UArctic Thematic Network on Decolonization of Arctic Library and Archives Metadata (DALAM)
UArctic Thematic Network on Digital North: Three-Dimensional Technologies and Arctic Education
UArctic Thematic Network on Frozen Arctic Conservation
UArctic Thematic Network on Northern and Arctic Island Studies Research
UArctic Thematic Network on Decolonization of Arctic Library and Archives Metadata (DALAM) is hosted by Polar Libraries Colloquy, Canada, Lead: Susanna Parikka
- Overall Goal:
- To help libraries and archives correct the culturally inappropriate, incorrect and colonially centered metadata, subject headings and descriptive records which currently exist in Arctic collections.
- To support Indigenous Peoples in defining the ways in which they and their environments are described in this domain.
- To make Arctic Indigenous languages more present in metadata, subject headings and descriptive records.
- To build infrastructure, practices, tools, and relationships among Thematic Network partners to promote sustainability going forward.
UArctic Thematic Network on Digital North: Three-Dimensional Technologies and Arctic Education is hosted by UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway. Lead: Matthew Magnani
- Overall Goal:
Distances between Indigenous communities in the Arctic are large, and their cultural heritage is widely dispersed between foreign institutions. Yet, there is increasing demand to access cultural resources to support contemporary processes of revitalization, repatriation, learning, and public outreach. This thematic network explores how emergent digital tools, including three-dimensional modeling, can support locally articulated desires in the Sámi homelands.
UArctic Thematic Network on Frozen Arctic Conservation is hosted by University of Lapland, Finland. Lead: John Moore
- Overall Goal:
Active conservation of the frozen Arctic.
Preserving Arctic permafrost, ice sheets and sea ice is a vital goal for minimizing impacts of global climate warming, and for enabling sustainable ways of life for Arctic communities.
In spite of political will global change due to climate warming will be inevitable, and science indicates more in the Arctic than elsewhere.
The Arctic is important to the whole planet; melting ice is raising sea levels and thawing permafrost is releasing accumulated carbon dioxide and methane.
The Peoples of the Arctic are not only victims of the challenges in the Arctic but, as custodians of global resources and values, these challenges provide opportunities and reminders of our responsibilities to show the leadership that others have failed to take.
As stewards of Arctic lands and waters its peoples must empower themselves with a deep knowledge of all possible scientific and technological now under study to deal with severe climate change globally. Many of these scientific and technical will have consequences in the Arctic even if implemented elsewhere. Knowledge and foresight are power.
There are also many discussions about technologies that might supplement emissions cuts with deliberate interventions in the climate system that could reduce some aspects of climate, e.g., remove CO2 from atmosphere, change albedo / land cover, stop glacial melting.
Northerners ought to have central roles in decisions about and knowledge-production on the development and use of technologies that could alter Arctic climates. The world needs their input and we all need to join in conversations about all the options: political, scientific and technical.
UArctic Thematic Network on Northern and Arctic Island Studies Research is hosted by University of the Highlands and Islands, Scotland. Lead: Andrew Jennings
- Overall Goal:
The overall goal of the Northern and Arctic Island Studies Research Thematic Network is to support Arctic and Northern Island communities to socially, materially, and culturally benefit from the discipline of Island Studies, which at its core believes that islands have the human and intellectual capital to undertake research for themselves.