Book chapter reflects Nordic Connections Project

This chapter introduces Nordic Connections: Learning from the Past to Shape the Future (2021-2022), a project that connected young people and island communities in Shetland (Unst) and Northern Norway (Onøy/Lurøy). The project used a transdisciplinary and international approach to help pupils explore sustainability through both scientific inquiry and creative, community-based art education.

Nordic Connections brought together teachers, pupils, researchers, and local partners to learn from shared experiences of island life—geographical remoteness, strong ties to the sea, and deep cultural heritage. Digital collaboration allowed young people from different countries to reflect together on global challenges that also affect their own communities.

The project combined participatory research, socially engaged art, and place-based learning. Through observation, creative activities, artworks, written reflections, and digital co-creation, participants examined two key concerns: marine pollution and nuclear threat. Dialogue played a central role, with intergenerational conversations helping pupils situate today’s issues within longer histories of environmental and geopolitical change.

A key finding was that creative, community-based learning can empower Arctic youth to respond meaningfully to environmental challenges. Handling marine debris made sustainability issues concrete and personal. Art became a way for pupils to think with both emotion and intellect, transforming scientific data into stories, symbols, and new insights. Emotional responses—such as worry, frustration, or hope—were understood as part of learning, motivating pupils to reflect and act.

Collaboration between researchers, teachers, and local partners was essential, supported by regular meetings and shared planning. This trust and commitment have laid the foundation for an expanded two-year project beginning in 2025 within the ASAD-network.

By working across borders and disciplines, Nordic Connections showed that young people can develop ecological and cultural literacy grounded in place, history, and creative expression. Fieldwork, artmaking with marine litter, and site-specific activities helped pupils understand their local ecosystems and recognise the “Lessons of the Land” held in their own beaches, landscapes, and community memories.

The project Nordic Connections: Learning from the Past to Shape the Future (2021-2022) was funded by the Scottish government Arctic Connections Fund and UArctic.

Reference to the chapter:
Sørmo, W., Permar, R., Stoll K. & Gårdvik, M. (2025). Nordic connections: Interdisciplinary and intergenerational approaches to transformative sustainability in Arctic island communities.
In M. Huhmarniemi, K. Burnett, & A. O’Grady (Eds.), Relate North: Lessons of the Land (pp. 42-65). InSEA Publications.

You can find the publication here.