Network of Arctic Researchers, Ireland (NARI)

NARI is a platform for Irish based researchers to enhance their interdisciplinary collaborative efforts at a national and international level and promote their scientific activities linked to the Arctic. The network provides objective and independent scientific advice on issues of science in the Arctic and communicates scientific information to the public and policy. Furthermore, the network strives to promote and involve the next generation of scientists working in the Arctic and seeks polar cooperation through interaction with other relevant science organizations.

The activities by members is showcased within three main working groups structured around Marine, Terrestrial, and Humanities & Social Sciences research agendas that share the main objectives of the Arctic Council and the International Arctic Science Committee. This will facilitate national and international collaborative efforts and provide thematic platforms for policy makers and the public to contact relevant experts.

As of 2024 NARI is composed of over 60 members from over 10 Universities across Ireland including University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin and the University of Galway. Our members produce valuable Arctic relevant research on diverse topics including the broad categories of oceanography, climate modelling, ecology, geology, political science and anthropology. Through providing a platform for collaboration, NARI aims to act as a bridge between quality scientific research and policy on important topics contained within Arctic research.

Facts and figures

Web https://www.nari.ie
Year Established 2020
Focus Areas

Thematic focus areas of NARI are organized via three main working groups structured around Marine, Terrestrial, and Humanities & Social Sciences

  1. Marine Sciences: To address the emerging environmental and social pressures of the Arctic Region and to facilitate international collaborative efforts in research, the Marine Sciences Working group has adopted the Scientific Foci of the International Arctic Science Committee as their main scientific goals:
  • Predicting and understanding rapid changes to the Ocean system
  • Understanding biological and ecosystem processes in the Arctic and sub-arctic seas
  • Understanding sea ice structure dynamics and the Arctic system
  • Understanding geochemical processes in the Arctic and sub-arctic seas
  • Enhancing and improving access to the paleo record of the Arctic Ocean
  1. ​Terrestrial Sciences: Arctic landmasses and the diverse range of habitats, ecosystems, and populations they support are among the fastest warming environments on Earth. To foster impactful research into the causes, manifestations, and impact of Arctic change, the Terrestrial Science Working Group will focus on the following priority areas.
  • Establishing via observational and palaeo data the full capacity of the Arctic environment for change
  • Resolving the impact of permafrost thawing on Arctic hydrology
  • Assessing ecological resilience of Arctic ecosystems in the face of modern and projected climate change
  • Understand terrestrial carbon sinks and sources and their linkages with Arctic climate
  • Projecting impacts of rising temperatures on land-based transport links and infrastructure
  1. Humanities and Social Science: There are four key aims of the Humanities and Social Sciences Working Group 
  • To support current and future research of Irish Arctic and Northern Studies across multiple disciplines spanning the humanities, and social sciences through providing information, reading lists, academic papers and other resources on the NARI website
  • To encourage collaboration on the creation of academic papers, research projects and educational events/workshops amongst working group members and associate members 
  • To organise meetings and research activities for working group members
Web link for international students https://www.nari.ie