Science Diplomacy in the Arctic Region

Science diplomacy generally describes the use of science and scientific knowledge to advance diplomatic interests. In the Arctic, international scientific cooperation between the West and Russia has been a mainstay of »Arctic exceptionalism« since the end of the Cold War. After the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine in 2014 and in particular after 24 February 2022, scientific cooperation with representatives of the Russian Federation was frozen and western researchers have little access to the Russian Arctic anymore, which accounts for about 40% of the Arctic land area. In light of common challenges and geopolitical tensions, the question arises as to what role science and science diplomacy can play in the future.

Program

Opening Remarks
Franziska Hagedorn, Head of Division (United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Arctic Policy), German Federal Foreign Office
Ole Øvretveit, Manager & Researcher of Arctic Science Diplomacy Project, University of Bergen & Academia Europaea Bergen, Norway
Charlotte Gehrke, PhD Fellow, Nord University, Norway & Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany
Sofie Løchen Smedsrud, The Research Council of Norway

Moderated Panel Discussion
Moderators:
Erik F. Øverland, Royal Norwegian Embassy
Volker Rachold, German Arctic Office, Alfred Wegener Institute

Reception

Organized by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Berlin and the German Arctic Office at Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research.

Foto © Alfred-Wegener-Institut / Lianna Nixon CC-BY 4.0