ARCTOS network

Young Scientist Forum invites you to attend the PhD workshop "Petroleum activity in the Arctic and sound management - the need for research" taking place during the Arctic Frontiers Conference 2008.

 20-30 January 2008

• Travel grant available for PhD-students and post doctoral fellows.
• Scholarships for young artists

Background

The Norwegian Government, as well as the governments of other Arctic countries, wishes to draw attention and resources to the High North, both through investments and initiating platforms for cooperation in the northern regions. Geo-politics, climate change and socio-economic consequences make international and interdisciplinary interactions important to meet the challenges and opportunities facing the populations in these areas.

The Young Scientist Forum (YSF) of ARCTOS (www.nfh.uit.no/arctos) proposes to become an arena for young scientist working in the High North, where networking, cultural exchange and future collaborations will be given optimal conditions to develop and grow. Creating a meeting point for young scientists working within the High North is an important investment in collaboration and understanding in the region. Exchange of knowledge and perspectives will create synergetic effects throughout the area and prepare the ground for cooperation in the years to come. Sharing such experiences with the public is important to amplify the effect of this scientific and cultural melting pond. Communication of scientific meetings over the borders will involve the public and enhance the general awareness and understanding for the development in the processes taking place in the High North.

The PhD-workshop – travel grants

The ARCTOS PhD-school is inviting PhD-students and post doctoral fellows to take part in the workshop "Petroleum activity in the Arctic and sound management - the need for research" which take place during the Arctic Frontiers Conference in Tromsø, Norway. It is an approved course (BIO-8502) at the University of Tromsø, and consists of the conference itself, an intensive 5 -6 days workshop including scientific lectures on the effect of petroleum on marine organisms and social aspects of petroleum activity. The workshop takes place in Tromsø, at the coastal steamer “Hurtigruten” and on the Lofoten Island. Departure for Lofoten will be in the evening January 27 with MS Lofoten and arriving back to Tromsø with MS Nordkapp in the afternoon (14:30) on January 30. Participants can book air ticket out of Tromsø on the afternoon Wednesday 30 January (after approx. 16:00).

During the voyage to the Lofoten Islands there will be lectures about society of the high North, arts and visit to art galleries.

ARCTOS offer travel grant to PhD-student and post doctoral fellows. The grants will cover 1) the participation fee, 2) air fare, cheapest possible ticket (air fare limited to NOK 7000 for US / Canada, NOK 3000 Europe, NOK 4000 Russia), 3) accommodation, lunch and breakfast and 5) NOK 1000 to cover other and unexpected costs. The students should present a poster about their work

Application for travel support should be addressed to Anette Wold (anette@npolar.no) giving costs (travel budget), research interests and title abstract of poster. Travel grants are supported by ConocoPhillips, Troms County, The Nordic Council and the University of Tromsø.

All students must also register trough the “online registration” and sign up for a poster presentation.

ArcticNet, ARCTOS and PanAME associated students are especially welcome to apply.

Young artists

Collaborators: Troms Fylke, Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter, Nordland Kunst- og Filmskole.

Artists and writers have always played a key role in finding and expressing the societies view and identity concerning public issues. From the first day of polar research, artist and writers have been crucial for communicating discoveries and new knowledge. In today’s multimedia world, visual arts and the written word are as important as before and reach a wide audience. YSF thus wishes to give young artists and writers the opportunity to join in on field work, workshops and the Arctic Frontiers Conference in the years to come, to bring the experience home and out to the public.

Young Scientist Forum and ARCTOS has establishing scholarships and possibilities for young artists to participate in field work, YSF will encourage young artists to focus on issues related to the challenges and opportunities in the High North. A jury will be formed, based on advices from northern art institutions (e.g. Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter) that will administrate the scholarships.

Two video artists have been selected to follow researchers out in the field in the fall of 2007. Their work will be presented for the public during a special event during the Arctic Frontiers Tromsø Conference 2008.

New scholarships will be advertised on the ARCTOS web side later this year. For more info contact Kriss.Iversen@nfh.uit.no