In his opening speech, Deputy Minister Grigory Trubnikov noted the importance of scientific and educational cooperation in the Arctic region, active involvement of Russian universities and research centers and the need for active joint work of researchers from different countries for better understanding of changes currently taking place in the region.
Marina Kalinina, UArctic Vice-President for Interregional Cooperation and Rector’s Advisor on International Cooperation at Northern (Arctic) Federal University moderated the discussion and provided updated information on the international education and research cooperation agenda. Presentations made by leading academic experts were commented by Russian and international experts from the audience. Video broadcast of the roundtable discussion made it open to all Forum participants.
The roundtable discussion brought up important issues in the field of scientific diplomacy in the Arctic, including the implementation of the Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation; common challenges and joint actions in the field of Arctic science based on the results of the Second Arctic Science Ministerial in Berlin (October 2018); recommendations for the scientific agenda of the upcoming Russian Federation Chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021-2023.
Among the participants of the roundtable discussion, who presented their vision of current challenges and opportunities for development of international cooperation in the Arctic were Igor Ganshin, Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Lars Kullerud, President of the University of the Arctic, Anne Husebekk, Rector of the UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Hanna Lappalainen, Secretary General of the Pan-Eurasean Experiment Program, Volker Rachold, Head of the German Arctic Office, Alfred Wegener Institute, Alexander Makarov, Director of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Arkady Tishkov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, head of the International Science Initiative in the Russian Arctic WG (International Arctic Science Committee), Jouko Niinimäki, Rector of the University of Oulu, Sergey Zilitinkevich, Director of the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), Finnish Meteorological Institute, Timo Koivurova, Director of the Arctic Center of the University of Lapland, Anne Morgenstern, Alfred Wegener Institute, the Helmholtz Association, Peter Pulsifer, Researcher, National Snow and Ice Data Center, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado, USA, as well as experts from leading Russian universities and research centers.