Circumpolar Education on Environmental Change and Resilience

When: May 29th, 2024 from 3-5pm

Where: Quality Hotel Ramsalt, Room Keiseren.

This panel will highlight experiences and learnings, followed by a workshop to discuss more specific ideas to develop a circumpolar education program. The workshop will build off previous experiences and insights from members of UArctic thematic networks and institutes from several Arctic countries:

1. UArctic Thematic Network on Local-scale Planning, Climate Change and Resilience, Canada
2. UArctic Thematic Network on Verdde Indigenous Education
3. UArctic Thematic Network on Arctic Plastic Pollution & GRID-Arendal, Norway
4. UArctic Læra Institute for Circumpolar Education, University of the Arctic
5. The University of Alaska Anchorage Institute of Social and Economic Research (members of the UArctic Thematic Network on Teacher Education for Social Justice and Diversity)

A panel will highlight education case studies and experiences to give a sense of approaches to an inclusive place-based education program that can highlight UArctic thematic networks, their graduate students and community partners. Moderated by Maeva Gauthier (UVic), the panel will comprise of:

• Jeff Birchall, Director, Climate Adaptation and Resilience Lab, University of Alberta, Lead, UArctic Thematic Network on Local-scale Planning, Climate Change and Resilience (panelist).
• Diane Hirshberg, Director & Professor of Education Policy, Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska Anchorage, Member, UArctic Thematic Network on Teacher Education & UNITWIN/UNESCO Network on Teacher Education (panelist).
• Sean Asikłuk Topkok, Professor, Director of the Center for Cross-Cultural Studies, Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks, Member UArctic Thematic Network on Verdde Indigenous Education
• Helene Svendsen, Lead of the UArctic Thematic Network on Arctic Plastic Pollution and Project Manager, GRID-Arendal, Norway (link)(panelist).
• Anthony Speca FRGS FRSA, Adjunct Professor, School for the Study of Canada, Trent University, Canada. Managing Director, Læra Institute for Circumpolar Education, University of the Arctic. trentu.ca/canadianstudies and laerainstitute.org (panelist)
• Moderated by: Maeva Gauthier, PhD Candidate, Geography and Program Manager, UNESCO Chair in Community-based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education, University of Victoria, Canada (Moderator).

This panel and workshop aim to establish new relationships and strengthen existing ones to develop a locally-centered and student-focused education program on environmental change and resilience. The goal is to co-create a circumpolar education program on these topics.

In Canada, the UofA/Live It partnership developed and delivered an education program, “Arctic Communities: Oceans” for K-8 across Canada on climate change impacts and adaptation in Tuktoyaktuk, NWT featuring graduate students involved in a UArctic thematic network and youth from the community (trailer in English/French).

In Alaska, Diane Hirshberg, will highlight some of the experiences featured in her recent book Education, Equity and Inclusion: Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable North (2022) available here.

In Alaska, Sean Asikłuk Topkok will share about the Indigenous studies graduate program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks that attracts people from around the world, as well as the Alaska Native Knowledge Network which serves as a resource for compiling and exchanging information related to Alaska Native knowledge systems and ways of knowing.

In Norway, the UArctic Thematic Network on Arctic Plastic Pollution will highlight some of the community engagement activities they have been involved in and future plans for education programs.

Finally, Anthony Speca from the UArctic Laera Institute for Circumpolar Education will highlight their Circumpolar Studies curriculum development guide, pedagogical resources, faculty workshops and student symposia, supporting undergraduate teaching and learning about the Arctic.

Short Break

Workshop / Conversation Café (60min)

Short demo of a recent program supported by UArctic & Global Affairs:

• David Russell-Loewen, Director of Education, Live It Earth. Co-created an education program with Jeff Birchall’s team to highlight his lab’s work and engage with Maeva Gauthier’s PhD research in Tuktoyaktuk.

Then, participants will choose to join a conversation on one of 4 themes. We will then share our highlights and discuss the next steps.

Thanks to the Global Arctic Leadership Initiative - Indigenous and Northern Collaborative Research and Education Engagement Fund for supporting this event.