Dartmouth's delegation demonstrated leadership and influence on Arctic issues at the 2024 Arctic Circle Assembly (ACA) in Reykjavik, Iceland. With representation from the Institute of Arctic Studies (IAS) at the Dickey Center, the Geisel School of Medicine, and two students, the team contributed to meaningful discussions ranging from Arctic science diplomacy and Arctic Indigenous leadership to the importance of Arctic health equity.
"Our presence at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland this year underscored Dartmouth's commitment to advancing Arctic science and diplomacy, Indigenous-led knowledge creation, and critical issues of health and wellbeing in the Arctic," said Melody Brown Burkins, Director of the IAS. "Through presentations, panels, and side meetings with our many Arctic colleagues and partners – and by bringing students to the conference - we were able to showcase Dartmouth's work to convene diverse perspectives about the future of the Arctic, create impactful Arctic research collaborations, and highlight the importance of co-creating knowledge with Arctic Indigenous Peoples for more ethical and effective Arctic research and policy."
Presentations by the Dartmouth delegation included a keynote at the University of Iceland by Dr. Burkins, who also serves as the UArctic Chair in Science Diplomacy and Inclusion in addition to speaking on four panels and joining invited dialogs advancing Indigenous-led research and Arctic science diplomacy with Nordic and EU colleagues. Varvara Korkina Williams, IAS Project Manager and Innovation Fellow, spoke on three panels, co-moderating the panel on Indigenous research leadership with Dr. Burkins in addition to speaking about Indigenous youth engagement and the importance of the arts. And Lisa V. Adams, MD, Associate Dean for Global Health and Director of the Center for Global Health Equity at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine, co-hosted and spoke at a session on the Lancet Commission's efforts to advance policy recommendations in support of Arctic & Northern Indigenous Peoples' health and wellbeing, work she co-leads with several Arctic Indigenous colleagues.
Juliette Courtine '24, Dartmouth alumn and former Global Health Fellow with the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding, joined Dr. Adams to help advance Arctic health equity dialogues, and Victoria (Tori) Yang '26, who is currently pursuing an IAS internship on sustainable energy systems in Akureyri, Iceland, also attended this year's ACA.
Held since 2013, the annual ACA is the largest international gathering on the Arctic and serves as a platform for dialogue and coordinated action on key issues affecting the Arctic region. Topics include climate change, security, economic development, scientific research, Indigenous rights, and international cooperation. Participants include representatives from governments, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, and Indigenous communities.
The comprehensive, 3-day, 2024 Arctic Circle Assembly Program may be found here.