This workshop was an effective forum for identifying knowledge gaps and research priorities within ICARP IV topic areas, drawing cross-cutting themes between disciplines, and proposing implementation strategies to solve Arctic research challenges. Workshop participants represented a range of early- and mid-career stages, IASC working groups, ICARP IV research priority teams, and scientific disciplines. However, the shared denominator—experience as an IASC fellow—provided a common foundation for discussions, namely familiarity with IASC’s objectives and activities. As early- and mid-career researchers, much of our careers will contribute to the next decade of Arctic science; thus, we are actively invested in helping to identify and implement research priorities through the ICARP IV process.
This workshop put into action many of the objectives of IASC in general and the fellowship program specifically, including interdisciplinary collaboration, cross-cutting themes between research fields, and networking among early career researchers. By involving current and former fellows, this workshop bridged the gap from early- to mid-career researchers, demonstrating the role that IASC FOX can play in providing a forum for fellows even after their fellowship ends. 2024 marks ten years since the inaugural class of IASC fellows, so the first generations of fellows are now transitioning into mid-career stages. Many are eager to stay engaged with Arctic science planning through IASC and processes like ICARP IV, as well as to “pay it forward” to help younger generations of fellows through research networking, career resources, and a professional support system outside of our individual institutions. This exchange was on display throughout the workshop, with participants sharing research contacts, funding sources, and job search resources. We hope that IASC FOX can continue to host events like this to further develop this network.
The workshop also emphasized the importance of bringing together researchers from different disciplines, contrasting with the format of many meetings. Rather than representing a similar research topic, participants hailed from a wide range of social and natural sciences. This required us to explain our work in a way that a non-expert could understand, forcing us to zoom out from our specific topics, examine our research in the broader context of our fields, and identify how our individual work connects to challenges and contributes to solutions in Arctic science as a whole. This approach introduced participants to new methodologies and “languages” used in different disciplines–a unique opportunity in cross-cutting communication. It also gave participants a chance to discuss their research and offer input on discipline-level topics like research gaps and priorities, which is not always afforded at meetings principally composed of more senior scientists.
Overall, participants agreed that much of our research seeks to solve the same overarching challenges–just through different methods and questions. This highlighted the importance of taking a multidisciplinary approach in future research endeavors, as well as increasing communication channels between fields. We agreed that if we had to co-author a single proposal, we could easily find a research question and roles for each of us—despite hailing from four IASC working groups, five RPTs, eight institutions, and a wide range of sub-disciplines. The takeaway: tackling complex challenges in the Arctic will require an increasingly multidisciplinary and collaborative approach, which is both feasible and beneficial.
Highlights/Deliverables:
- Report submitted as an ICARP IV resource outlining Arctic research knowledge gaps/challenges and proposing solutions/pathways forward, especially useful for RPTs 1, 2, and 6.
- Proposal submitted for a session at ASSW 2025 on “Writing Interdisciplinary Research Proposals,” which draws on the methodology and discussion points from this workshop.
- Participants represented four of the five IASC working groups (including every WG that provided workshop funding) and five of the seven RPTs. This offers a direct avenue for participants to report workshop findings back to their respective WGs and RPTs to include in ICARP IV discussions.
Date and Location
5 – 7 June 2024 | Cambridge, UK
IASC Working Groups funding the project
- Cryosphere WG
- Marine WG
- Social & Human WG
- Terrestrial WG
Project Lead
Henrieka Detlef (Aarhus University, Denmark)
Year funded by IASC
2024