Here are few words from each representative:
Isabel Barrio - Agricultural University of Iceland, Lead of the UArctic Thematic Network on Herbivory
This year’s UArctic Thematic Networks leadership meeting in Bodø brought together a large group of TN leads. These meetings are always fun and create a great environment for building new collaborations, not only with TNs working on related topics, but also with colleagues working in different disciplines. The three TNs led by researchers in Iceland cover topics as diverse as dust, tourism and herbivores. Still, there are commonalities to the work that we are doing and many opportunities to learn from each other. I found it really interesting to learn more about how the different networks organize themselves and what works and what doesn’t when it comes to coordinating network activities.
Gunnar Þór Jóhannesson - University of Iceland, Vice-Lead of the UArctic Thematic Network on Northern Tourism
The UArctic Thematic Networks leadership meeting is a useful venue to share news and best practices among different thematic networks. On this occasion, for me, it was a big pleasure to meet two other TN leads based in Iceland. Although we are working in different fields I feel there are many areas where we can collaborate as the biggest challenges of Arctic communities do not follow disciplinary boundaries. Moreover, in Icelandic context it is important to join forces in raising awareness and visibility of Arctic research and collaboration and for instance circulate information about the UArctic and the many opportunities it creates for students and staff at circumpolar universities.
Pavla Dagsson-Waldhauserova - Agricultural University of Iceland, Lead of the UArctic Thematic Network on High Latitude Dust (HLD)
This meeting provided an opportunity to talk and discuss potential cooperation between the thematic networks with relatively diverse focus. However, it is the Arctic environment and people which are clearly influenced the most by changes investigated through these three TNs - herbivores, overtourism and both climate and socio-economic impacts of HLD. I would admit that it is sometimes harder to meet Icelandic colleagues and researchers in Iceland than during such events as the TNs meeting and Arctic Congress. I am looking forward to our future cooperation.