NEWS Happy holidays from the Arctic Centre! 2025 has had so many positive outcomes for Arctic research and the education community at Umeå University. As we reflect on the year, we have gathered some samples of Arctic research and education news from the University.
As we approach the final days of the academic term before the holidays, I thought it would be a good opportunity to reflect on 2025. The year has had so many positive outcomes for Arctic research and the education community at Umeå University. Sadly, includes the loss of a dear friend, Dieter Müller (1968-2025), who was greatly respected by many at the University and the Arctic Centre. Despite this loss, Arctic research has never been on firmer ground at the University, in large part due to the vision, openness, and mentorship of Dieter. As we reflect, it is impressive to consider all the places his vision reached. Below you will find a sample of Arctic research and education news from the University.
– Keith Larson, Director of the Arctic Centre
The year began with the implementation of the Swedish government’s 2025–2028 research bill, which designated polar research a strategic national priority, emphasising climate change, geopolitics, and sustainability. The bill includes funding for a dedicated Polar Strategic Research programme and a Polar Graduate School.
On 1 January, the European Polar Board (EPB) and the European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO) relocated from the Netherlands to Umeå University. Their presence significantly strengthens the University’s and Sweden's coordination of Arctic and Antarctic research, as well as its national and regional policy development. This coincides with Peter Sköld, the former Director of the Arctic Centre, assuming the Chairmanship of the EPB board.
Also in January, Charlotta Svonni, a postdoctoral researcher at Várdduo – Centre for Sámi Research, Umeå University, was awarded the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) Indigenous Fellowship. Charlotta joined the Social & Human Working Group, as her research encompasses Indigenous education, both historically and in the present. As an IASC Indigenous Fellow, she was also invited to join the IASC Standing Committee on Indigenous Involvement.
"I am extremely happy to have received this Fellowship. It means that I get international exposure by participating in IASC's working groups. At the Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW), I also got the opportunity to present my research to a global audience and receive valuable feedback. It is a fantastic opportunity to build international networks and collaborate with prominent researchers, which can lead to future collaborations and projects," Charlotta Svonni says.
At the School of Architecture, Julio Diarte Almada and Elena Vazquez Peña initiated their new project, "Building with Ice," to explore low-tech Arctic architecture. The project explores the use of ice as a sustainable building material. By combining advanced digital design tools with simple, reusable materials, they are developing new methods for shaping ice into robust, temporary structures – with potential applications in Arctic architecture and emergencies.
In Geography, Charlotta Hedberg initiated her project “Channelling temporary migration to the New Green North”. Her research examines the impact of temporary migrant workers on communities in northern Sweden during the green transition. The focus is on the social and economic effects of labour mobility in the Arctic region, aiming to contribute to sustainable working conditions and strengthen local communities during this global transformation.
The Kamprad Family Foundation awarded researchers Dieter Müller, Linda Lundmark, and Marco Eimermann a 6.8 million SEK grant to study the “Double-Edged Sword of Globalisation”. The project explores workforce integration in Arctic Sweden's tourism sector. Facing the challenges of globalisation, the tourism sector in Arctic Sweden is at a crucial crossroads. The traditionally locally anchored workforce is no longer sufficient; now, the focus is shifting globally to solutions. Can international labour be the key to success for the rural tourism industries?
At the Bildmuseet, Daisy Ginsberg, in collaboration with researchers from Umeå University, presented an exhibition with AI-generated birdsong under an artificial dawn sky. Machine Auguries warns of our infatuation with technology at the expense of nature. Using thousands of field recordings of local and migratory birds, Daisy has trained a pair of neural networks – a form of machine learning – to sing like these different bird species. We are no longer sure what is real as the chorus falls silent at the end of the work.
In February, Umeå University hosted the Canadian Ambassador to Sweden, Jason LaTorre, for a presentation on Canada’s newly launched Arctic Foreign Policy. The event brought together Arctic researchers, university leaders, and representatives from multiple research centres to discuss shared challenges and explore opportunities for collaboration between Canada and Sweden.
Ulf Hedestig and Mikael Söderström received funding for their new research project, “MINDSET”, which aims to promote innovation addressing societal challenges among local and regional actors in the Northern Periphery and Arctic region (NPA). The objective of MINDSET is to strengthen innovation capacity in the NPA area by introducing mission-oriented innovation methods tailored to regional and local needs.
A new book edited by Carina Keskitalo, at the Department of Geography, “Understanding Human–Nature Practices for Environmental Management”, addresses how we should comprehend and manage nature in an era characterised by climate change, global policies, and increasing exploitation. It suggests that part of the answer lies in people’s daily relationships with the landscape—through local practices, customs, and historical experiences. One chapter, written by Dorothee Bohn, also at the Department of Geography, examines how the concept of “untouched nature” is portrayed in tourism within Arctic environments. Through an analysis of resort marketing, she demonstrates how images of wilderness are crafted to align with tourists’ expectations—images that often stand in stark contrast to the way local communities live and utilise the same landscapes.
