Norwegian funding for Project Collaboration with UArctic for 2025-2027

The projects receiving funding are as following:

Project title: The Ocean Decade Blue Catalyst (BC)

projects partners: UiT (Lead), University of Akureyri, Nord University, McMaster University, University of Glasgow, Kiel University, Eco Spectrum and the University of Exeter.

 The Ocean Decade Blue Catalyst (BC) main objective is to accelerate Ocean Literacy (OL) for All and advance SDGs 3, 4, 5, 14 across Arctic and non-Arctic communities by 2030. The project builds on the Ocean Incubator Network Project (UArctic 580512124) expanding the UN Ocean Decade vision and mission to further Circumpolar regions (UN Ocean Decade: Achieving the Ocean we want by 2030). Secondary objectives include strengthening the ongoing collaboration with UArctic partners and beyond, by promoting an integrated approach to Planetary and Circumpolar Health through OL. The target audience is formed by academic staff, students, Arctic and non-Arctic Indigenous communities, UArctic (Norway, Iceland, Canada) and non-Uarctic partners. Main activities and deliverables include three interactive workshops in collaboration respectively with Arctic, coastal and landlocked communities (milestones); scientific reports and publications. Other milestones include a digital platform, footage for digital content, and a co-authored cross-disciplinary publication. 

Project title: Micro-courses for arctic art businesses

projects partners: Nord University (Lead), University of Akureyri, University of Lapland, Globe Art Point, Kunnskapsparken Bodø (KPB) & Inkubator Salten (IS), Kulturkollektivet Bodø, Drift EA Akueyri and Myndlistarfelagid.

Key Objectives
1 Foster business skills and competencies in Arctic Art and creative sector
2. Enhance vitality of economy in the Arctic and diversity of livelihood by supporting growth
of art and creative sector
3. Increase work opportunities for Arctic artists through business skill and knowledge
Key Activities
1. Develop and test micro-courses in business and entrepreneurship for Arctic artists,
cultural workers and designers
2. Pilot these courses in collaboration with creative industry incubators in Bodø,
Akureyri, and Rovaniemi
3. Conduct and publish action research to enhance and scale the courses
4. Publish a book: Relate North anthology exploring Creative Arctic and Artists industry
Deliverables include MOOC lectures, survey-driven course design, and credit-earning
options. This ambition strengthens Arctic creative industries, aligning with UArctic’s 6
values of sustainability, inclusivity, and interdisciplinary cooperation.

 Project title: Arctic Conference on Educational Research (ACER)

Project partners: Leeds Beckett University (Lead), University of Alaska Anchorage, University of The Faroe Islands, University of Lapland, University of Iceland, University of Akureyri, University of Prince Edward Island, University of Jyväskylä - Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius, Holar University, Luleå University of Technology, University of Greenland, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Pacific University, Sami University of Applied Sciences, University of Oulu and University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).

The ACER project aims to strengthen the network of educational researchers within the Thematic Network on Teacher Education through organisation of a dedicated Arctic conference on educational research. While attending the conference, delegates will be invited to create podcasts for publication on the UArctic TN webpage celebrating the tenth anniversary of the founding of the UArctic TN and evidencing the impact the network has had on impact on educational research and provision across the circumpolar North. Following the conference, delegates at the conference will be invited to contribute to a special issue of a relevant high-esteem peer-reviewed journal. The project has three key target audiences – network members, network member universities and  the Arctic educational science community – who will benefit of the stronger connections, platforms of sharing knowledge, and engagement to UArctic and the Thematic Network on Teacher Education.

Project title: Marine Biodiversity recorded during the One Ocean Expedition

project partners: UiT (Lead), Luleå University of Technology and University of Copenhagen.
The UArctic Thematic Network on Arctic Marine Biodiversity aims to enhance species discovery and description in the Arctic by increasing cooperation among Arctic biodiversity researchers and integrating X-ray microscopy into our research workflow. In August and September 2025, we will join the One Ocean Expedition II aboard the Statsraad Lehmkuhl, focusing on the historic Northwest Passage. Our objectives are to educate about Arctic marine biodiversity, collect specimens from previously unsampled areas, and contribute to a baseline understanding of Arctic marine ecosystems. Key milestones include successful specimen collection and data analysis. Deliverables will include scanned digital specimens published in a FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) format and scientific publications. Our target audience includes researchers, educators, and policymakers interested in marine biodiversity and sustainability.

