Arctic - YCLSF

Alaska Native Science Commission

Country: United States

Web site: http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/ansc.html

The Alaska Native Science Commission was formed in 1993 in response to a felt need for the Native community to become actively involved in scientific research and to become aware and informed of science investigating Native lives and environment. The commission works to ensure that when science is undertaken in Alaska, it is with the knowledge, cooperation and understanding of the Native community. Initial funding for the commission was received from the National Science Foundation.

The mission of the Alaska Native Science Commission (ANSC) is to endorse and support scientific research that enhances and perpetuates Alaska Native cultures and ensures the protection of indigenous cultures and intellectual property. It seeks to:

facilitate the inclusion of local and traditional knowledge into research and science, and provide a mechanism for community feedback on results;
participate in and influence priorities for research;
encourage participation of Alaska Natives in all levels of sciences and scientific disciplines, and promote science to Native youth; and
ensure that Native people share in economic benefits derived from their intellectual property.

Alaska SeaLife Centre

Country: United States

Web site: http://www.alaskasealife.org/

The Alaska SeaLife Centre is a non-profit marine science facility dedicated to understanding and maintaining the integrity of the marine ecosystem of Alaska through research, rehabilitation and public education. The centre’s research facilities and naturalistic exhibits immerse visitors in the dynamic marine ecosystems of Alaska.

Aleut International Association

Country: United States

In September 1998, the Aleut International Association (AIA) was formed, resulting in the first formal organization of Aleut people in over 178 years. The purpose of the organization is to protect the natural resources and the environment of the region surrounding the Aleut homelands, which is threatened by the impact of the Russian economy, pollution, climate change and the commercial fishing fleets of several nations. Formation of the AIA represents the first effort by Aleuts on both sides of the Bering Sea to cooperate on the mutual goal of protecting natural resources vital for the continuation of the Aleut way of life.

American Russian Centre

Country: United States

Web site: http://www.arc.uaa.alaska.edu/

The American Russian Centre (ARC) trains entrepreneurs, business managers and government leaders through grants from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other U.S. agencies. ARC promotes the transition of the Russian Far East to democracy and a free market economy.

Arctic Athabaskan Council

Country: Canada

Web site: http://www.arcticathabaskancouncil.com/

The Arctic Athabaskan Council (AAC) is an international treaty organization established to represent the interests of United States and Canadian Athabaskan member First Nation governments in Arctic Council fora, and to foster a greater understanding of the common heritage of all Athabaskan peoples of Arctic North America.

Arctic Centre, University of Lapland

Country: Finland

Web site: http://www.arcticcentre.org/?deptid=9015

The Arctic Centre conducts international, high-level, multidisciplinary research; carries out project services; maintains Science Centre exhibitions, Information Service and a library; and also provides education. The institute is located on the banks of the Ounasjoki River at the striking Arktikum and is one of Lapland’s most visited tourist attractions. About 60 people work at the Arctic Centre.

Arctic Institute of North America

Country: Canada

Web site: http://www.ucalgary.ca/aina/

Created by an Act of Parliament in 1945, the Arctic Institute of North America is a non-profit membership organization and a multidisciplinary research institute at the University of Calgary. The institute’s mandate is to advance the study of Canada’s North through the natural and social sciences, the arts and humanities; and to acquire, preserve and disseminate information on physical, environmental and social conditions of the North.

Canadian Embassy in Norway

Country: Norway

The Embassy represents Canada in Norway. The Embassy provides services to Canadians and promotes Canadian interests through partnership with Norway. Northern issues is one of thier three priority areas of interest.

Center for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North / Russian Indigenous Training Center

Country: Russia

Web site: http://www.csipn.ru

CSPIN/RITC is a non-governmental organization focused on advancing the economic, social, and cultural development of the indigenous communities of the Russian North, Siberia and the Far East by providing training, consulting, information and other support services.

It's key mission is to ensure indigenous peoples' sustainability by being directly involved into development matters and to ensure their participation in the decision-making processes at the national, regional and local levels.

