Gateway to the Arctic V in Finland

The fifth research workshop Gateway to the Arctic was held in Pyhätunturi, Lapland, Finland from 24 to 26 January 2018.

The theme for this year’s event was ‘Co-production of Knowledge’, which entailed exploring the role of various disciplines for the evolution of the Arctic against the backdrop of the ongoing climate change.

The workshop format has been supported since 2013 by the Franco-German University in Saarbrücken, an institute of higher learning that is especially committed to intensifying binational cooperation, and to exchanges that support the next generation of researchers. The ‘Gateway to the Arctic’ series is intended to promote a discourse on various aspects of the latest Arctic research, and focuses on young researchers from disciplines in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities with an interest in the Earth’s polar and circumpolar regions. It serves as a forum where the participating institutes can expand the focus of their efforts and pursue collaborative projects. The workshop series fosters networking between the participants and the exchange of ideas that transcend the borders between disciplines.

The AWI’s Climate Office (Dr Renate Treffeisen), the Helmholtz Research Initiative ‘Regional Climate Change’ (REKLIM, Dr Klaus Grosfeld), and the Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ) (Prof Jan Borm) jointly coordinate the workshop. This year their co-partner was the University of Lapland (Dr Anna Stammler-Gossmann).

All participants met at the science centre and museum Arktikum in Rovaniemi, Finland, where the Director of the Arctic Centre, Prof Timo Koivorova, welcomed them and explained the role of the Centre, which is affiliated with the University of Lapland. Afterwards Nicolas Gunslay, CEO and Exhibition Manager at Arktikum, gave the participants a tour of the facility.

To underscore the scientific role and scope of Arctic research, this year’s agenda included the following topics:

  1. The importance of indigenous knowledge, and the collaboration with indigenous groups in the Arctic regions
  2. Presentations on the management of Arctic territories and economic relations between non- Arctic States and Russia
  3. A further topic was reindeer husbandry and the reindeer culture in Lapland

The presentations and workshops for the research series took place in one of the University of Lapland’s guest buildings in Pyhätunturi, and included contributions by e.g.: 

                Dr Anna Stammler-Gossmann (University of Lapland)

                Dr Stephan Dudeck (University of Lapland/ University of St. Petersburg)

                Dr Erich Kasten (Foundation of Siberian Cultures)

                Dr Nuccio Mazzullo (University of Lapland)

                Dr Jean-Michel Huctin (UVSQ)

So as to get an impression of the local culture and ways of life, the participants visited a reindeer farm, where they learned about the importance and husbandry of reindeer in Lapland. During the subsequent dinner at a local farm, they also gained insights into the history of, and living in, Lapland.

You can find the workshop programme here ...

Informations on the 'Gateway to the Arctic' workshops 2012 - 2015 you can find here ...