Finland Times

Press Release Photo.

The Fulbright Center in Finland is now holding a one-week plenary meeting in Oulu launched on 8 February, participated by researchers from the Fulbright Arctic Initiative (FAI) Programme.

 

“The Fulbright Arctic Initiative is designed to create new research to solve problems facing the Arctic peoples and the environments that support them. This requires interdisciplinary research across nations and cultures and efforts to share this work with the public and policymakers,” explained Fulbright Finland Executive Director Terhi Mölsä.

 

On Thursday, 11 February, the FAI scholars will present their ongoing research in a high-profile public symposium that gathers together Arctic scientists, students, policymakers, industry and NGO representatives and other key stakeholders as well as the general public. The event is open to anyone interested in Arctic issues.

 

Mölsä said, “This symposium in Oulu is the first public symposium of the international Fulbright Arctic Initiative programme. And the Fulbright Arctic Initiative itself is new. This 18-month exchange programme was launched in 2015 to coincide with the US chairmanship of the Arctic Council.” 

 

Through high-level keynotes, panels and interactive discussions, the symposium will address changes in the Arctic, particularly through the themes of the FAI Programme (energy, water, infrastructure and health), and contribute to developing strategies and policies for a sustainable Arctic future. Presenters will include distinguished scientists and high level policymakers.

 

Distinguished speakers who will address the sessions include U.S. Ambassador to Finland Charles C. Adams, Jr., Finnish Ambassador for Arctic Affairs Aleksi Härkönen, Canadian Ambassador to Finland Andrée Noëlle Cooligan, Ambassador of Norway to Finland Åge B. Grutle, Department of Higher Education and Science Policy Director General Tapio Kosunen from the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, Chief of Staff to the Special Representative for the Arctic at the US State Department Jennifer Ey, and U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Academic Exchange Specialist Stephen Money.

 

“The symposium involves 17 scholars from the Arctic Council’s eight member countries [Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russian, Sweden, and the United States], all conducting research focused on the Arctic, particularly on the issues of water, energy, health, and infrastructure,” Mölsä told the Finland Times. 

 

She said the Oulu symposium takes place at the mid-point of the Fulbright Arctic Initiative and the participating scholars come together in Oulu to discuss the progress of their ongoing collaborative research. For the first time as a full cohort they also present their work to the public in the symposium. For them, the Oulu meeting lays the groundwork to develop a clear plan of action for their final Fulbright Arctic meeting in October 2016 in Washington, DC.

 

The prominent scholars taking part in the plenary and discussion sessions include Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Distinguished Research Professor Dr. Terry Callaghan, Institute of Arctic Studies Director Dr. Ross A. Virginia, University of Alaska Fairbanks Vice Chancellor Dr. Mike Sfraga, University of the Arctic President Lars Kullerud, University of Alberta Department of Biological Sciences Professor Dr. David Hik, University of Lapland Arctic Center Research Professor Dr. Bruce Forbes, University of Lapland Arctic Center Head of Science Communications Markku Heikkilä, and The Sámi Education Institute Rector Liisa Holmberg.

 

The symposium takes place at the Saalasti Hall of the University of Oulu main building. University of the Arctic Vice President Professor Dr. Kari Laine will host the programme. University of Oulu Rector Dr. Jouko Niinimäki, City of Oulu Mayor Matti Pennanen, and Fulbright Center, Finland Executive Director Terhi Mölsä will speak in the opening session, where U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will send a video greeting.

 

The Fulbright Center is a service organisation that specialises in cultural exchange between Finland and North America. It is funded by the Finnish, U.S. and Canadian governments, the Finland-America Educational Trust Fund founded by the US and the Finnish governments, and increasingly by private Finnish foundations and Finnish higher education institutions. Eighty per cent of the Fulbright Center’s funding comes from Finland.

 

The Center administers grant programmes and provides advice, training and information services for students, researchers and working professionals. The year 2012 marked the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Fulbright agreement between Finland and the United States.