For more information on the 7th Circumpolar University Co-operation
Conference, 19-21 August 2001, go to the Circumpolar Universities
Association web site at: http://www.arctic.uit.no/cua/.
7th Circumpolar University Co-operation Conference
Tromsø, Norway
19-21 August 2001
CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this conference are to encourage increased interaction
among people of different cultures in the north and to exchange
traditional knowledge and academic learning in a closer partnership for
securing better management of the area in the future.
The scope of the conference is multidisciplinary. Presentations from all
scientific fields are invited.
THEME 1:
Environment and Resources Management
Dynamics of atmospheric-ocean coupling and impact on the Arctic
environment
- The North Atlantic Oscillation (NOA) variability
- Sea ice distribution and variability
- CO2 exchanges in the Arctic
Marine production - a condition for all life in the Arctic
- Coupled physical-biological processes
- "Hot spots" in marine production in the Arctic
- Pathways of energy fluxes between sea and land
Marine resources in the Arctic
- Exploited and non-exploited marine resources in the Arctic
- Climate variability and fisheries
- Impacts of anthropogenic activities on Arctic marine ecosystems
THEME 2:
Regional Co-operation and Survival in the North
This session will focus on social, political, and economical aspects of
co-operation.
How to improve cross-border trade, transport infrastructure, investment,
workforce mobility, cultural exchange, etc.
Experiences from utilisation of natural resources of the North such as
oil, gas, fisheries, forestry and mining, success or failure of
commercial joint ventures. Case studies and theoretical issues are
welcomed.
The Centre - periphery dichotomy has been predominant in many countries
in the North. Strategically based decisions have resulted in a planned
increase in the population in the circumpolar region. What problems does
the introduction of a market economy create?
Well-intended politicians have promoted the formal establishment of new,
and the revival of old, regions like the Barents region. What were the
aims of these initiatives and what success have they had?
THEME 3:
Telemedicine and Health Telematics
As a region, the Circumpolar areas provides several, if not most, of the
major reasons for telemedicine: Vast areas, long distances, scattered
population, harsh climate, difficulties with recruiting and keeping
health care professionals and indigenous people speaking various
minority languages. These conditions have forced the people living in
the Arctic to investigate new solutions to old challenges. In this
context telemedicine in the circumpolar regions has had better chances
to succeed than in urban areas.
This session calls for Telemedicine and Health Telematics experiences as
adequate means in providing health care services to the population.
Key-areas which should be addressed:
- Telecommunications Infrastructure in Sparsely Populated Areas
- Continuous Training Programmes
- Nomadic People Call for Mobile Telemedicine Services
- The Liability of International Telemedicine Services
THEME 4:
Northern Identities - Articulating the Circumpolar
In what way is 'the North' articulated as a component of the national
ideological, political, and economic strategy in countries
geographically defined as circumpolar?
How have the different Arctic rim nations used the term 'North' as a
symbol for the nation?
How is 'the North' expressed in the nations official and/or folk
narratives?
What does 'North' stand for in the context of each individual nation?
Has 'North' changed its meaning in the nation's history, and if so then
how has this taken place?
THEME 5:
Indigenous People
Indigenous resource management and control of territory is a fundamental
principle of "sustainable development."
As the Brundtland Report and follow-up Agenda 21 of the Rio Earth Summit
1992 clearly outlined, the traditional use, ecological knowledge, land,
sea, and freshwater rights, and their political and legal implications
must be clarified and asserted for the good of the whole world no less
than for its indigenous peoples.
This session will look at progress underway, identify problem areas,
share experience, and encourage cooperation and networking among
indigenous peoples rather than rely simply on fond hopes of goodwill
from national and sub-national governments.
THEME 6:
Higher Education in the Circumpolar North
Higher education in the circumpolar north is offered at a few
universities with full academic portfolio and many smaller colleges and
high schools. In order to make an academic carrier easier for young
people living in the North an initiative has been taken to form a
virtual university, The University of the Arctic.
In this network of education one is searching for a balance between
disciplinary and interdisciplinary courses. Interacting with different
cultures and educational systems needs flexibility and adjustment of
teaching accordingly. It is also a challenge to utilise the modern tools
for distant learning in an optimum pedagogical way and to adapt this to
the technological capacity of the different users.
We invite contributions to this session that can bring forward ideas
concerning some of the challenges referred to above.
CALL FOR PAPERS
You are hereby invited to submit original papers on topics of the
conference. The language of the conference is English and no translation
will be available. Prospective authors can submit an A4-page abstract of
their proposed paper, not later than 15 January 2001.
Abstracts must include sufficient details to permit their review and
selection. The author will be notified of the acceptance of the abstract
not later than 15 March 2001. Advanced acceptance can be given to
authors who need a confirmation before the end of the fiscal year 2000.
The complete papers should be submitted to the Organising Committee
before 30 June 2001 for review.
KEY DATES
Return response sheet by: 15 August 2000
Abstracts are due by: 15 January 2001
Authors will be notified not later than: 15 March 2001
Deadline for submitting papers is: 30 June 2001
For more information on this conference, go to the Circumpolar
Universities Association web site at:
http://www.arctic.uit.no/cua/.