The UArctic Institute for Arctic Policy (IAP) is a collaboration between the University of the Arctic, Dartmouth College, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The IAP at Dartmouth is based at the Institute of Arctic Studies at the Dickey Center for International Understanding in Hanover, NH.
IAP is a forum that brings together representatives of governments, non-governmental organizations, Indigenous Peoples, and scientists to discuss and identify critical issues related to the circumpolar north and its peoples. IAP helps develop informed recommendations with and for governments and decision-makers to address pressing Arctic policy issues.
The IAP mission is to advance the objectives of UArctic by promoting (i) discussion and analysis of critical issues facing the Arctic region and its people, and (ii) to provide appropriate educational opportunities and policy advice as northern peoples face the challenges resulting from climate change and other global challenges.
Dartmouth College is a private, co-educational liberal arts school located in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. Dartmouth College has a long tradition of research and teaching in northern and polar studies. Originally founded in 1769 for the education of Native Americans, Dartmouth is the ninth oldest college in the U.S. Enrollment is approximately 1,800 graduate and 4,100 undergraduate students and includes the highest percentage of Native American students of any Ivy League institution. The college has 19 graduate programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and Tuck School of Business.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks is the northernmost Land, Sea, and Space Grant institution in the U.S., offering 28 certificates, 167 degrees in 122 disciplines ranging from bachelors to Ph.D. UAF has an enrollment of over 9,800 students who come from Alaska, most other states, and 52 foreign countries. About half graduated from high school in Alaska and more than 200 are international students. Undergraduate students make up 89 percent of the total student body.
In 1922 the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines opened its doors and grew quickly to become the University of Alaska in 1935. By the time Alaska became a state in 1959, students could earn Ph.D.s at the university. UAF remains the only campus in the state that awards doctoral degrees.
The University of the Arctic (UArctic) is a cooperative network of universities, colleges, and other organizations committed to higher education and research in the North. Members share resources, facilities, and expertise to build post-secondary education programs that are relevant and accessible to northern students. Their overall goal is to create a strong, sustainable circumpolar region by empowering northerners and northern communities through education and shared knowledge.
UArctic promotes education that is circumpolar, interdisciplinary, and diverse in nature and draws on combined strengths to address the unique challenges of the region. The University of the Arctic recognizes the integral role of indigenous peoples in northern education and seeks to engage their perspectives in all of its activities.
The IAP brings together a wide range of stakeholders to help address policy issues critical to the Arctic.
2018-2024 IAP activities: Updates soon
2017
June 21-22, 2017, Washington, DC
IAP was a partner organization in the Wilson Center Arctic Circle Forum, which hosted a range of distinguished speakers such as former President of Iceland and chair of the Arctic Circle Ólafur Ragnar Grimsson. The focus of the forum was "The United States and Russia in the Arctic," with particular attention given to past successes as a basis for future cooperation. The Forum was the largest gathering of Arctic expertise to assemble in Washington, DC.
June 26-30, 2017, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
The Model Arctic Council UArctic Thematic Network held a week-long "Science and Diplomacy in the Arctic" workshop at Dartmouth College for 30 students and faculty from the US and Canada during Arctic Science Summit Week. The program included a 2-day interactive program on "Science Diplomacy & Leadership" follow by a 3-day Model Arctic Council simulation focused on Arctic climate, health and sustainability.
2017-2019 Fulbright Arctic Initiative (FAI) II
The Fulbright Arctic Initiative (FAI) continued, creating a second cohort under IAP leadership network to stimulate international scientific collaboration on Arctic issues while increasing mutual understanding between people of the US and other countries.
2016
October 26, 2016, Washington, DC
A distinguished group of Arctic policy leaders and the inaugural FAI scholars met at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to discuss "Arctic Policy Challenges and Opportunities: A Fulbright Arctic Policy Leaders Dialogue."
March 9-15, 2016, University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
The first UArctic Model Arctic Council took place at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) in March 2016 during the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council, immediately prior to an Arctic Council Senior Arctic Officials meeting. Dartmouth was a participant and helped lead the MAC workshop.
2015 Launch of Inaugural Fulbright Arctic Initiative (FAI)
In partnership with Canada Fulbright and the US State Department, the leadership of IAP created a network to stimulate international scientific collaboration on Arctic issues while increasing mutual understanding between people of the US and other countries. In 2016, the inaugural Fulbright Arctic Initiative researchers and their co-lead scholars gathered in Washington, DC, to participate in policy meetings and public engagement events, including a capstone symposium showcasing the results of the Fulbright Arctic Scholars' research and collaborations over the preceding 18 months. This successful program continues today with the FAI IV cohort - see Fulbright Arctic Initiative website.
2015 Report: Arctic Council Initiatives to Sustain Arctic Cooperation: Priorities for a US Chairmanship, 2015-2017.
IAP hosted a meeting with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC, to bring together international Arctic experts to discuss the future of Arctic cooperation within the framework of cooperation. The meeting resulted in short- and long-term policy recommendations for the US Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. Download the recommendations.
2013 Report: Euro-Atlantic Action plan for Cooperation and Enhanced Arctic Security
IAP hosted a meeting with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC, to convene 40 leading Arctic scholars, government officials, industry leaders and representatives for indigenous peoples to examine key issues facing the region—energy, health, commercial shipping, security and governance—and to make recommendations for challenges facing the Euro-Atlantic community in the Arctic. Download the final report.
2011 Report: Arctic Health: Challenges and Responses to Rapid Climate, Environmental, and Social Change
IAP hosted a meeting of leading international health experts and Indigenous leaders from the Far North at the Institute of Arctic Studies at Dartmouth to discuss the effects of rapid environmental and social change on the health and social institutions of peoples living in the North. Download the final report.
2010 Report: Climate Change and Human Security
IAP worked with the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi, Finland, to host scientists, Arctic Indigenous leaders, and other experts from across the North to address issues of climate change and human security. The meeting was also hosted with the UArctic Thematic Network on Geopolitics and Security. Download the final report.
2009 Report: Considering a Roadmap Forward: The Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment
IAP worked with the University of Alaska Fairbanks to co-host a meeting of 70 international experts to discuss Arctic marine safety, protecting Arctic people and the environment, and building the Arctic marine infrastructure. Download the final report.
2008 Report: The Arctic Climate Change and Security Policy Conference
The first IAP meeting was hosted by the Institute of Arctic Studies at Dartmouth in collaboration with the Carnegie Foundation for International Peace. The meeting convened more than 20 academic scholars, policy makers, shipping and energy experts, and Indigenous Peoples for a round-table discussion of security policy issues associated with rapid climate change. Download the final report.
Ross Virginia, Ph.D.
Myers Family Professor of Environmental Science
Distinguished Stefansson-Nef Faculty Fellow, Institute of Arctic Studies
Dickey Center for International Understanding
Dartmouth College
6214 Haldeman Center
Hanover, NH 03755
Mike Sfraga, Ph.D.
Global Fellow, Polar Initiative at the Wilson Center
Washington, DC
Lars Kullerud
President, University of the Arctic
Postboks 183
Arendal
N-4802, Norway