photo: Anu Soikkeli at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History during the FAI final plenary week in Washington, D.C.
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