My Activity with Working Groups
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In addition to the specific research I do in northeastern Siberia, I am also actively involved in several ongoing circumpolar research efforts that provide me substantial insight into issues of environment, food security, community participation and empowerment, and pan-arctic governance. I serve as 1) a Sustainable Development and Arctic Economies working group member for the Second International Conference on Arctic Research Planning II (ICARP II), 2) a steering committee member for the Northern Research Forum (NRF), and, most recently, 3) a working group member for Arctic Social Indicators (ASI). |
The main goals of ICARP II were 1) to prepare Arctic research plans to guide international cooperation over the next 10-15 years; and 2) to bring together senior and young scholars, policy experts, Arctic indigenous and other residents, science and land managers as well as funding agencies. The conference took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, 10-12 November 2005. The comprehensive pre-conference process engaged over 140 scientists in the preparation of 12 science plans. The International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) is the main patron of ICARP II. For general info: www.icarp.dk For our WG report: http://www.icarp.dk/WGreports/WG1_final.PDF
The NRF provides a platform for effective, policy-relevant discussion and the sharing of research on northern issues. Meetings are held biennially with the participation of a wide variety of scientists, policy makers and representatives of other stakeholders. Read more on the NRF mission and activities here. The first NRF was held in Akureyri, Iceland in November 2000, the second in Veliky Novgorod, NW Russia in September 2002 and the third in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in Canada in September 2004. The fourth Open Meeting will be in Oulu, Tornio, Haparanda and Luleå in Sweden and Finland, October 5-8, 2006. For more info: http://www.nrf.is/ |
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The ASI project is a new project following-up on the Arctic Human Development Report (Click HERE for the AHDR) and led by Joan Nymand Larsen, Stefansson Arctic Institute, and Peter Schweitzer, University of Alaska Fairbanks. The objective is to devise a set of social indicators that reflect key aspects of human development in the Arctic, that are tractable in terms of measurement, and that can be monitored over time at a reasonable cost in terms of labour and material resources. A circumpolar working group has been established, and the first out of an estimated three workshops will take place in Akureyri, Iceland, on September 15-17, 2006, involving approximately 25 participants. The workshop is hosted by the Stefansson Arctic Institute. |
ASI leaders Joan Larsen and Peter Schweitzer with working group members