What happens when over 200 institutions sharing a passion for Arctic education get together? Every two years, the University of the Arctic brings together its members and partners at the UArctic Congress. This includes meetings of the UArctic leadership, workshops convened by thematic networks, career development trainings, a science conference, and even a conference declaration.
As a UArctic partner, IASC was proud to contribute to and participate in the 2018 UArctic Congress, which took place on 3-7 September in Finland, partly in Oulu and partly in Helsinki. IASC helped sponsor a workshop on Queering Indigeneity. Represented by the Executive Secretary, IASC was also represented on a panel which discussed directions for the new UArctic Thematic Network on Science Diplomacy.
IASC was also present to the leaders of the UArctic Thematic Networks and Institutes to discuss areas of cooperation and collaboration. There was a lot of interest in seeing how IASC Working Groups and the Thematic Networks could co-sponsor activities, create policy briefs, and even work together to help support the work of the Arctic Council Working Groups.
The full scientific program was focused around the Finnish Chairmanship of the Arctic Council’s priorities of Environmental Protection, Connectivity, Meteorological Cooperation, and Education. Both keynotes and parallel sessions highlighted the breadth of interdisciplinary and international cooperation taking place through UArctic. More information on the UArctic Congress can be found on the UArctic News webpage.