The aim of the Thematic Network on Northern Governance is to strengthen cooperation and capacity among institutions working on issues of governance in northern regions. The network will facilitate collaborative research initiatives, curriculum and program development at the graduate and undergraduate levels, enhance student exchange opportunities, and respond to northern and indigenous government and community needs on governance issues. Greg Poelzer (greg.poelzer@usask.ca) at the University of Saskatchewan is leading the network which has over 20 partners from seven UArctic countries. The TN on Northern Governance will also have close cooperation with other TNs such as the TN on Local and Regional Development.
 
The Thematic Network on Indigenous Arts and Crafts will promote the cooperation between researchers of the Arctic in the field of Indigenous Arts and Crafts and provide cooperation on common issues in research and education. Many universities offer courses in Indigenous art history (involving both fine and applied art) and it is important to know each other for teachers and students exchange. The focus is to exchange knowledge and research about traditional art (handicraft, craft) and contemporary applied art and to encourage a discussion around methodology of the field. The other focus is the exchange of guest lecturers. Gunvor Guttorm (gunvor@miikonsult.com), Sámi University College is the coordinator and partners include University of Manitoba and Arctic State Institute of Culture and Art.
 
The Thematic Network on Arctic Learning Environment (ALE) focuses on the learning processes, pedagogy, and appropriate information technologies necessary to deliver content to and support distant learners. ALE has been involved in a range of activities related to the work of UArctic. Lately,  these have included the Arctic Council ICT Network, which was set up during 2005. ALE has also participated in the preparation of a proposal for the Arctic ICT Assessment (AICTA). The Thematic Network on Arctic Learning Environment (ALE) started its operation as UArctic programme. However, it had become obvious that ALE was not a Program but a Thematic Network. Thus it was proposed and accepted to be re-located as a Thematic Network, which will enable it to support the work of all Program and Thematic Networks within UArctic. This will allow ALE to assist in developing and enhancing both their pedagogy and the ways in which they use their learning environments. Leo Pekkala at the University of Lapland is the lead (leo.pekkala@ulapland.fi) of this TN, which has members from Canada, United States, Norway, Iceland and Finland.
 
All new TNs are open networks so if you would like to join one of them, please send an email to the hosts mentioned in the text. Each new TN will also have their web sites at www.uarctic.org/thematic.
 
In the breakout sessions, the ideas of Thematic Networks on Arctic Marine and Coastal Management and Environmental Technology, both important areas that are currently lacking in the Thematic Networks, were also discussed. Both of these ideas will be further developed and hopefully built into Thematic Networks so if you would like to hear more, please contact the Thematic Networks office: Kirsi.latola@uarctic.org.