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Arctic Focus: What It Means for Research, Education and Cooperation

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Arctic Focus: What It Means for Research, Education and Cooperation Arctic Focus: What it means for research, education and cooperation Skolkovo, March 1st 2012 Asbjørn Bartnes Director of Communications University of Tromsø Agenda 1. About our part of the world, and why the rest of world is looking north 2. About the University of Tromsø, and what it means for us to be in the Arctic and what the region means to us 3. About the Norwegian High North Strategy, and our role in the future development 4. About Norwegian/Russian and Tromsø/Russian relations and cooperation: some examples and future prospects 5. What people in the south think of the North, and what we would like to do communicate the future prospects in the North On Top ”Tromsø is a city for of the great occasions” SecretaryHigh of State Jonas North Gahr Støre Tromsø in a nutshell • Situated at 69ºN • Population: 66.700 (75.000) • Founded 1794 • Major sources of income: • Area 2.558 km2 . Public services • Nicknames: “Paris of the North” . Fisheries and “Gateway to the Arctic” . Tourism . IT-industry 4 01.03.2012 • A classical university with a wide range of subjects taught. • Merged with the Tromsø University college Jan 1 2009 • 9.100 students (10% from abroad) • 2.300 faculty and staff • 2,3 billion NOK (1,8 from government funding) • More than 200 study programs 5 01.03.2012 The northernmost university in the world Hugin and Munin [from the Old Norwegian ”hug” meaning mind, thought, and “minne” meaning memory, recollection.] Hugin and Munin are the names of Odin’s (the God of Wisdom in Norse mythology) two ravens that fly around the world every day gathering knowledge. In the evenings, they sit on Odin´s shoulders and whisper in his ear all that they have seen. The University of Tromsø is the northernmost university of the world. It´s location on the edge of the Arctic implies a mission. The Arctic is of increasing global importance. Climate change, the exploitation of Arctic resources and environmental threats are topics of great public concern, which the University of Tromsø takes special interest in. At UiT we explore global issues from a close-up perspective. Our region is distinguished by its abundance of natural resources, polar proximity, multicultural communities, scattered population and major export Knowlege on top of the world industries. Research and education in Life in the High North is shaped by this region is subject to an ever- wild nature, contrasting light and increasing internationalization. Amid weather conditions, geographic distances and multiculturalism. Many natural resources, knowledge will be of UiT´s research centres and study the most important raw material of programmes reflect the specific the future. character of Arctic Norway. 8 01.03.2012 Our role in the region Hammerfest Alta Kirkenes • ”The University of TromsøTromsø shall contribute in making our region an important place for research based increase in knowledge and Finnsnescompetencies. Kautokeino Harstad • ”The UniversitySortland of Tromsø aims to be at the international forefront in research and educationNarvik pertaining to the Northern region. ” • ”Particular emphasis shall be given to research in fields where theBodø university has a comparative advantage due to its geographical location. ” Mo i Rana Nesna The University of Tromsø towards 2010. Strategy 2003 01.03.2012 A history in the making – a few milestones1826 The first higher education institution in Northern Norway is established 1918 The idea of a university in Tromsø is launched for the first time. 1962 The possibility of a university is indicated by the government. 1968 Parliamentary decision on 28 March. 1972 Official opening by HRH King Olav V. The first 420 students start their studies at the University 1 September. 1978 First permanent building in Breivika - today’s main campus. 1988 The Norwegian College of Fishery Science established at UiT 1997 Reorganization of the university into faculties 2009 Merger with Tromsø University College. New organization from 1 August. http://youtu.be/1lQGAtQZX8k Current organization: Faculties Six faculties: Шесть факультетов: • Health Sciences (Медицинский) • Law (Юридический) • Fine Arts (Искусств) • Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics (Биологических наук, рыболовства и экономики) • Humanities, Social Sciences and Education (Гуманитарных и социальных наук и образования) • Science and Technology (Наук и технологий) Current organization: Research Centres • Centre for Theoretical and computational Chemistry • Centre for Advanced Study in Theoretical Linguistics • Centre for Marine Bioactives and Drug Discovery • National Research Centre in Complementary and Alternative Medicine • The Norwegian Structural Biology Centre • Centre