Circumpolar Leadership Intern at the International Institute for Sustainable Development

Country: Canada

Circumpolar PhD Network in Environmental Studies

Country: Sweden

Web site: http://lst.sb.luth.se/Tippen/gen/pro/caes/index.htm

Since 1998, the Circumpolar PhD Network in Environmental Studies (CAES) has sought to foster interdisciplinary research and partnership among young researchers who are engaged in natural, cultural and socio-economic aspects of Arctic environmental studies. CAES involves PhD students and post-doctoral scientists, and acts as an institution for research and education in the circumpolar region. The objectives of the program are:

to break isolation among young researchers working at different institutions;
to inform young researchers about ongoing research projects in different research institutes;
to acquaint them with different regions in the Arctic and sub-Arctic;
to create a basis for cooperation between young researchers and senior researchers and among young researchers themselves; and
to create a basis for interdisciplinary research projects.

Global Resource Information Database

Country: Norway

Web site: http://www.grida.no/

The United Nations Environment Programme and the Government of Norway established an environmental information centre in Arendal, Norway, in 1989 in response to the 1987 World Commission on Environment and Development. Set up as a foundation under Norwegian legislation, the centre was linked to the world-wide UNEP program termed Global Resource Information Database and was therefore called a GRID centre. “GRID-Arendal provides environmental information, communications and capacity building services for information management and assessment,” according to the centre’s mission statement. “Established to strengthen the United Nations through its Environment Programme (UNEP), our focus is to make credible, science-based knowledge understandable to the public and to decision-making for sustainable development.”

Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat

Country: Denmark

Web site: http://www.arcticpeoples.org

IPS is a secretariat to facilitate and assist the Permanent Participants' (Indigenous Peoples' organisations in the Arctic) activities relevant to the work of the Arctic Council and its working groups, and facilitate presentation of Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives in the Arctic Council and related bodies.

International Institute for Sustainable Development

Country: Canada

Web site: http://www.iisd.org

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an independent, not-for-profit corporation headquartered in Canada. IISD contributes to sustainable development by advancing policy recommendations on international trade and investment, economic policy, climate change, measurement and indicators, and natural resource management. By using Internet communications, we report on international negotiations and broker knowledge gained through collaborative projects with global partners, resulting in more rigorous research, capacity building in developing countries and better dialogue between North and South. IISD’s vision is better living for all—sustainably; its mission is to champion innovation, enabling societies to live sustainably. Established in 1990 with continuing support from the governments of Canada and Manitoba, IISD also receives revenue from foundations and other private sector sources. The Institute is a registered charitable organization in Canada and a 501(c)(3) tax exempt, non-profit corporation in the U.S.

International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs

Country: Denmark

Web site: http://www.iwgia.org

IWGIA is an international non-governmental organization with an international board and a secretariat in Copenhagen, Denmark. IWGIA supports indigenous peoples' struggle for human rights, self-determination, right to territory, control of land and resources, cultural integrity, and the right to development. IWGIA works worldwide in partnership with indigenous organizations. IWGIA’s work in the Arctic region includes being observers to the Arctic Council, close partnership with indigenous organizations in the circumpolar world, publications, and a number of projects in the Russian Federation.

Inuit Circumpolar Conference

Country: Canada

Web site: http://www.inuitcircumpolar.com/

To thrive in their circumpolar homeland, Inuit had the vision to realize they must speak with a united voice on issues of common concern and combine their energies and talents towards protecting and promoting their way of life. The principal goals of ICC are, therefore, to:

strengthen unity among Inuit of the circumpolar region;
promote Inuit rights and interests on an international level;
develop and encourage long-term policies that safeguard the Arctic environment; and
seek full and active partnership in the political, economic and social development of circumpolar regions.

National Centre for Environmental Assessment

Country: United States

Web site: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/

The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and to safeguard the air, water and land upon which life depends. EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) conducts research to help ensure that efforts to reduce environmental risks are based on the best available scientific information.

The National Centre for Environmental Assessment (NCEA), a major component of ORD with headquarters in Washington, DC, is EPA's national resource centre for human health and ecological risk assessment. NCEA conducts risk assessments, carries out research to improve the state-of-the-science of risk assessment, and provides guidance and support to risk assessors.

National Centre for Environmental Assessment - Arctic Program

Country: United States

Web site: http://www.epa.gov/ncea/

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development hosts the National Centre for Environmental Assessment (NCEA). The NCEA serves as the national resource centre in the United States for the overall process of human health and ecological risk assessments. This includes the integration of hazard, dose-response and exposure data, and models to produce risk characterizations. The NCEA links researchers in the Office of Research and Development to regulators in the Environmental Protection Agency’s program offices and regions.

