Dissemination of results from Northern Research Forum

Project summary:

The Northern Research Forum (NRF) is an ongoing activity of the University of the Arctic whose purpose is to promote dialogue among members of the research community and a wide range of other northern stakeholders. This dialogue addresses the critical issues, problems, and opportunities facing circumpolar peoples in the context of social and environmental changes and economic globalization. The Forum provides a setting for policy-relevant discussion on the role of research in addressing issues of sustainable development, community viability, peace and security, social and environmental policy, and the impacts of global change.

Dr. Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, the President of Iceland, launched the idea of the NRF in September 1998 on the occasion of his speech commemorating the official opening of the twentieth academic year of the University of Lapland in northern Finland. Subsequently, the University of Lapland prepared a feasibility study regarding this initiative (University of the Arctic Process Publications No. 8). The NRF began its work in Iceland in October 1999 with the formation of a Steering Committee and a secretariat in Akureyri.

The NRF convenes a congress every second year, rotating among the different northern countries in order to address sub-regional and local concerns as well as region-wide issues. Participants at each session of the NRF include researchers, educators, politicians, business leaders, civil servants, community leaders, NGO representatives, resource users, and managers. The NRF is not an organization in the ordinary sense of the term; cross-sectorial and intercultural communication can be interpreted as the its main niche and long-range goal. The Forum also encourages participation by younger people and those with new and unconventional approaches. Building on the experience of the entire circumpolar world, the NRF promotes an integrated view of the north, its peoples and issues. Through exchanges of ideas and perspectives and discussions of the findings of multidisciplinary research, the Forum explores connections between northern neighbors, nurtures a sense of the North as a shared region, and stimulates the growth of a circumpolar community. In this way, the NRF enhances sustainable communities, democratic processes, and stability in the northern regions.

North meets North - the 1st NRF

The first NRF took place in Akureyri, Iceland from 4 to 6 November 2000 and was widely applauded as a success. Embracing the theme "North meets North", the Forum attracted a wide range of stakeholders, over one hundred participants from Canada, Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway, Russia, Sweden, UK and USA. Dr. Grimsson, delivered the opening address, followed by presentations from Pekka Aikio, President of Sami Parliament, Finland; Amalie Jessen, Vice-Director, Department of Industry, Greenland; Peter Johnson, President, Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies, Canada; and Sergei Khariuchi, Chair of Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Russia.

The five panel sessions focused respectively on: The relevance of history to contemporary issues of peace and security; Northern economies in the global economy; Regionalism and governance; Implementation of the Northern Dimension, and Science and technology applications in the north.
More than twenty young researchers presented findings from their research during so-called Open Square Hours, but also in a special workshop organized by the Circumpolar Ph.D. Network in Arctic Environmental Studies which took place immediately following the Forum and was attended by Forum participants.

Comprehensive proceedings from the first NRF are due to be published in August 2001, both as a book and on the NRF website (www.nrf.is).

The 2nd NRF - in Russia

The second NRF will take place in Great Novgorod, Northwest Russia in September 2002.

The Northern Research Forum of Russia (NRFR, Severnyi Issledovatelskii Forum Rossii) has been established as a branch of the NRF, for promoting its overall objectives while coordinating North-Russian participation and to become a host of the 2nd NRF.

Members of the NRF Steering Committee

The day-to-day affairs of the NRF are handled by a Steering Committee whose current members are:

Lassi Heininen (Chair), Docent, University of Lapland/Pan-European Institute, Finland
Andrei Golovnev, Professor, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
Thorsteinn Gunnarsson, Rector, University of Akureyri, Iceland
Amalie Jessen, Vice-Deputy Minister, Department of Industry, Greenland
Peter Johnson, Professor, Department of Geography, University of Ottawa, Canada
Edna Ahgeak MacLean, President, Ilisagvik College, USA
Zaneta Ozolina, Associate professor, Department of Political Science, University of Latvia
Oran Young, Director, Institute of Arctic Studies, Dartmouth College, USA

Members of the NRF Honorary Board

The NRF also has an Honorary Board consisting of distinguished individuals who offer advice on Forum activities. Current members of the Board include:

Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, President of Iceland (Chair)
Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland
Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada
Thor Heyerdal, Explorer, Norway
Lennart Meri, President of the Republic of Estonia
Yury Neyolov, Govenor of Yamal Nenets Okrug, Russia
Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of the Republic of Latvia

More information on the Northern Research Forum NRF home page:
http://www.nrf.is

Thorleifur Stefan Bjornsson, University of Akureyri &
Jón Haukur Ingimundarson, Stefansson Arctic Institute
Nordurslod, IS-600 Akureyri, Iceland
Tel.: +354 463 0504; Fax: +354 463 0589; E-mail:nrf@unak.is