for Sami Studies • Centre of Marine Resources Management • Centre for Peace Studies • Centre for Women’s and Gender Research • National Centre of Rural Medicine • Centre for Flexible Education • Research Cenhtre for High North Operations • Tromsø University Museum • Barents Institute Distribution of Students 10 % international students from 84 countries: • Sweden (67) • Russia (63) Female • Germany (61) 58 % • Finland (35) From abroad • Denmark (23) 10 % • Poland (20) Southern Northern Norway Norway • France (18) 20 % 70 % • Italy (17) • Spain (16) Male • Great Britain/Ghana (15) 42 % Key Focus Fields • Biomarine studies, biomedicine and biotechnology • Health and welfare studies, including telemedicine and social medicine • Indigenous studies, including questions relating to Sámi language and identity • Northern and Arctic studies, including central fields such as technology and science, social sciences and the humanities 15 16 01.03.2012 17 01.03.2012 Tromsø High North Cluster (THiNC) The University The Marine Research Institute The Northern Research institute The Polar Research Institute Akvaplan-niva 18 Norwegian High North Strategy Launched 1 December 2006 Overall aims Key drivers: • Increased Norwegian presence in • Climate the North • Russia • Increased scope of activities • Energy • Increased knowledge • Arctic Dimension Key elements: • climate change and the environment ; monitoring, preparedness and safety at sea; sustainable use of petroleum and renewable resources at sea; business development onshore; infrastructure; sovereignty and cross border co-operation; culture and livelihood of indigenous peoples The role of Tromsø in the High North Strategy A major provider of knowledge: • The Arctic and its role in climate change • Ice and its impact on climate • Oceanography in Polar regions • Safe and secure operations in the Arctic • Relationship with Russia • Fisheries and fish farming • Marine bioprospecting • Indigenous peoples • Arctic governance and international laws in the Arctic • Arctic technology • Telemedicine • Etc.. 20 Climate change and the environment Arctic Climate Impact Assesment, 2004: Arctic sea ice 2004 projection: Regular trans-Arctic shipping by 2090-2100 2007 projection: Regular trans-Arctic shipping by 2050 21 A receding ice cap • Current models are unable to predict the changes we observe . We must close this knowledge-gap • We are lacking regulatory frameworks for activities in an ice-free polar basin • Paradox: . Reduced ice cap results in more navigation in icy waters • Search and rescue a challenge that must be solved in international fora 22 Monitoring, preparedness and safety at sea • Growth in shipping activity in icecovered regions requires international 50000 agreements as soon 45000 as possible 40000 35000 . Polar Code 30000 . Mandatory IMO 25000 20000 guidelines 15000 . ISM-code 10000 5000 . DnV Sea Skill, etc. 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Total 25368 29991 25663 29974 32590 44298 44684 48448 Boats 29 25 22 28 28 34 29 30 Passengers visiting Svalbard. The trend is comparable in Antarctica, Greenland, Alaska and Canada 23 In cases of emergency, help can be far away This life boat is hard to launch Outside the range of rescue helicopter Iceclassed ships may be far away The ”hospital” on Svalbard has 8 beds, some of which may be in use The temperature and weather will reduce survival time significantly 24 Norvald©Kjerstad Center for Secure Operations in the North • A co-operation between the University of Tromsø, regional government and Norwegian companies • Will do research on sustainable exploitation of resources in the North, in particular oil and gas • Will contribute to the knowledge on how to operate safely in dark, cold climate. Icing on ships . Navigation far north . Search and Rescue in the Arctic 25 Sustainable use of petroleum and renewable resources at sea • Research is necessary to understand the potential threats to fisheries from oil spill and seismic activities • Education of seafarers on particular elements of Arctic operations must be provided • International regulations are necessary to ensure safe transport of oil and gas to the consumers • Close cooperation with Russia is necessary • A significant increase in shipping activities is expected as a result of the petroleum activities • We expect changes in fish breeding grounds as a result of climate change 26 27 Business development onshore infrastructure • Norway in general and Northern Norway in particular have a large portion of Small and medium sized enterprises. • There is a need for more focus on research based businesses, and commercialization of research • UiT started last year a Master in Business Creation and Entrepreneurship • University of Tromsø School of Business now hosts 1.000 students 28 Sovereignty and cross border co-operation • Co-operation with Russia in the Barents
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