Dartmouth’s Institute of Arctic Studies continues to help shape the future of Arctic and polar research through contributions to the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) Final Outcomes Report, released yesterday at the 2026 Arctic Science Summit Week in Aarhus, Denmark.
“We are honored to be part of international leadership working to set a new global standard for excellence in Arctic and polar research,” said Dr. Melody Brown Burkins, Director of the Institute of Arctic Studies in the Dickey Center at Dartmouth. “This report reflects more than four years of collaboration with Arctic scholars, Indigenous Knowledge holders, and international science organizations. It confirms that Arctic research must be grounded in ethical engagement, strengthened Indigenous leadership, and knowledge co-creation with Arctic communities to produce impactful, globally relevant solutions.”
Convened by the International Arctic Science Committee, the ICARP IV process brought together thousands of academic researchers, Indigenous scholars, policymakers, rights holders, and stakeholders to define Arctic research priorities for the next decade and inform planning for the Fifth International Polar Year in 2032 to 2033. Dartmouth has a longstanding role in this effort, having hosted the first ICARP meeting in 1995 in Hanover, New Hampshire. In 2024, Dartmouth also co-led an international effort supporting the election of the first Indigenous ICARP co-chair, Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough.
Dartmouth contributors recognized in the ICARP IV Final Outcomes Report include Dr. Matthew Druckenmiller, Arctic Innovation Fellow and Vice President of IASC, and Dr. Burkins, both of whom served on the ICARP IV International and U.S. National Steering Committees. Professor Emeritus Ross Virginia and former Arctic Innovation Fellow Varvara Korkina Williams were also recognized for their contributions to the ICARP IV process.
The ICARP IV report is notable for its emphasis on Indigenous leadership and knowledge co-production across seven research priority areas, from Arctic observing systems and technology to research collaboration, education, and diplomacy. The report is now available online, with a Summary for Policy-Makers and a Call for Action for Funders to be released later this spring.
Explore the ICARP IV Final Outcomes Report here.