Researcher Eric Capo initiated a new project, "Biodiversity and Lake Analysis via a Drone-Enabled Environmental DNA Approach." The project aims to collect water samples from numerous Swedish lakes using a groundbreaking method to extract environmental DNA from the lake water samples. This is achieved by utilising a waterproof drone outfitted with a water sampler. This will enable the large-scale analysis of a landscape with minimal effort, compared to carrying boats to remote areas and disturbing the ecosystems being studied. The novel approach has been conducted elsewhere, but this is the first time in Sweden, and it’s the Arctic and sub-Arctic lakes.
In early May, the Arctic Centre and the European Polar Board jointly hosted a high-level gathering, “European Polar Research in Focus”, addressing the increasingly entangled questions of security, diplomacy, sustainability, and Indigenous rights across the polar regions. Umeå emerged as a strategic meeting ground for shaping Europe’s future role in the Arctic and Antarctic. By convening key actors around the upcoming International Polar Year and the UN Decade for Cryospheric Sciences, the University affirmed its position as a hub for collaboration, coordination, and critical knowledge production.
Later in May, Arctic Centre researchers participated in the grand opening of the exhibition “Broken Greenhouse – Embodied Climate Futures”, made by artist duo Bigert & Bergström. The exhibition was inspired by research conducted by the Climate Impacts Research Centre in Abisko and was held at the Botanic Garden in Lund. The greenhouse played a central role, inviting visitors on an immersive journey through the garden and into the future. Based on the UN’s Shared Socioeconomic Pathways for the year 2100, five dramatic sculptural greenhouses were placed throughout the garden. Each greenhouse represented a potential climate future for visitors to explore—from the “green way” to the “highway” — offering a chance to reflect on the challenges posed in each of these scenarios. The exhibition will be presented at Skellefteå’s Society Expo in May 2026 and then spend the summer at the Botanical Garden in Stockholm.
Robert Lundmark and Jon Petter Stoor at Psychology and Miguel San Sebastián at Epidemiology at the research network Lávvuo-EpiGH for work-related health and safety risks among reindeer herding Sámi, received funding from FORTE for their project "Birgehallan boazodoalus: Development and implementation of a prototype for managing occupational health and safety risks in reindeer herding".
Christina Storm Mienna, Director of Várdduo – Centre for Sámi Research at Umeå University, was elected new Secretary of the UArctic Assembly held in Inari, Finland, in June. She succeeds Lena Maria Nilsson, Research Coordinator at the Arctic Centre, who was thanked for her long-standing contributions to UArctic, spanning over a decade, most recently as Secretary.
In early summer, The Arctic Six university alliance released a joint position paper calling for a dedicated Arctic research programme in the European Union’s upcoming Framework Programme 10. The position paper was presented at the EU Arctic Forum to members of the European Commission. With the European Arctic undergoing rapid environmental, societal, and geopolitical change, the paper underscores the need for sustained EU investment in Arctic research and innovation to support climate adaptation, regional security, and a just green transition.
In the autumn, The Arctic Six appointed 14 new early-career research Fellows, who will undertake projects relevant to the Arctic from autumn 2025 through spring 2027. From Umeå University, two research fellows were appointed, Dorothee Bohn and Michel Rouleau-Dick.
Dorothee Bohn is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Geography. Her research focuses on sustainable business strategies for Arctic regions, aiming to map how innovation and specialisation strategies, particularly in tourism, can impact employment and adaptability in these regions.
Michel Rouleau-Dick is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Law. His research examines whether digital citizenship can safeguard against future threats and aims to provide solutions for protecting minorities, such as the Sámi, as well as populations in states threatened with extinction due to climate change.
Researcher Alexandra Rouillard co-led a study published in JBR Geosciences revealing that a warmer and wetter climate makes lakes more productive, which in turn leads to more methane being released from sediments. This comes at a time when research and policy focus on methane as a key greenhouse gas, which is more than 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide. The research demonstrates that Arctic lakes account for a significant share of global methane emissions; however, knowledge about the processes in northern lakes has been limited until now.
“The Arctic is already greening in response to the warmer and wetter climate, and longer summers up north, impacting the inputs of organic matter fuelling methane production in lakes”, says Alexandra Rouillard, Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, Umeå University.
The event “Truth, Reconciliation and Teacher Education in the Arctic,” held at Umeå University in August, brought together scholars and practitioners from across the Arctic and other Indigenous contexts to critically examine the role of teacher education in truth-telling, reconciliation, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge. Its primary aim was to foster cross-national dialogue on how teacher education systems can address colonial legacies, support Indigenous languages and cultures, and contribute to more just and inclusive educational practices. The programme highlighted comparative perspectives from the Nordic countries, Greenland, Canada, and Australia, underscoring the broader societal importance of education in the context of reconciliation processes. The event and its programme were developed and led by Björn Norlin, Arctic Six Chair at Umeå University, who played a central role in shaping its academic focus and collaborative framework.
