The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Program on Negotiation (PON) at Harvard Law School and Polar Cooperation Research Center at Kobe University will collaborate on a project supported by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Consulate-General of Japan in Boston on Enhancing International Scientific Cooperation: Arctic Science and Technology Advice with Ministries. With the coordination by the Science Diplomacy Center at EvREsearch LTD, this holistic (international, interdisciplinary and inclusive) project, consisting of three webinars, aims to help enhance international scientific cooperation by inclusively addressing inevitable questions that involve international law, ministries of nations, Indigenous peoples, and science inclusively with global relevance. 

Each webinar will involve an open plenary panel with high-level contributors (1 hour) followed by breakout-session dialogues with plenary debriefing (1.5 hours). There will be maximum three breakout sessions each with limit of 30 participants.

The webinars are open to Arctic scientists, decisionmakers, experts and residents as well as other interested individuals, inclusively.  Registration is required.  

First Webinar: 21 February, 2022, at 08:00 EST/ 14:00 CET/ 22:00 JST. Registration deadline: 6 Feb 2022

1. What is Arctic Science?

  • How do natural sciences, social sciences and indigenous knowledge ‘fit together’ and enhance each other?
  • How is science facilitated/conducted? Who is needed to do ‘the science’?
  • Is international cooperation needed? If so, to what degree?

Second Webinar: 10 March, 2022, at 08:00 EST/ 14:00 CET/ 22:00 JST.

2. How can science transform data into evidence for informed decisionmaking?

  • How are the decisions on what priorities are to be addressed made?
  • Who are the decision makers?
  • What evidence is needed and how is that evidence defined?​

Third Webinar: 24 March, 2022, at 08:00 EST/ 14:00 CET/ 22:00 JST.

3. What international efforts/processes are needed to facilitate progress in understanding the Arctic system and its global impacts?

  • What are the mechanisms that exist?
  • Are these mechanisms adequate?
  • How could enhanced science cooperation impact other areas of international relations?

For more information and to participate in the upcoming webinars, please visit the webinar website.