Arctic Centre

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Arctic Centre
WWW.ARCTICCENTRE.ORG

• Multidisciplinary Research Institute and Science
  Centre

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Arctic Centre

• Research Institute and Science Centre
• An institute of the University of Lapland
• Objectives
• To increase the knowledge, awareness and
  understanding of the Arctic region, both within
  the region itself and beyond.
• To produce and spread information as the basis
  for decision-making and to support the formation
  of general opinion.
• Three main components Research Unit (including
  NIEM), Information Services, Science Centre
• Key partner in local, national, and international
  networks
• Staff about 50-60 people
• Located on the banks of the Ounasjoki, in
  Rovaniemi, Finland

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Arctic Centre

• Vision
• Centre of excellence in Arctic research and
  knowledge
• Mission
• Multidisciplinary research of the Arctic area and
  information dissemination
• Goal
• Increased knowledge, awareness and understanding
  of the Arctic both within and outside the Arctic
  area
• Values
• The sustainable development of the Arctic based
  on strong knowledge

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Organization

• Research Section
• Global Change
• Research Professor
• Sustainable Development
• Research Professor
• Northern Institute of Environmental and Minority
  Law (NIEM)
• Director Research Professor

Arctic Centre Board
University of Lapland Board
Director Administration
Rector
Information Services Library Head
Science Centre Exhibition Chief Executive Producer
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Budget

• Allocated by the Ministry of the Education
• Annual basic budget is about 2.35 m
• Annual external funding is 1.28 m
• - EU programmes (30)
• - Finnish Academy (25)
• - Ministries (25)
• - Others (20)

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Funding 1993-2004
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History

• 1979 European Cultural Foundations proposal to
  create an Arctic museum
• 1983/84 International architectural competition
  for a museum building
• 1985 Arctic Centre Foundation established
• 1986 Project developed as a theme of Finlands
  75th anniversary celebrations
• 1987 Government of Finland and City of Rovaniemi
  financing decision
• 1987 Formation of the Arctic Centre Property
  Company (construction company)
• 1988 Proposal to establish the Arctic Centre as
  an institute at the University of Lapland
• 1988 Operations at the Arctic Centre begin
• 1989 Official founding of the Arctic Centre as a
  separate institute of the University
• 1990 Construction of the Arktikum house begins
• 1992 Opening ceremonies of the Arktikum house
• 1996 Construction of the Institute part of
  Arktikum house begins
• 1997 Opening Ceremonies of the Institute Building
  and Information Service and researchers move into
  the premises

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Multidisciplinary research

• Internationally recognized centre for Arctic
  research
• 25-30 scientists from natural and social
  sciences, and law
• combining scientific and traditional knowledge in
  cooperation with indigenous and local people
• Themes
• Global Change
• Sustainable Development
• Environment and Minority Law

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Research Project Examples

• Global change
• Environmental and social impacts of industrial
  development in Northern Russia
• Reindeer management today and possibilities of
  new
• participatory approaches
• Glaciological studies on climate change,
  Svalbard, Antarctic
• Birds as indicators of the environmental change
• Population management and traditional hunting
• Impacts of forestry on northern biodiversity
• Impacts of UV-radiation on plant and animal
  physiology

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Research Project Examples

• Sustainable Development
• Arctic operational platform socio-economic
  impacts of
• building a oil terminal
• Economic impacts of climate change in the Barents
  region
• Governance of renewable natural resources in
  Northwest Russia
• International environmental cooperation in
  Northwest Russia Russian experiences
• Indigenous peoples organizations as international
  political actors
• Sami identity politics

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Northern Institute for Environment and Minority
Law

• A legal research institute with focus over Arctic
  issues
• Co-ordinates Arctic Governance curriculum within
  ASP
• Publication Series Juridica Lapponica (28
  publications)
• Four researchers and 8 graduate students
• Research project examples
• Environmental Impact Assessment in the Arctic
• Climate Change in the Arctic the Role of Law
• Human Right to Decent Environment
• Environmental Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• The Legal Regulation Related to Sami
• The Regulation of Public Participation in Law
• Effectiveness of International Environmental
  Agreements
• Historic Land Rights in Finnish Lapland

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Education

• Arctic Studies Program
• Interdisciplinary undergraduate program for
  students from all around the world
• One year
• ARKTIS Graduate School (2002-06)
• 20 PhD-students in universities of Lapland,
  Helsinki and Oulu
• 50 international supervisors PhD-student guidance
• University of Arctic (International Secretariat)
• Cooperative network of universities, colleges and
  other organisations (72)
• Education programs Bachelor of Circumpolar
  Studies
• North2north mobility program

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Information Services

• Library, with 16,000 volumes about the Arctic
• Electronic information products/services
• Hosts websites for other projects and
  organizations
• Barents Customs Info-base
• Arctic Council working group EPPR
• BEAC working group BEATA, transport

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Information Services

• Electronic Information Resources
• Arctic Research Databases
• ARIA Arctic Environmental Impact Assessment
• Arctic Council
• Arctic Research Databases
• BarentsInfo (www.barentsinfo.org)
• information, photos, maps and articles, links
• Barents projects database
• Barents Library Network
• Map Collection
• Northwest Russian News
• Northern Dimension in Finland
• PolarWeb
• Research Society of Lapland

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Science Centre Exhibition

• Exhibition people and nature in the Arctic
• 1300 square meters
• About 85 000 visitors/year
• 60 foreigners
• European countries German, Spain, France,
  Holland
• Others US, Japan, Russia
• Renewing process ongoing Goal
• Effective popularisation of Arctic science to
  wide audience and decision makers
• Online information by using modern technology
• Interactive, visually effective, experimental

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Other Activities

• Organization of major conferences and scientific
  meetings
• Expert consultancy for local and international
  decision-makers
• Production of Arctic content for publications,
  film and other media
• A partner in education, as part of the University
  of Lapland
• Developing polar expeditions in both the Arctic
  and Antarctic

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Formal International Participation

• International Arctic Science Committee IASC
• Arctic Council
• UNEP Grid-Arendal
• The Arctic Research Consortium of the United
  States (ARCUS)
• World Reindeer Herders Association
• Nordic Research Network on Sami and Environmental
  Law
• European Collaborative for Science, Industry and
  Technology Exhibitions (ECSITE)
• Nordic Science Centre Association
• Co-operative agreements with numerous institutes
• Barents Euro-Arctic Regional Council Polar
  Libraries Colloquy
• Arctic Specialist Group of the Commission on
  Environmental Law of the World Conservation Union
  (IUCN)

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Recent Publications

• Arctic Centre Reports
• Arktisen Aika Ilmastonmuutos ja ajan politiikka
  arktisella alueella. Monica Tennberg (2004)
• Poron kunto ja rasvat Selvitys tutkimushankkeen
  tulosten soveltamismahdollisuuksista. Päivi
  Soppela (2004)
• Juridica Lapponica
• Arctic Governance. Ed.by Timo Koivurova, Tanja
  Joona and Reija Shnoro (2004)
• Samiska rättsuppfattningar. Elina Helander
• The Right to a Decent Environment with Special
  Reference to Indigenous Peoples. Tuula Kolari
  (2004)