Northern Forum Associate Secretariat

Country: Finland

Web site: http://www.northernforum.org/

The goals of the Northern Forum Associate Secretariat are to improve the quality of life of northern peoples by providing northern regional leaders a means to share their knowledge and experience in addressing common challenges; and to support sustainable development and the implementation of cooperative socio-economic initiatives among northern regions and through international fora.

Northern Forum Associate Secretariat

Country: Russia

Web site: http://www.northernforum.org/

The goals of the Northern Forum Associate Secretariat are to improve the quality of life of northern peoples by providing northern regional leaders a means to share their knowledge and experience in addressing common challenges; and to support sustainable development and the implementation of cooperative socio-economic initiatives among northern regions and through international fora.

Northern Studies Program

Country: United States

Web site: http://www.uaf.edu/northern

The Northern Studies Program at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, is an interdisciplinary program for the study of problems and policy issues specific to the North. Some of the topics examined through the program include:

the environmental politics and policies of northern regions;
the well-being of indigenous populations;
the psychology of life on northern frontiers; and
the history of the North.

The Northern Studies Program has extensive northern expertise, undertakes research activities and includes a library and museum of Alaska and circumpolar collections. It also accepts interns for specific projects.

Polar Environmental Centre

Country: Norway

Web site: http://www.polarenvironment.no/PolarmiljoEng.nsf/frameset_hk1?OpenFrameset

The centre for the environment and cooperation in the Polar Areas and the Barents region—The Polar Environmental Centre—is Norway's new centre of research, environmental monitoring and advisory services in the Northern Region and the Arctic/Antarctic. The centre's strength lies in the multi-professional base represented by its participants. Its area of work stretches from research and development projects to administrative tasks. The combination of institutions with seats in Tromsø (The Norwegian Polar Institute and Akvaplan-niva) and regional offices for other major national institutions provide the centre with unique contacts to over 2,000 experts nation-wide.

Schools on Board

Country: Canada

Web site: http://www.arcticnet-ulaval.ca/index.php?fa=SB.show

Schools on Board is an outreach program of ArcticNet, based out of the University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Canada). It was developed to bridge Arctic research with science education in high schools across Canada; to increase awareness of issues related to climate change in Canada, and to excite young Canadians about the challenges and career opportunities of Arctic research. This is accomplished through three program components:1) the Schools on Board Network of educators, agencies and researchers; 2) the Schools on Board Field Program; and 3) the Arctic Climate Change Youth Forum.

Sigurður Nordal Institute

Country: Iceland

Web site: http://www.nordals.hi.is/engindex.html

The Sigurður Nordal Institute is a financially independent institute at the University of Iceland. The Institute promotes Icelandic culture, research on Icelandic culture—past and present—throughout the world and links between scholars in this field in Iceland and abroad. The Sigurður Nordal Institute is in contact with over 1000 institutions and individuals in every part of the world.

The institute fields enquires on teaching and teaching materials in Icelandic for foreign students, and publishes material on Icelandic culture. Through its newsletter, the institute disseminates information on teaching and research in Old Norse and Icelandic studies, on conferences and meetings, books and periodicals. The institute also organizes conferences, seminars and lectures on Icelandic studies, or participates in their planning, giving scholars from Iceland and abroad the opportunity to make their work public and to exchange ideas. Summer courses are offered through the institute, which also administers the Snorri Sturluson Fellowships.

State Provincial Office of Lapland

Country: Finland

State Provincial Office of Lapland is a regionally and internationally networked general administration authority of the State of Finland at the regional level, under the Ministry of the Interior functioning in a diverse number of fields. The International Unit develops and carries out its international cooperation. The geographical focus of international cooperation is in the Northern areas. The Governor of Lapland is currently the Chair of the Northern Forum. The North European Associate Secretariat of the Northern Forum is located in connection to the State Provincial Office of Lapland. Cooperation with Russian regions is very close.

