International Polar Conference: “Arctic and Antarctic Science Cooperation in a Changing World”

Conference will bring together scientists and experts from around the globe to discuss the ongoing changes in the Arctic and Antarctic regions and their impact on the environment and society.

The primary goal of the event is to share experiences and knowledge regarding the transformations occurring in the polar regions and to raise awareness of their global impact. Estonians, in collaboration with international partners, have significantly contributed to scientific research in polar regions.

Additionally we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Estonian Polar Club, which operates by the Estonian Maritime Museum.

The conference will feature speakers from various countries, including Norway, Finland, Sweden, Chile, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Canada, and Estonia.

Agenda (Conference is in English):

Conference Day 1 (28.11.2024)
8:30-9:30 Registration and coffee
9:30-10:00 POLAR CONFERENCE OPENING
10:00-12:00 RESEARCH IN SVALBARD
12:00-13:00 Lunch and networking
13:00-15:00 INFLUENCES IN POLAR RESEARCH
15:00-15:30 Coffee break and networking
15:30-17:00 PANEL DISCUSSION: POLAR DIPLOMACY

18:30-19:30 Possibility to explore Seaplane Harbour exhibitions (with Gala Dinner pass only)
19:30-23:00 GALA DINNER in Seaplane Harbour (hosted by Estonian Maritime Museum and Estonian Polar Club)

Conference Day 2 (29.11.2024)
9:30-10:00 Registration and coffee
10:00-12:00 ANTARCTICA TODAY AND TOMORROW
12:00-13:00 Lunch and networking
13:00-15:00 INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN ARCTIC
15:00-15:30 Coffee break and networking
15:30-17:20 THE FUTURE OF POLAR RESEARCH
17:20-18:00 End of Conference

Speakers:

9:30-10:00 POLAR CONFERENCE OPENING (Day 1)
Andres Kollist (EE), President of the Estonian Polar Club - Conference opening and Welcoming Speech
Minna-Liina Lind (EE), Undersecretary for Global Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia - Small Nations in Polar Cooperation – Responding to the Challenges of the 21st Century

10:00-12:00 RESEARCH IN SVALBARD (Day 1)
Lauri Laanisto (EE), Professor, Estonian University of Life Sciences - Plant Ecology in the Arctic: Intraspecific Functional Trait Variability in Plants, and Why is it Good to Study it in the Arctics
Petr Macek (CZ), Researcher in Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences - Arctic Tundra Communities of Central Svalbard in a Changing Climate
Maarja Kruusmaa (EE), Professor and Computer Scientist, Tallinn University of Technology - Novel Measurement Techniques for Glacial Meltwater Pathways and Coastal Dynamics: Field Experiments in Svalbard
Martin Liira (EE), Senior Geologist in Marine Geology, Geological Survey of Estonia, University of Tartu - Seafloor Sediments in the Arctic: Why Do They Matter?
Riko Noormets (NO/EE), Professor, Marine Geology and Geophysics, The University Centre of Svalbard (UNIS) - Living on the Edge: 16 years of research and teaching in Svalbard

13:00-15:00 INFLUENCES IN POLAR RESEARCH (Day 1)
Katrin Savomägi (EE), CEO, The Estonian Polar Club - 40 Years of the Estonian Polar Club
Fridtjof Mehlum (NO), Chairman, Norwegian Polar Club - The Norwegian Explorer Hans Hendrik Hansen and His Arctic Adventures
Valur Ingimundarson (IS) , Professor of Contemporary History, University of Iceland - The Arctic and Nation-Branding: The Political Framing of the Arctic Circle Assembly.
Rachael Gosnell (US), Commander, US Navy Military Professor, Strategic Security Studies - US Strategic Approach to the Arctic.
Anneli Poska (EE), Senior Researcher, Geologist and Paleoecologist, Institute of Geology at the Tallinn University of Technology and Annika Saarto (FI) Biodiversity Unit Manager, Ph.D. University of Turku - Long-Term Effects of Climate Warming on Biotic Interactions in a Sub-Arctic Ecosystem
Hele Kiimann (EE), Leading Researcher, Estonian Maritime Museum/Senior Lecturer, Uppsala University - Field research stations, sustainable development, and knowledge production in the North Rationale.
Heikki Junninen (EE), Professor of Environmental Physics, University of Tartu and Mikko Sipilä (FI), Professor, Ph.D. Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) - Aerosols without Borders

