Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic

Time: 6 - 7 November
Location: Aurora Kultur och Kongress – Lumi (Kiruna)
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The aim of the Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic is to shape agendas for Arctic and Antarctic research in Sweden, in a dialogue between academia and societal actors. The forum is a joint effort between Luleå University of Technology, Umeå University and the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.

The overarching theme is Raising the ambition of Swedish Polar Research. The program will include highlights of ongoing and emerging Arctic and Antarctic research, and panels in which researchers, authorities and actors from civil society discuss future needs and avenues for polar research in Sweden. The Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic will take place in Kiruna – a place in the epicenter of processes of change affecting the Arctic, from climate warming to green transition and global geopolitics.

Optional field trip before the forum

5 November 2024 (Tuesday): Kiruna City and mine

Preliminary programme

Day 1 – Wednesday 6 November

Venue: Aurora Kultur och Kongress – Lumi (Kiruna). Aurora is the main culture and conference center in Kiruna, located at the heart of the new city center.

08:00 – 12:00
Registration

10:00 Pre-session: Current research on climate change impacts in Arctic Sweden

Climate change remains as one of the most pressing challenges in the Arctic region. In this session, the Climate Impacts Research Centre at Umeå University presents ongoing research at Abisko research station, one of the platforms of The Swedish Polar Research Secretariat.

Moderator: Pär Byström – Director of the CIRC

Speakers:

• Mattias Siewert External link., Associate Professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University
• Lina Polvi Sjöberg External link., Associate Professor at the Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University
• Pär Byström External link., Professor at he Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University and Director of CIRC: Effects on northern fish populations and ecosystems by climate change and fisheries.
  
• Emily Pickering Pedersen External link, opens in new window., postdoctoral researcher, Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umeå University, Abisko: Arctic seasonality: uncovering the cold season

12:00 – 12:45 Lunch and welcome

Theme: Raising the ambition of Swedish Polar Research

12:45 – 13:00 The Swedish Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic

Launch of the Centre for the Arctic and Antarctic, Sweden – a new arena for research, discussions and education on the Arctic and Antarctic in Sweden.

13:00 – 14:30 News from the Swedish platforms for Polar science

Ongoing and upcoming activities on the Swedish platforms for Arctic and Antarctic research: Oden and the new Swedish icebreaker vision, Abisko Scientific Research Station, Wasa and others.

Moderator: Katarina Gårdfeldt, Director, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat

Speakers:

• Nina Kirchner External link., Head of Tarfala Research Station, Professor of Glaciology, Stockholm University
• Åsa Lindgren, Head of Ship-Based Research Support, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat: Oden – research icebreaker
• Julia Muchowski External link., Project Leader at Swedish Polar Secretariat: Polar Connect / North Pole Fiber
• Sandra Engstrand, Senior Research Officer, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, Swedish Antarctic Strategy
• Håkan Grudd, Research Support Coordinator, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, Wasa and Svea research stations, Antarctica,
• Margareta Johansson External link, opens in new window., Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, Abisko Scientific Research Station, Researcher, Head of Land-Based Science Support

14:30 – 15:00 Coffee

15:00 – 16:00 Funding Arctic and Antarctic research

Funding polar research – strategies from agencies and authorities funding Arctic and Antarctic research.

Moderator: Katarina Gårdfeldt, Director, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat

Speakers:

• Thomas Neidenmark External link, opens in new window., Senior Advisor at the Swedish Ministry of Education
• Ulf Jonsell, Senior Research Officer, Vetenskapsrådet / Swedish Research Council
• Elisabet Göransson External link, opens in new window., Senior Research Officer, Formas

16:00 – 17:00 Sweden in the fifth International Polar Year 2032/2033

Introduction to the International Polar Years and group dialogues on how actors in Sweden can build a strong role in IPY 2032-33

19:00 Forum dinner at Restaurant Spill

Day 2 – Thursday 7 November

Theme: Polar research in society – how Arctic societal actors and researchers can work together on urgent societal challenges

09:00 – 11:00 Security in the Arctic

The European Arctic has been an important arena in global conflicts for hundreds of years. Because of increasing global geopolitical tensions connected to Russia’s war in Ukraine and the geo-political ambitions of the growing global power China, the Arctic has once again turned into a security hot spot. The panel, consisting of researchers and practitioners in the field of Arctic security, will discuss challenges and how academia and societal actors can work together to solve them.

Moderator: Niklas Eklund External link, opens in new window., Professor in Political Science at Umeå University and Arctic Five Chair

Speakers:

• Alexandra Anstrell, Member of the Swedish Parliament, Riksdagens delegation to the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region
• Niklas Granholm, Deputy Director of Studies, FOI (Swedish Defence Research Agency)
• Douglas Nord External link, opens in new window., Professor Emeritus Bellingham University, Seattle, USA
• Katarina Gårdfeldt, Director, Swedish Polar Research Secretariat
• Niklas Eklund, Professor in Political Science at Umeå University and Arctic Five Chair

11:00 – 12:00 Lunch

12:00 – 14:00 Green transition in the Fennoscandian Arctic – how can we cope with goal conflicts?

The Fennoscandian Arctic is key to a green transition of the Swedish and European economies, but also poses challenges to Arctic communities and eco-systems. How can researchers and stakeholders cooperate to build a just green transition in the European Arctic? The panel, consisting of actors from academia, as well as regional/local actors, will discuss challenges and how to tackle them.

Moderator: Charlotta Söderberg External link, opens in new window., Associate Professor in Political Science at Luleå University of Technology and Arctic Five Chair

Speakers:

• Greg Poelzer External link, opens in new window., Professor of Political Science, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
• Erik Carlsson, Gällivare Näringsliv.
• Maria Pettersson, Professor of Law, Luleå University of Technology
• Tanja Joona External link, opens in new window., Docent in Public International Law

14:00 – 14:30 Fika

End of Forum