Stefansson Arctic Institute

Country: Iceland

Web site: http://www.svs.is/english/index.htm

The role of SAI is to:

-be a forum for co-operation with regards to multi-disciplinary research

-promote sustainable development in northern areas

-strengthen Icelandic participation in international endeavours in this field

-facilitate and co-ordinate Arctic research in Iceland

-gather and disseminate information regarding northern issues

-advise the Government and co-operate with others internationally

-provide facilities for scholars who pursue research relevant to the SAI's agenda.

Students on Ice Expeditions

Country: Canada

Web site: http://www.studentsonice.com

Students on Ice is an award-winning organization engaged in environmental education, offering unique educational expeditions to the Arctic and the Antarctic. Our mandate is to provide students, educators and scientists from around the world with inspiring educational opportunities at the ends of the Earth, and in doing so, help them foster a new understanding and respect for the planet.

The Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat

Country: Denmark

Web site: http://www.arcticpeoples.org/ips/background.htm

The Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat (IPS) was established to strengthen the involvement of Arctic Indigenous Peoples in the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy. The Secretariat commenced operations in the fall of 1994. With the declaration of the establishment of the Arctic Council it was decided that the Indigenous Peoples' Secretariat was to continue under the auspices of the Arctic Council.

The Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North

Country: Russia

Web site: http://www.raipon.org/

The Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) was formed by the first Congress of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East, held in Moscow in 1990. RAIPON is a non-government organization formed on territorial and territorial-ethnic principles and comprising 30 regional ethnic associations of indigenous peoples of the North. Its main purpose is to protect the interests and lawful rights of the peoples it represents, including their right to land, natural resources and self-government in accordance with international standards and Russian legislation, and their right to resolve their own social and economic problems. RAIPON also provides assistance in cultural development and education; promotes international exchange and cooperation; and organizes humanitarian aid.

Tiaga Rescue Network

Country: Sweden

Web site: http://www.taigarescue.org/

The Taiga Rescue Network works to support local struggles and strengthen cooperation among individuals, NGOs and indigenous peoples and nations concerned with the protection, restoration and sustainable use of the world’s boreal forests by means that ensure the integrity of natural processes and dynamics. The network is a coordination centre used by its participants to strengthen their work on all levels. It provides guidance and ensures skill sharing, information exchange, coordination and increased knowledge on an international level among a wide variety of groups.

Educational activities of the Taiga Rescue Network include publishing Taiga News, which covers social and environmental issues related to the entire boreal region; producing and publishing print and web-based fact sheets; publishing reports and studies that critically analyze trends and challenges in the boreal region; participating in dialogue to strengthen the protection and sustainable use of the boreal forest; and organizing a biennial international conference. The Taiga Rescue Network accepts volunteers and interns at its International Coordination Centre to assist with its activities.

United Nations Environment Programme - GRID Arendal

Country: Norway

Web site: http://www.grida.no

The United Nations Environment Programme and the Government of Norway established an environmental information centre in Arendal, Norway, in 1989 in response to the 1987 World Commission on Environment and Development. Set up as a foundation under Norwegian legislation, the centre was linked to the world-wide UNEP program termed Global Resource Information Database and was therefore called a GRID centre. “GRID-Arendal provides environmental information, communications and capacity building services for information management and assessment,” according to the centre’s mission statement. “Established to strengthen the United Nations through its Environment Programme (UNEP), our focus is to make credible, science-based knowledge understandable to the public and to decision-making for sustainable development.”

University of the Arctic

Country: Norway

Web site: http://www.uarctic.org/

The University of the Arctic (UArctic) is a cooperative network of universities, colleges, and other organizations committed to higher education and research in the North. Our members share resources, facilities, and expertise to build post-secondary education programs that are relevant and accessible to northern students. Our overall goal is to create a strong, sustainable circumpolar region by empowering northerners and northern communities through education and shared knowledge.

World Wide Fund for Nature Arctic Programme

Country: Norway

Web site: http://www.ngo.grida.no/wwfap/

The World Wide Fund for Nature’s Arctic Programme was formed in 1992. This coordinating unit was created to serve as a focal point for Arctic conservation issues and to promote WWF’s activities in the Arctic, originating from its national organizations in Canada, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, the United States, a program office in Russia and the Iceland Nature Conservation Association. In addition to implementing its own Arctic conservation strategy, the Arctic Programme is in an ideal position to promote the recent, promising governmental steps that have been made in Arctic management. The WWF Arctic Programme strives to protect the treasures of the Arctic against avoidable damage.