This transdisciplinary research school trains researchers to address societal challenges in a sustainable manner
About the research school
The research school focuses on renewable energy, food security, and health and welfare in the Arctic. We will collaborate with actors in both the private and the public sector. The research outcomes will contribute to transformation and resilience in the Arctic and will thus operationalize Sustainable Development Goals.
The training provides PhD candidates with knowledge, professional and transferable skills, and general competences that enable them to contribute to innovative and sustainable solutions for societal challenges in the Arctic.
“Changing Arctic” will arrange courses, seminars, workshops, and excursions, and will organise secondments in industry, private enterprises, NGOs, as well as public institutions involved in management and policy making. This is to ensure the relevance of project outcomes and enhance the employability of the PhD graduates.
News
05.02.2025
Our PhD Candidate Gilbert Ajebe Akame Joins the Engaged Research for Sustainability Program at UL
10.12.2024
Our PhD Candidate Polina Smirnova Contributes to Insightful Study on Youth Leadership and Inclusive Governance in the Arctic
17.10.2024
Our PhD Candidates Bahar Kucuk and Alexandra Abrahams Participated in Workshop on Sustainable Blue Food Systems
Our PhD Candidate Gilbert Ajebe Akame Joins the Engaged Research for Sustainability Program at UL
Our PhD candidate Gilbert Ajebe Akame, joined 25 early-stage doctoral researchers from across Europe for the Engaged Research for Sustainability program at the University of Limerick (UL). Hosted by UL’s Centre for Sustainable Futures and Innovation (CSFI) and supported by YERUN and Erasmus+, the program emphasizes place-based learning and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Combining a residential and online component, the program equips participants with tools to address global sustainability challenges through a mission-driven approach. It brought together researchers from diverse fields, including biodiversity, renewable energy systems, Just Transitions, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, and responsible innovation.
The residential week at UL featured workshops, expert discussions, and site visits, including the Southill Community Hub, St. Mary’s School, the Irish Seed Savers, and the Cloughjordan Ecovillage. These engagements provided firsthand insights into sustainable development initiatives.
The program continues with an online phase from February to April 2025, fostering further learning and collaboration. Its focus on SDG application, systems thinking, and stakeholder engagement aligns with our Research School’s mission, reinforcing Gilbert’s research on Indigenous Sami children’s rights, climate change, and the green energy transition.
Irish Seed Savers Nursery Site. Foto: Vicky KellyVisit to UL Engage – An Innovative Community Partnership Project. Foto: Vicky Kelly Published: 05.02.2025
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Our PhD Candidate Polina Smirnova Contributes to Insightful Study on Youth Leadership and Inclusive Governance in the Arctic
We are thrilled to share that one of our PhD candidates, Polina Smirnova, has contributed to an academic article recently published in the Arctic Yearbook 2024! The article, titled "Co-creating Arctic Futures: Perspectives from Emerging Leaders on Youth Leadership and Inclusive Governance," is a collaborative interdisciplinary effort by scholars from Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States.
As the Arctic faces unprecedented environmental and climate changes, this paper emphasizes the importance of inclusive governance and intergenerational leadership. It draws from the experiences of Emerging Leaders from the Circumpolar Arctic and Subarctic, who gathered in Northern Norway in January 2024 to participate in the Arctic Frontiers Conference. The article explores the role of youth leadership in Arctic governance and highlights the need for diverse perspectives to shape a sustainable and just future for the Arctic. It addresses the concept of “youthwashing” and offers actionable recommendations for fostering inclusive decision-making.
Photo credit: Alexandru Mitu
We encourage everyone interested in Arctic governance, youth leadership, and sustainable development to read this paper. You can access the full article from:
Our PhD Candidates Bahar Kucuk and Alexandra Abrahams Participated in Workshop on Sustainable Blue Food Systems
Our PhD candidates Bahar Kucuk and Alexandra Abrahams participated in the Green Shift in the Blue Food Sector Workshop as part of the CoastShift research project in collaboration with Arctic Frontiers.
CoastShift is a five-year project running from 2022 to 2026 under the FRAM Center, involving nine collaborating institutes dedicated to exploring sustainable opportunities for food production in northern Norway.
The workshop brought together researchers, students, and industry representatives to discuss the future of sustainable ocean-based food production in Northern Norway. Participants engaged in small group discussions focused on fisheries and aquaculture, sharing their ideas and visions for the future of blue food systems with an aim to explore possible directions for future sustainable ocean-based food production in Northern Norway.
