This is the fifth event in a network series titled "Scotland’s Role and Contribution in a Changing Arctic Environment" - and invites those interested in local and Indigenous research and community engagement to attend

Researchers from Scotland-based institutions are invited to attend this event to listen, brainstorm, discuss, and network to further Scottish research and collaboration in the Arctic within the fields of local and Indigenous research and community engagement. Arctic-based researchers wanting to work more closely with Scottish institutions are also encouraged to join. This event is suited to researchers from social science, political geography, and multidisciplinary backgrounds, studying stakeholder engagement and knowledge production in local and Indigenous contexts.

This event is chaired by Professor Gisele M Arruda, Aberdeen Honorary Tutor at University of Aberdeen and Social Scientist at The Polar Connection.

Attendees will hear a few short presentations from Scotland-based researchers and a UArctic thematic lead showcasing the current state of local and Indigenous research and community engagement studies in the Arctic. This will be followed by discussion on the extent of Scottish expertise in this field, the opportunities and barriers for future research, lessons we can learn from Arctic institutions, and how this field of research may benefit the lives, wellbeing, and resilience of people in Scotland and the Arctic.

Speakers will include:

• Professor Alison Brown, Professor in Anthropology and Museum Studies, University of Aberdeen
• Dr Steve Taylor, Director of Centre for Recreational Tourism Research, University of Highlands and Islands
• Dr Katerina Strani, Head of Cultural Studies section and Deputy Director of the Intercultural Research Centre, Heriot Watt University
• Dr.scient. Finn Danielsen, Lead of UArctic Thematic Network on Collaborative Resource Management, Nordic Foundation for Development and Ecology (NORDECO), Greenland/Denmark

This event will contribute towards a consolidated, and publicly available, online report on research challenges and opportunities, Scotland’s role and contribution, and recommendations on mechanisms for coordinating Arctic research in Scotland and furthering educational links.

About the network series

Over the years, strong educational and research links have been established between Scotland and the Arctic. The scope of Arctic research in Scotland extends beyond natural and physical sciences to the humanities and social sciences, with politics, law, environment, energy development and economics gaining increasing prominence in recent years. Yet, despite the many research strengths of Scotland-based institutions, much of the Scottish research community remains fragmented.

This series of network events aims to lay the foundation for consolidating Scottish expertise on Arctic matters and building a network for more consistent involvement of Scottish institutions in Arctic research and international forums.

A series of 9 themed network events will be held between late February and March 2021 and concluded with 2 consolidation events to reflect on the discussions and begin the initial steps of establishing a Scotland-wide network dedicated to Arctic research.

Learn more and sign up to other network events by clicking here

The network series is being organised by Glasgow Caledonian University in partnership with the University of Highlands Islands, University of Aberdeen, and the University of the Arctic (UArctic). These events and establishment of a Scotland-Arctic research network are being supported by the Scottish Government.