15-16 March 2012 Arctic Centre, Rovaniemi, Finland (Arktikum, Pohjoisranta 4)

The seminar “Science-Policy Interface – the Societal Impact of Arctic Research“ is a joint scientific event of the Arctic Doctoral Programme ARKTIS and the ERDF funded project ”Knowledge in environmental planning and decision-making” (2010-2012). All PhD students, supervisors, scientific advisers and other members and collaborators of ARKTIS and the “Knowledge in environmental planning and decision-making“ project are welcome to participate in the seminar.

The theme of this year’s research seminar is science-policy interface and the impacts of Arctic research on the society. The effects of the use of scientific knowledge or, put more widely, the knowledge-to-action question, is both a classical theme and a hot topic that has raised an increasing attention during recent years among scientists across disciplines as well as politicians, environmental administration and wider audiences.

Programme of the seminar (7 March 2012)

The rapid change that is taking place in the Arctic – including climate change, industrialization and the globalization of economy which is expected to lead to increased use of Arctic natural resources – has increased recognition of the need for relevant and reliable knowledge for ensuring sustainability in the Arctic communities.

Scientific knowledge has a special role in policy-formation and on political fora as it is seen as objective and value-free and thus a suitable basis for political decision-making. However, the privileged position of scientific knowledge has been also questioned and today it is widely accepted that science is just one part of knowledge systems in policy formation. Instead of just one knowledge or truth, it is understood that there are multiple different knowledges and truths. This leads us also to epistemological questions – What is knowledge? How can something be known? – and other questions on the foundations of knowing and knowledge. In practice, the wide theme of science and policy interface discusses the sources of knowledge utilized in decision-making processes, the credibility of the different knowledges presented and the ways in which particularly scientific knowledge can be applied and incorporated into policies and thus influence the society. Key questions include also the relevance of scientific knowledge available in comparison to the knowledge needs of decision-makers and how scientific knowledge can be translated into formats that would serve the society better. There is also a connection between knowledge and power. Who are experts and who possess knowledge? Whose knowledge is regarded more credible or relevant than that of others?

The seminar will include keynote lectures by Nordic frontline speakers addressing the topics presented above from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The key part of the seminar will be student contributions, including oral seminar presentations about their PhD thesis research and interdisciplinary discussions.

Doctoral students of ARKTIS are asked to give an oral presentation based on a full-length working paper. The paper can be a part of a doctoral thesis, or a separate article or an essay one is currently working on. The paper should be linked to the theme of this years’ seminar and also the latest development of one’s research since the last years’ seminar should be addressed. The following questions can be used as inspiration for setting the viewpoint of your seminar paper and presentation: How can your research contribute to the knowledge basis needed for decision-making in the Arctic? How do you see the significance of communication with decision-makers and politicians in your research work? What is the role of multidisciplinarity in your research? Also discussion about the epistemological foundation of your research is encouraged. Visiting students are welcome present either an oral presentation or a poster. Throughout the seminar, students participate in group works, interact with the faculty and participate in discussions.

The acceptance of presentations will be done by the organizers. An abstract should be submitted for both oral and poster presentations by 17 February 2012 to Ilona Mettiäinen ilona.mettiainen@ulapland.fi. For more detailed instructions, visit www.arcticcentre.org/arktis. You can also contact the seminar organizers via e-mail: ilona.mettiainen@ulapland.fi or paivi.soppela@ulapland.fi.

Keynote speakers include
Dr. Rasmus Ole Rasmussen, Roskilde University, Denmark and Nordregio, Sweden
Dr. Annika Nilsson, Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
Professor Janne Hukkinen, University of Helsinki, Finland
Adjunct professor Juha Hiedanpää, University of Eastern Finland and Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Finland
Adjunct professor Lassi Heininen, University of Lapland, Finland

Important dates
•    1st Call for papers: 20 January 2012
•    2nd Call for papers: 9 February 2012
•    Deadline for abstracts: 17 February 2012
•    Deadline for registrations: 24 February 2012
•    Deadline for full-length working papers: 8 March 2012

Notice that in 14 March there will be held ARKTIS Doctoral Programme Theme Day / PhD Course!

Travel and accommodation
Accommodation will be organized by request for all participants. Please indicate your need for accommodation in the registration form. Accommodation and travel cost of the ARKTIS students will be compensated according to the cheapest means of travelling. Requests and more information: Event Coordinator Raija Kivilahti (raija.kivilahti@ulapland.fi ), gsm +358(0)40 568 4890 and www.arcticcentre.org/arktis


Warmly welcome!