CoastShift Workshop - PhD Candidate Alexandra Abrahams Photo credit: David Jensen
The insights and results from the workshop will contribute to scenario development for supporting industry and management efforts toward a green transition. These findings will be included in a comprehensive report from the CoastShift research program.
To learn more about the CoastShift project, visit:
Our PhD candidate Claudia Cheng chose the company, Troms Kraft for her secondment spanning three months.
Troms Kraft, a publicly owned power company, specializes in producing, distributing, and selling electricity from renewable sources. It is jointly owned by Troms Holding (60%) and Tromsø municipality (40%). The company focuses on four strategic areas: power production, distribution, sales, and electrification. Their mission is to ensure stable access to electricity and they actively support local community projects, also some initiatives those benefiting children and young people. Troms Kraft has set ambitious sustainability targets, aiming to lead the transition to a greener society.
During her secondment, Claudia experienced Norwegian working culture and gained valuable insights into applying her research skills beyond academia. She emphasized building a network of relevant contacts for her future research. Claudia identified research and presentation skills as the main transferable learning outcomes. These skills were crucial for conducting stakeholder interviews and presenting findings effectively to both the company's department and its partners, using language accessible to non-academic audiences. She appreciated the inclusive environment created by her colleagues, which enhanced her understanding of the power market dynamics.
Claudia suggested improving the secondment process by discussing expectations between supervisors/mentors and PhD candidates in advance, as she believes this step would clarify tasks and work schedules more effectively. Given the other obligations related to her PhD work, she recommends allocating at least one day a week to handle these responsibilities, ensuring better manageability. Regarding timing, Claudia proposed that secondments could ideally occur either in the second semester of the first year or later in the third or fourth year of the PhD program. Early secondments can help refine and fine-tune research goals, while later ones allow PhD candidates to contribute more substantially with additional time and knowledge.
Claudia's secondment not only allowed her to contribute with her research and expertise to Troms Kraft but also provided opportunities for her professional growth through networking and knowledge enhancement. Her experience underscores the mutual benefits of academic-industry collaborations.
Adrianna Kochanska - Sjókovin - Blue Resource
Our PhD candidate, Adrianna Kochanska, chose Sjókovin - Blue Resource for her secondment, spanning two months.
Sjókovin is a private, independent, not-for-profit research center based in the Faroe Islands. Their vision is centered around fostering sustainable development and innovation in fisheries and aquaculture. They boast a team of experienced researchers with strong competencies in socio-economic impact assessments, resource management, risk assessments, value chain and market analysis, as well as policy and governance analysis. They also excel in project management, having served as coordinators and work package leaders in National, Nordic, and European research projects.
Photo: Adrianna Kochanska
During her secondment, Adrianna worked within the scope of the AquaVitae and SeaMark projects where in collaboration with Sjókovin she created Industry Business Plans and Value Chain Analyses for a kelp producing company, Ocean Rainforest.
Adrianna emphasized the importance of understanding that every decision made by industry representatives must carefully weigh potential costs and benefits, especially in the context of a start-up company. Effective cooperation with industry requires good negotiation skills and resourcefulness, as industry partners need evidence that sharing data with researchers will provide operational results. In this context, communication with various audiences, negotiation, and active listening are critical transferable skills, which should be nurtured among PhD candidates.
Adrianna immersed herself fully in the world of macroalgae, engaging in open dialogues and gaining practical knowledge. She had the opportunity to carry out interviews and collect primary data, and thanks to an open dialogue with the industry, she was able to make suggestions for improvements of internal data collection.
Working with a new team and an external institution demands extra effort to learn on the job and demonstrate trustworthiness with important responsibilities. The specific tasks assigned by her host company required a full-time commitment, which can become challenging if PhD students are expected to balance a full time PhD position with the new obligations. Adrianna recommended that when planning secondments PhDs should try to clear their calendar of any significant obliagations. This will allow them to be more flexible and take the full advantage of the experience.
Photo (from left): Adrianna Kochanska, Unn Laksa (CEO of Sjókovin)
Overall, Adrianna viewed her secondment as highly valuable. It was a mutual exchange where she collaborated with a not-for-profit research institute and industry partners offering her time and skills while gaining valuable knowledge and experience towards her PhD research.
Traditionally PhD candidates are expected to use 25% of their contract in teaching and administrative duty work, Adrianna emphasizes that it is essential to diversify the PhD obligations to include interaction with industry, policy makers and other non-academic institutions. Such experiences will deliver new perspectives for the PhD candidates and enhance their employability after the completion of the PhD.
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