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A group from the 91ֱ����Ƶ (UNE) recently traveled to Reykjavik, Iceland, as part of the Maine International Trade Commission’s delegation to the Arctic Circle Assembly, the preeminent international forum for Arctic cooperation and sustainable development. 91ֱ����Ƶfaculty and staff returned home yesterday with increased knowledge of and enthusiasm for how Maine can participate in the sustainable development and responsible stewardship of the Arctic region.

The 91ֱ����Ƶdelegation joined government officials, scientists, scholars, environmentalists, representatives of indigenous peoples and students from more than 50 countries in an effort to increase participation in Arctic dialogue and strengthen the international focus on the Arctic’s future. Delegates reported that their experience at the conference led to a deepened understanding that the fate of the Arctic is inextricably linked to the future of the planet.

Maine Senator Angus King addressed the assembly’s opening session of more than 1900 delegates.

UNE’s Barry Costa-Pierce, Ph.D., Henry L. and Grace Doherty Professor and chair in the Department of Marine Sciences and director of the Marine Science Center, hosted a breakout session with Patrick Arnold of the Maine Port Authority on Sustainable Fisheries. His presentation to a packed room, including Senator King, demonstrated how changing ocean environments are impacting fish stocks and how fishing communities like Maine and its Arctic partners will need to reassess their approaches to the industry, including what and how they harvest.

Costa-Pierce also took the opportunity of being in Iceland to visit various universities in Reykjavik. At Holar University and the United Nations University, he gave invited presentations on science and education advances in fisheries and aquaculture and discussed potential partnerships between the Icelandic universities and UNE, based around the latter’s existing Marine Science majors and its new majors in Marine Affairs and Marine Entrepreneurship.

Other 91ֱ����Ƶdelegation members also connected with their peers from Iceland’s universities to explore ways in which their shared resources may help develop research that can contribute to the dialogue and data around Arctic issues, such as health and wellness among Arctic communities, ocean and habitat conservation, and responsible and sustainable resource exploitation, and to educate future leaders who will make the decisions, policies and international partnerships that will continue to shape the Arctic. 

Anouar Majid, Ph.D., UNE’s Vice President for Global Affairs, said that “Maine’s participation in this meeting proves that our state is at the national forefront of thinking about the changing nature of the Arctic and how climate change might affect the long-term future of the state and our university.” Professor Majid met with Dr. Ari Kristinn Jónsson, the president of Reykjavik University, to explore potential exchange programs.

Jeanne Hey, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, observed that the assembly was an important moment for 91ֱ����Ƶon the international stage. “The Arctic Circle Assembly presents an ideal opportunity for 91ֱ����Ƶto showcase our innovation, engagement and research around Arctic issues with the most important stakeholders in the region,” she stated. “I have had conversations with universities, private businesses, non-profits and governments from all over the world and am learning from these same actors about the most pressing issues and opportunities in the Arctic. My strong take-away is that there are abundant global constituencies and leaders who are years ahead of the United States in embracing creative solutions to this problem.”

With 52 delegates, Maine’s delegation was second only to France in size, demonstrating the state’s commitment to playing a vital role in meeting the challenges and exploring the opportunities in the Arctic.

According to 91ֱ����Ƶdelegate Holly Parker, M.Ed., coordinator of Academic Innovations, one of the most impactful events of the assembly was the opportunity for the Maine delegates to gather and share their impressions and inspirations for Maine’s Arctic future. “Mainers from academia, industry and government impressed the assembly and each other with our curiosity, empathy and creativity,” Parker explained. “The Arctic Circle Assembly was the perfect venue for UNE’s delegates to listen, share and learn, as the University leads the way in academic innovation in Maine. I look forward to continuing the conversation with new friends and colleagues from Maine, Iceland and beyond about how UNE, its faculty and students, can shape Maine’s Arctic future.”