Scottish Arctic Conference, March 2026 — Day 1 & Day 2 Recap

Day 1 Recap

ScAN was delighted to host the 2026 Scottish Arctic Conference and ScAN Annual Meeting in St Andrews on 5-6 March, bringing together over 60 attendees from across Scotland and beyond for two days of discussions, presentations and collaborative planning.  

The conference opened on Thursday with an Early Career Researcher panel on Starting a Career in Arctic Research, co-chaired by Hayley McLennan (St Andrews) and Beth Langley (Glasgow). Speakers Lars Boehme and Richard Streeter (St Andrews) and Isabelle Gapp (Aberdeen) shared their career experiences. Their discussion highlighted the value of interdisciplinary working, diverse skillsets, and resilience in shaping a successful Arctic research career. A lively Q&A followed, with thoughtful questions from ECRs across multiple disciplines. 

General attendees were then welcomed by Samantha Lister (St Andrews), ScAN Chair, and Brad MacKay, Deputy Principal at St Andrews and member of the UArctic Board.  

We were also pleased to hear from Lauren Johnstone from the Scottish Government, who gave attendees a preview into the assessment of the government’s Arctic Connections Policy Framework. The full report will be published on 24 March 2026. 

A panel discussion on UArctic Thematic Networks was chaired by Bill Cushley (Glasgow) and began with an introductory overview from Outi Snellman, Secretary General of UArctic. The session then featured presentations and discussions by Izzy Crawford (Robert Gordon University); Adam Bower (St Andrews); Roxane Permar, (University of the Highlands and Islands); and Gina Wall (Glasgow School of Art). They shared insights into their involvement— and in Izzy’s case, the founding—of thematic networks covering international education, space, and art and design. Each speaker emphasized the professional and collaborative value these networks provide.  

The afternoon featured a research showcase highlighting the breadth of Scottish Arctic scholarship across ScAN member institutions. The session was introduced by Samantha Lister (ScAN Chair) who introduced ScAN’s concept of interdisciplinary themes to support network development. The session then featured presentations from Beth Langley (Glasgow), Bahareh Kamranzad (Strathclyde), Rowan Jackson (Edinburgh) on Climate; Isabelle Gapp (Aberdeen), Alona Roitershtein (Robert Gordon University) and Roxane Permar (UHI) on Community and Culture; Andrew O’Malley (St Andrews) on Health; Jacques Hartmann (Dundee) on Security and Law; Adrian Finch (St Andrews) on Sustainability and Energy; and Laura Castro de la Guardia (SAMS UHI) and Bill Austin (St Andrews) on Water. 

The presentations were a great way to kick off focussed group discussions on ScAN’s interdisciplinary themes, designed to bring together researchers working on diverse but connected Arctic issues. 

After a productive day of sessions and discussions (and a quick stop at the pub!) attendees gathered at Lower College Hall for a memorable conference dinner in a beautiful St Andrews setting. 

There, we heard from Sam about the remarkable life and legacy of Fridtjof Nansen, Arctic explorer, scientist, humanitarian, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and his historical connections to St Andrews. 

Day 2 Recap
Day two of the Scottish Arctic conference in St Andrews on the 6 March 2026 opened with a report from the Chair on ScAN’s activity over the past year, setting the stage for a forward-looking and collaborative morning. 

We were pleased to welcome Outi Snellman, UArctic Secretary General, back to the stage for an introduction to Regional Centres and the vital role they play within the UArctic network. Outi highlighted how regional centres help strengthen collaboration, visibility, and knowledge exchange across the circumpolar North. She also encouraged ScAN to continue sharing our activities broadly through the UArctic website to maximise engagement across the international community. 

After a short coffee break, Al Innes (Edinburgh) chaired a dynamic strategic planning session. Participants worked in table groups structured around ScAN’s four core pillars: Research; Policy; Education; Connections. These discussions generated a wealth of constructive ideas and both short‑ and long‑term priorities for ScAN. We look forward to sharing these developments with the network in the coming months. 

Outi Snellman begins discussions

The day concluded with the ScAN Annual Meeting, where in‑person and virtual attendees came together to reflect on progress and discuss next steps. We also shared the news that Beth Langley, our Early Career Representative on the ScAN Steering Group, will be stepping down as she completes her PhD and embarks on new opportunities. We will soon be advertising for a new ECR Representative on the Steering Group—so stay tuned for details. 

"We are delighted to have hosted such a productive, energising, and well‑received gathering for the network. Our thanks go to UArctic and the Scottish Government for their generous funding support. Attendees emphasised the immense value of reconnecting in person, and we are excited to see plans already forming for smaller meet‑ups at member institutions across Scotland. We will share these opportunities as they emerge. A huge thank-you to all attendees—especially our presenters, chairs, and facilitators—for your thoughtful contributions. And special thanks to the team in St Andrews for their support throughout the event. " 

See the original articles on the ScAN website here: Scottish Arctic Conference, March 2026, Day 1 Recap , Scottish Arctic Conference, March 2026, Day 2 Recap