15:30-17:00 PANEL DISCUSSION: POLAR DIPLOMACY (Day 1)
Kersti Kaljulaid (EE), President of Estonia 2016-2021,
Rodrigo Olsen Olivares (CL), Secretary General Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile,
Aveliina Helm (EE), Scientific Adviser, Ministry of Climate of Estonia,
Ole Arve Misund (NO), Special Advisor, Norwegian Polar Institute,
Valur Ingimundarson (IS) , Professor of Contemporary History, University of Iceland.
Moderated by Toomas Kokovkin (EE) , Member of Estonian Polar Club

10:00-12:00 ANTARCTICA TODAY AND TOMORROW (Day 2)
Jonne Kotta (EE), Professor in Marine Ecology, Estonian Marine Institute at the University of Tartu - Towards Developing an Ecological Digital Twin of the
Antarctic Marine Environment
Nelson Valdiva Lahsen (CL), Professor at the Institute of Marine and Limnological Sciences, University Austral of Chile - Research Centre: Dynamics of High Latitude Marine Ecosystems — Responding to the Challenges of Global Change in the Southern Ocean
Priit Tisler (FI/EE), Senior Research Scientist, Ph.D. Finnish Meteorological Institute / FINNARP - Summer Seasons in Dronning Maud Land
Robert Keith Headland (UK) Polar Historical Geographer, Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge - Changes Through Local Livelihoods in Antarctica

13:00-15:00 INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN ARCTIC (Day 2)
Indrek Park (US/EE), Estonian Linguist and Anthropologist, American Indian Research Institute at the University of Indiana - Indigenous Language Loss in the Arctic: Immediate Concerns
Vladislava Vladimirova (SE), Associate Professor at the Department of Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology, Uppsala University - Decolonizing the Sustainable Development Goals: Community Perspectives, Social Justice and the Challenges of Pluralism
Liivo Niglas (EE), Researcher, Department of Ethnology at the University of Tartu Arctic Studies Centre - Ethnographic Fieldwork with a Video Camera in the Arctic
Jean-Loup Rousselot (FR), Guest Lecturer, Estonian University of Arts - The Dispersion of Alaskan Ethnographic Collections in Europe
Thomas Barry (IS), Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Akureyri
Aimar Ventsel (EE), Associate Professor and Senior Researcher, Department of Ethnology at the University of Tartu, Arctic Studies Centre - (Post) Colonialism and Arctic Indigenous people
Riikka Karpinen (FI), Member of the Board of the Arctic Society of Finland and the Regional Council of Lapland - The Green Transition Threatens the Arctic

15:30-17:20 THE FUTURE OF POLAR RESEARCH (Day 2)
Maria Huntsaar (EE), MSc in Arctic Biology - Young Researchers and Open Polar World

PANEL DISCUSSION: The Future of Polar Research and Conclusions of the Polar Conference
Urmas Paet (EE), Member of European Parliament,
Riko Noormets (EE), Professor, Marine Geology and Geophysics, The University Centre of Svalbard (UNIS),
Fridtjof Mehlum (NO), Chairman, Norwegian Polar Club,
Robert Keith Headland (UK), Polar Historical Geographer, Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge,
Vladislava Vladimirova (SE), Associate Professor at the Department of Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology, Uppsala University,
Jonne Kotta (EE), Professor in Marine Ecology, Estonian Marine Institute at the University of Tartu,
Moderated by Andres Kollist (EE), President of the Estonian Polar Club.

See you in Tallinn 28.-29. November!