The conveners of the following sessions invite abstracts:

SESSION 4.4.2: People with disabilities in the Arctic: Experiences and perspectives

Conveners: Birgit Pauksztat, Tove Mentsen Ness, Merete Kvamme Fabritius, and Trond Bliksvær

Over the past years, there has been an increasing focus on diversity and inclusion. However, people started to shed light on the prevalence of specific impairments in Arctic communities. Still less attention has been paid to the lived experiences of people with disabilities within their social, cultural, political, geographical, and historical context, which, according to the “social model” of disability, may play a key role in “enabling” or “disabling” people with impairments.

The aim of this session is to bring together researchers and practitioners from a broad range of disciplines interested in the experiences and inclusion of people with disabilities in the Arctic. Conveners invite presentations addressing experiences, knowledge, and practices from different perspectives in order to identify directions for future research and opportunities for collaboration.

Possible topics for presentations include (but are not limited to):

  • Experiences of people with disabilities in the Arctic,
  • Perspectives of family, community members, co-workers, and professionals (e.g. teachers, social workers, administrators);
  • Case studies in different cultural and/or historical contexts;
  • Challenges and best practices concerning the inclusion of people with disabilities in different contexts (e.g., education, workplace, community life) in Arctic communities or when moving south for care or access to services;
  • Accessible tourism in the Arctic; and
  • Accessibility of Arctic research to researchers and stakeholders with disabilities.

SESSION 2.1.3: The Good, Bad, and the Ugly: Earth-system interventions to keep the Arctic frozen

Conveners: Tiina Kurvits and John Moore

The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average rate. Because the region contains several crucial tipping points, this warming not only causes major changes in local livelihoods and ecosystems, but also poses a serious threat to the rest of the world through massive sea level rise from melting ice caps, and rapid methane release from thawing permafrost.

Given the urgency of the situation, a range of climate action measures been suggested to slow down, halt, or even reverse the effects of climate change in the Arctic and northern regions – and to keep the Arctic frozen. Yet currently there is a lack of clear understanding of what options could actually be feasible, timely, and deployable at scale, while still bringing positive benefits and low risk to local communities, local economies, and Arctic environments.

This session invites speakers to present their latest research and developments in the field of earth-system interventions designed to keep the Arctic frozen.

Conveners welcome talk submissions covering advances in theoretical approaches and emerging technologies through to the consideration of societal, ethical, and governance issues and challenges. This session is co-organised by GRID-Arendal, the Arctic Centre/University of Lapland, and the UArctic Secretariat.

Abstract submission deadline: 19 January 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Central European Time

For more information about the meeting, go to: Arctic Congress 2024 Bodø

For more information about sessions, go to: Session List