Arctic Frontiers Science

Session 5 – Experiences from the science-policy interface in the Arctic

In the Arctic, the ambition towards reaching the UN sustainable development goals is high on the political agenda, in parallel with the objective for both blue and green growth. However, sustainable development is complex and multifaceted, and requires considerations of synergies and trade-offs when balancing growth, economy, development and socio-ecological sustainability. This requires joint efforts from decision-makers, researchers and scientists, business, industry, indigenous peoples and local communities alike. Hence, successfully navigating sustainable development in the Arctic will require the integration of scientific, local and indigenous knowledge, stakeholder perspectives and approaches for understanding social well-being, to inform management and decision-making processes. We herewith understand the science-policy interface as the integration of scientific, local, and indigenous knowledge into decision-making processes through ways of effectively engaging with multiple actors and decision-makers, and thereby achieving demonstrable impacts on policy and practice.

This session aims to shed light on approaches that can support sustainable development through the collection and combination of various types of knowledge, methods to assess socio-ecological well-being, approaches to knowledge co-production and co-management, to contribute to inclusive, and well-informed decision-making.

To gain insights into the diverse pathways and approaches for co-created and evidence-based decision-making in support of sustainable development in the Arctic, we are looking for contributions on, including, but not limited to:

• Experiences and pathways towards policy-informed science and science-informed policy in the Arctic, from theory to practice, and from local to international level.
• Approaches and methods for decision-relevant knowledge co-production in the Arctic, including local and indigenous knowledge systems and participatory approaches, and monitoring and assessment tools and approaches to inform management and policy.
• The role of business and industry in shaping sustainable development and decision-making in the Arctic.
• Legal barriers and solutions to science-informed policy and knowledge-based decision-making processes.
• Science diplomacy.
• The role of formal and informal training and education (e.g. through universities, communities of practice, international projects and international cooperation tools,  etc.) to bridge the science-policy gap.
• Ways to communicate decision-relevant knowledge.

The session committee considers publishing a special issue or collection of articles in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal in conjunction with the session. Abstract submitters had a chance to indicate their intention to contribute to the special issue. More information about this will be available at a later stage.

Session committee:

• Charlotte Teresa Weber | Akvaplan-niva, Norway (Co-lead)
• Froukje Maria Platjouw | Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Norway (Co-lead)
• Trude Borch | Akvaplan-niva, Norway (Co-lead)
• Arthur Mason | Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway
• Astrid Høgestøl | Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway
• Marina Kalinina | UArctic & Northern (Arctic) Federal University (NArFU), Russia
• Jon L. Fuglestad | Research Council of Norway
• Sibyl Diver | Stanford University, USA

A detailed program of the session is presented below, and is based on abstracts accepted ahead of the Arctic Frontiers 2022 conference initially planned for 31 Jan - 3 Feb 2022. The program is subject to modifications after the registration deadline for presenters, which was set on 11 April. 

All attendees to Arctic Frontiers are invited to the Researcher's Reception, hosted by the Norwegian Polar Institute, on Sunday 8th May at 20:00. Join us in the Fram Centre's Lysgården (atrium) for an evening of light entertainment, food, drinks, professional exchange and socialising. If you want to attend, please email to jenny@arcticfrontiers.com

Guidelines for oral presentations and posters is available here.

A step-by-step instruction on how to set up your virtual science booth is available here.