Economy, well-being including health issues, and self- governance

Scope

The social science and health sessions of the conference will focus on the sustainability of Arctic communities and regions. Particular emphasis will be placed on economy, well-being including health issues, and self-governance. Issues related to Arctic indigenous people have their natural place within all these themes. The Arctic economy is characterised by primary-sector industries and communities based on renewable resources, by dependence on public sector economic transfers, but also by industries providing oil, gas and minerals to global markets. This multi-faceted economic structure and its dynamics entail challenges to people living in Arctic communities – both indigenous and non-indigenous people, and in-coming, temporal workforce.

Not only must economic and environmental sustainability be observed at the level of the community, but also overall living conditions, and the ability to attract competent personnel to key positions. For this, the leverage exerted by regional and local self-governance is of decisive importance. A productive interplay between supra-local forces and those at the level of regional and local institutions is necessary to sustain and develop viable towns and settlements in the North. The well-being of people living in the High North depends on employment opportunities and adequate public services including health care, access to safe foods and environment, but also on recognition of cultural characteristics, on overall political participation and the utilisation of local knowledge in planning and policy development.

Scope

The recent changes in the Arctic marine environment put the biology of Arctic seas, and in particular the organisms living in them, on the agenda not only of research institutions but also the broad public. This conferences session is intended to present up-to-date analytical results on all aspects of Arctic Marine Biodiversity – microbes to mammals – sea ice to sea bottom. Results from all relevant science programs and projects along this theme are welcomed, with a particular focus on work conducted as part of the Arctic Ocean Diversity project (ArcOD - 2004-2010; www.arcodiv.org) and during the International Polar Year.Contributed presentations are to have a strong focus on biodiversity, past, present or future, on a species, community and/or habitat level. Both classical taxonomic approaches as well as molecular techniques are welcomed that go beyond species lists and look for underlying spatial or temporal patterns. Invited presentations will strive for pan-Arctic spatial coverage with international author teams contributing the required expertise and data. We are seeking new synthetic numerical analyses as well as reviews of current knowledge, with contemporary perspectives where possible, and projected future scenarios also encouraged. Contributed talks may be more regionally focused, or exclusively present regional case studies. A special issue of papers is planned to be published in the newly established international Springer journal Marine Biodiversity.

Scope

The aim of the E-learning part  of the conference is to exchange knowledge and research about E-learning, and to host a discussion of methodology of the field. It will focuses on the learning processes, pedagogy, and appropriate information technologies necessary to deliver content to and support distant learners. Basic theory on ICT-supported associative and reflective learning will also be considered.The sessions will have its main focus on education in the Arctic communities and regions. Particular emphasis will be placed on technology enhanced learning and the E-learning pedagogic. Creative use of Learning Management systems (LMS) will be discussed, and issues related to teacher training and digital resources from the arctic region.

A special issue of selected papers is planned to be published at Eureka forlag, University of Tromsø.