The Arctic is changing rapidly, and our research must reflect the knowledge and rights of the people who live there. By working together, we can find better solutions to the challenges facing the Arctic and the world
Dr. Melody Brown Burkins, Director of the Institute of Arctic Studies “

Share

Dartmouth Helps Shape New Plan for Arctic Research

  • UArctic Chairs and UArctic Indigenous Fellows

    Participating in the Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) were ten UArctic Chairs and UArctic Indigenous Fellows. From left to right: Kirk Anderson, Sylvia Moore, Bing Chen, Kamrul Hossain, Melody Brown Burkins, Arja Rautio, Andrey Petrov, Tuija Turunen, Jan Borm, Heather Angnatok. 

  • icarpiv_cochairdaleesambodorough

    Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough, Co-Chair of the International Steering Committee for the 4th International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) and former Chair of Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC)

Dartmouth is at the forefront of efforts to improve Arctic research, emphasizing collaboration with Indigenous communities. At the recent Fourth International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP IV) in Colorado, where nearly 1,200 scientists and Indigenous leaders gathered, Dartmouth's Institute of Arctic Studies helped shape a new plan for Arctic research over the next decade.

The conference highlighted the urgent need to address climate change in the Arctic and stressed the importance of respecting and engaging Indigenous Knowledge in scientific studies. Dr. Melody Brown Burkins, Director of Dartmouth's Institute of Arctic Studies, has been serving as a member of the ICARP IV International Steering Committee, and played a key role in developing a statement that calls for ethical and respectful research partnerships with Arctic Peoples.

"The Arctic is changing rapidly, and our research must reflect the knowledge and rights of the people who live there," said Dr. Burkins. "By working together, we can find better solutions to the challenges facing the Arctic and the world."

Dartmouth has a long history of supporting Arctic research and collaboration. We hosted the first major international meeting on Arctic research in 1995, and more recently, Dartmouth has co-led the Indigenizing Arctic Research" or IAR, a project funded by the National Science Foundation, managed by Varvara Korkina Williams (Kumandin), Institute of Arctic Studies Arctic Innovation Fellow. IAR is focused on hosting dialogs with Arctic Indigenous Peoples in support of more Indigenous-led research and decision-making in the creation of Arctic knowledge and policy, and facilitated the appointment of Dr. Dalee Sambo Dorough (Iñupiaq) as the first Arctic Indigenous co-chair for the ICARP IV steering committee. 

Looking ahead, Dartmouth will continue to be a leader in Arctic research, contributing to a global roadmap for future studies leading up to the International Polar Year in 2032-33. Dr. Burkins is eager to engage interested Dartmouth researchers and students in international Arctic science cooperation, knowledge creation, and Arctic governance whenever possible.