Introduction

The Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research (NVP), founded 27. of March 2008, is an international scientific academy devoted to polar research, education, and development. NVP has a bipolar perspective (Arctic and Antarctic), is interdisciplinary in approach, international in effort, collaborative in solution, knowledge based in contribution, and independent in work. The Academy is a non-profit foundation based at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Norway’s King Harald is the Academy’s patron.

More information is available at the NVP website: https://polar-academy.com/.

Academy vision

Advance state-of-the-art polar science for sustainable development and the benefit of humanity.

Academy mission

Promote polar research and communicate its relevance to policy, management, and society.

Academy goals

• Improve our knowledge of changes in coupled environmental, climatic, and societal conditions and the effects on and by human activities in the Arctic and beyond.

• Promote inclusion of the Sustainable Development Goals in polar research.

• Communicate new knowledge about the polar regions and the linkages to global environmental and economic change to the public and policy makers.

• Contribute to the development of expertise in polar science. Be relevant for the next generation of polar researchers and contribute to recruitment in all scientific disciplines. 

External trends and developments

The Arctic and Antarctic regions are changing as the ice caps melt and more of the oceans become accessible. Land based natural resources are exposed as permafrost melts. China develops its Polar Silk Road and is followed by other South-East Asian nations who want to take part in the exploration of the new Arctic frontier. More countries move into the regions motivated by business opportunities.

Climate change and issues related to natural biodiversity become more important as the temperature rises in the polar regions. The 5th International Polar Year (IPY) is coming up in 2032-33 and provides a vital opportunity to close major knowledge gaps through collaborative efforts and accelerate progress towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

The European Green Deal and similar strategies challenge the traditional economies and priorities of countries like Norway, who has built much of its wealth on petroleum resources. Green shift policies encourage environmentally friendly technological developments, but they are also expensive, and nations are unequally able to follow up on international agreements.

The geopolitical situation is changing. The Arctic Council has lost some of its importance as east-west tensions grow. Led by Russia, countries tend to be less interested in international cooperation and more concerned about defending their own interests. The trends of globalization are reversed as countries keep a closer eye on its own needs, sometimes with all means possible. This is a worldwide development that also affects the Arctic.

Tremendous technological developments are changing the world as we know it. Artificial intelligence is moving into every part of society and challenges traditional rules and practices of the scientific communities as well as societies as a whole. Academies based on the natural sciences and social studies may have a hard time addressing the new developments.

Universities and scientific academies have true knowledge and knowledge-based analysis and development strategies as their mission. But the established order is being challenged by forces who shape the communication to suit their own needs. Manipulative forces and fake news are deliberately misleading the general public. At the same time, the funding of universities and research institutions is under pressure. As the economy is tighter and priorities harder, it is more demanding for institutions like the Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research to obtain funding for projects and programmes.

New generations find the traditional fields of expertise at the universities less relevant. Important issues of studies about who we are and where we are heading are on the losing edge of knowledge generation in our times. This is a challenge for the universities, but also for institutions like the Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research. Academia must work to stimulate the curiosity and increase the interest of young people in science.

Action Areas/strategies

1. Advance polar research and communicate its relevance to policy, management, and society

a. Pursue the role of the academy as an independent scientific advisor to government and research authorities and a respected actor in the public discourse on polar issues in Norway and abroad.

b. Establish more arenas and communication channels for scientists, students and politicians to discuss polar issues and challenges. We should strengthen the collaboration with High North News and other media, UArctic, KVA, NTVA, and other academies and partners in this context.

c. Amplify key messages from other key sources and voices, contribute to public debates adding policy and societal relevance where appropriate.

2. Strengthen our economic base

a. Build a strong and long-term economic base through a combination of state funding and sponsor support. Sponsors may be universities, research institutes, and the private sector.

b. Ensure the satisfaction and continued engagement of current sponsors. It is vital that our institutional members see their participation as an asset.

3. Expand our summer school

a. Organize the summer school program according to our strategy The Global Arctic (Arctic-Antarctic-Himalayas).

b. Expand our summer school through national/international collaboration and funding.

4. Broaden our membership base

a. Assess the width and depth of membership and recruit new members to fill missing or underrepresented areas and disciplines.

b. Create additional categories for involvement, such as collaborators or early-career affiliates, who help with a particular activity and may later become full members.

c. Establish a forum for young scientists to meet and discuss scientific challenges of the polar regions. We could consider mentor activities for young scientists in this context.

5. Cooperate in Networks

a. Develop projects in cooperation with our institutional members in areas of shared interest.

b. Obtain membership or observers status in polar related councils and committees.

c. Organize scientific seminars in Norway and abroad, based on our international membership.

d. Strengthen the collaboration with other academies and academic institutions like KVA and NTVA who share interests that align with or complement the academy’s, enabling the development of more extensive projects than what could be achieved independently.

6. Develop some long-term projects where we can mobilize our members

Develop some strong long-term ambitions where we can mobilize our membership base – for example related to IPY, Antarctica, the Arctic Ocean, climate change, long-term observation series and/or other global challenges. Creation of working groups on selected issues could facilitate the process.

7. Support new education initiatives and strengthen the collaboration with UNIS

Support new education initiatives and strengthen the collaboration with and support for UNIS as an Arctic education and research centre addressing global challenges.

Implementation of strategy

The Board will create an annual work plan (implementation plan), based on a set of working groups involving individual and institutional members to the extent possible.

The academy working groups are the following:

1. Financial group – to strengthen our economic base.

2. Impact group – working through networks to strengthen our impact.

3. Education group – expand our summer school through national/international collaboration and funding.

4. Membership group – broaden our membership base and mobilize members in academy activities.