The conference, under the theme Building Capacity for Sustainable Places in the North, will include a workshop on Northern Governance and Development led by the Thematic Network.

 

For Tor Gjertsen, the lead of the Thematic Network, participating in the Borealis Conference was very important. "I can see at least three good reasons for participating in the Borealis Conference 2007: our combined problem-solving oriented research and development approach (to local and regional development issues), our focus on social, political and economical, as well as ecological, sustainability in competence and capacity building, and, finally,  because of the strong theoretical and practical emphasis on network and partnership building, before, during and after the conference," he explains. 

The Thematic Network is also particularly interested in change and development processes taking place in indigenous communities and societies in the North, for instance in Avjovarri, the newly established indigenous region in the interior of Finnmark, Norway.

 

In addition to the Thematic Network workshop, the conference will feature plenary and parallel sessions by experts from several northern countries on various topics related to the theme. UArctic President Lars Kullerud will also attend and is scheduled to be part of a panel debate.

 

The deadline for registration is approaching quickly: all interested participants must register online before February 8.

 

For more information about the conference and to register online, see the program or consult the event's website

 

Thematic Network on Local and Regional Development in the North website