Project title: Collaboration for research and education addressing marine pollution and clean-up operations in the arctic and sub-Arctic areas

 project partners: UiT (Lead), Grid Arendal, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, University of Akureyri, Aarhus University, Heriot-Watt University, SALT Lofoten, The Directorate of Fisheries (Norway), The Norwegian Fishermen's Association (Norway), Tromsø Municipality and Greener Orkney (UK).
The objective of this project is to increase collaboration between institutes in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions that are involved in marine research to focus on challenges related to marine littering. Information of marine pollution types around the Arctic and sub-Arctic areas could provide a valuable information of main pollution types, sources and the socio-economic effects. This networking project will aim to build on the UArctic Thematic Network “Arctic Plastic Pollution”. It will involve institutes around circumpolar regions to collaborate for improving our knowledge on (1) plastic pollution extent in different areas (beaches and seabed); (2) main sources of pollution; and (3) effectiveness of different mitigation and clean-up measures. The first objective for this networking project is to form a basis for further active collaboration in plastic pollution research across the region. The second objective is to improve teaching collaboration and student involvement in this subject as several of the institutes are involved in education related to marine plastic pollution. This could form a basis for future student exchanges and common courses among the institutes. As an example, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics at UiT offers a 10 ECTS BSc/PhD course Marine Littering and Arctic Fisheries; Challenges and Solutions.

Project title: International Graduate Student Research Cohort (IGSRC)

project partners: University of Southern Maine (Lead), UiT, University of Greenland, Robert Gordon University, Reykjavik University, New England Ocean Cluster (NEOC) and University of New Brunswick
The International Graduate Student Research Cohort (IGSRC) is an interdisciplinary project that connects education, research, and industry in the light of the Triple Bottom Line approach that addresses local and global issues. Graduate students from six UArctic higher education institutions work collaboratively on research projects related to the Blue Economy under the supervision of academics and supervisors from relevant fields. Students meet regularly throughout the year to discuss, help, and motivate each other. The culmination of this work is when the students meet in person and present their research project results and host a student-only Pre-Meeting at the Arctic Circle Assembly (ACA) in Reykjavik.  

Project title: UArctic Thematic Network in Environmental Humanities

project partners: UiT (Lead), Memorial University of Newfoundland, University Center Westfords, University of Oulu, University of Lapland, Durham University, UiO, Svalbard Museum and Institute of Current World Affairs (US).

The main objective is to develop a UArctic Thematic Network of international researchers working in the field of the Environmental Humanities. To establish this thematic network there will be a focus on meetings to develop research activities with partners located in the high north and with ambitions to extend the network to the global south in the future. The main milestones are to establish a sound, functioning thematic network that produces research and outreach with lasting impact through a multitude of means, methods, and collaborations across borders.

Target audience: university communities (including students), and to collaborate and engage with the wider public through cultural events and journalism. 
Main deliverables/activities requiring funding from this call: 
Network meetings in person/hybrid in Tromsø and Westfjords (Iceland) in year 1; Newfoundland (Canada, or another partner institution) and Tromsø in year 2 (D1.2.). 
Additional network meetings online (one per year) (D1.2.)
Workshop/exhibition in Tromsø in year 2 (D1.3.)
Engagement with local artists/journalist (D3.3)

Project title: Laera Institute for Circumpolar Studies

project partners: Trent University (Lead), Nord University, Lakehead University, University of Alaska Anchorage and Yukon University.

This project will develop greater capacity within the Laera Institute for Circumpolar Studies and it’s member institutions to advance curriculum and resources in Circumpolar Studies, to better develop its inclusivity, Indigenous voice and content, and to expand upon the engagement of UArctic member institutions in Circumpolar post-secondary education. This includes the initiating and coordinating development of new curriculum and microcredits (e.g. BIPs); support for core curriculum to decolonise, modernize and otherwise update materials (available to all UArctic member institutions); engagement with UArctic thematic networks to develop and make available open access learning resources through a yearbook or circumpolar studies “Annual”; the further development of a biannual undergraduate student conference; and a forum for active discussion between faculty at Arctic universities offering circumpolar and northern studies curriculum between Congress and Assembly meetings. Finally, it will support and supplement the contributions already made by UArctic member institutions to administering the CS program, as well as the day-to-day operations of the Læra Institute, including update of its website (laerainstitute.org/) to include a database of CS resources.

Project title: Northern Connections - Engaging young people in rural Arctic societies in building sustainability across borders

project partners: Nord University (Lead), University of Highlands and Islands, University of Lapland, Helgeland Museum, Unst Heritage Center, North Isles Community Involvement and Development Office, Arktikum Science Centre, Regional Museum of Lapland and Regional cultural history museum, Rovaniemi city.

This interdisciplinary project proposes to bring young people from island and rural schools in Norway, Finland, and Shetland together to connect through online and real-life arts and science-based activities. It encourages young people to engage with each other across political and cultural borders to discover that they face many of the same challenges. We integrate art and science by applying dialogical and participatory methods for creative engagement to create content for an interactive game and exhibitions that will expand connections and support sustainability, social justice, and well-being. The project builds research-based knowledge into ways to build connections between pupils, teachers, and academics to support sustainable development in the North. Deliverables are 3 Design Labs, 3 workshops, 3 local exhibitions, an online publication/catalogue of the project (Open access), presentations at international conferences, (eg. Relate North, 2026 - 2027, International Education Through Art (2026 – 2027)), publication of papers (Northern Review, Relate North annual publication and International Journal of Sustainability Education). Publications includes development of the methodology, evaluation of the project and results from research.