On 18 September, doctoral student Paul Schmidt joined other researchers, policymakers, and experts gathered in Oslo for the Arctic Security Conference 2025 to address one central question: how to manage polarisation and fragmentation in the Arctic. The programme spanned climate change, geopolitical tensions, indigenous knowledge, and hybrid threats, underlining the urgent need for cooperation and research to inform decisions at every level. The day before the main conference, early-career researchers organised and led a series of workshops that set the stage for the discussions to follow. Although these sessions were officially separate, they felt very much like the first day of the conference – full of energy, exchange, and engagement – attracting a large and attentive audience.
“It was inspiring to see how early-career researchers were not only participating but actively driving the conversation forward. Their initiative gave the event an energy that carried into the entire conference,” says Paul Schmidt, doctoral student at the Department of Political Science and part of the Arctic Graduate School at Umeå University.
Department of Chemistry researchers, Angelo Sebaaly and Jean-Francois Boily, published an interesting paper on Arctic rivers in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Their research discovered that ice dissolves iron minerals more effectively than liquid water. The discovery could help explain why many Arctic rivers are turning rusty orange as permafrost thaws in a warming climate.
Later in September, Umeå University hosted the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) national conference for Sweden. The conference focused on the future of Arctic Sustainability Research. Early-career researchers from all disciplines and universities in Sweden came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities of Arctic research in relation to sustainability and indigenous perspectives. It was hosted by APECS Sweden Board members Rebecca Tapper and Freja Fagerholm, with funding and support from the Arctic Centre, UTRI, and Umeå University.
In October, the Arctic Centre evaluated the first cohort of the Arctic Six Chairs programme. This rector’s initiative programme created a fellowship for mid-to-senior career Arctic researchers, originally at the Arctic Five universities, from autumn 2022 to spring 2024. Through the Programme, researchers received support to create new networks and projects, further strengthening the Arctic research environment. The results include significant scientific achievements and have established a growing framework for collaboration in Arctic health, education, tourism, Indigenous studies, and governance. In addition, several participants have developed joint courses, publications and long-term partnerships that continue to strengthen northern cooperation.
Cathrine Norberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, emphasises: “The Arctic Six is a strategically important part of Umeå University’s work to advance research and education in the Arctic. The Chairs Programme demonstrates how long-term collaboration can foster academic cooperation and enhance our international presence. It helps us create the conditions for new knowledge that benefits the region and the wider Arctic community.”
The European Space Weather Week 2025 brought together scientists, engineers, policymakers and industry professionals from around the world in Umeå in late October. The conference focused on the latest developments in space weather research and its applications in forecasting, modelling and defence. The theme for “Technological Expansion of the Arctic: The New Frontiers of Space Weather” emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in better understanding and mitigating the effects of solar storms and geomagnetic disturbances – phenomena that can disrupt satellites, aviation, power grids, and communication systems.
“Hosting the conference in northern Sweden allows us to highlight the Arctic as a key region for understanding how space weather interacts with both the natural environment and technological systems,” says Audrey Schillings, Chair of the organising committee.
In November, the TAIGA Centre for Transdisciplinary AI Days focused on developing four themes to create more synergies, while also allowing new groups to participate actively. Each theme was strategically chosen to provide a recognisable profile for TAIGA and to connect with the university's strong research profiles. One theme, Arctic AI, addresses AI theory and systems explicitly connected to aspects of the Arctic, such as natural language processing for minority languages, e-health for isolated areas, and support for coping with climate change in the Arctic, among other examples.
Finally, the Arctic Centre has relocated to our new offices at A Working Lab in the Universum. In the autumn, former students who had participated in our Arctic art internships painted polar-themed murals in our corridor and offices. Come and see the beautiful artwork for yourselves. Anyone with an interest in Arctic or northern research on campus or their guests can use our unique environment.
APECS (Association of Polar Early Career Scientists). The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists is an organisation that aims to stimulate interdisciplinary and international research collaborations, while also developing effective future leaders in polar research, education, and outreach. Please visit the websites of APECS Sweden or APECS International to learn more about their organisations and membership information.
European Polar Board (EPB). The EPB is an independent organisation focused on major strategic priorities in the Arctic and Antarctic. EPB Members include research institutes, logistics operators, funding agencies, scientific academies and government ministries from across Europe.
European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO). Since its establishment in January 2025, the EPCO has served as a central point of contact for the European polar research community, policymakers, and decision-makers, including the European Commission. The office builds on the results of the two successful EU PolarNet projects. EPCO continues to coordinate two key platforms developed by the EU PolarNet: the EU Polar Cluster and the Catalyst Platform. These platforms enhance collaboration, communication, and synergy across the European Polar Research Community and various actors.
IASC (International Arctic Science Committee). IASC is a non-governmental, international scientific organisation. The Founding Articles committed IASC to pursuing a mission of encouraging and facilitating cooperation in all aspects of Arctic research, among all countries engaged in Arctic research, and in all areas of the Arctic region. Overall, the IASC promotes and supports leading-edge interdisciplinary research to foster a deeper scientific understanding of the Arctic region and its role in the Earth system.
Várdduo – Centre for Sámi Research at Umeå University, engages, coordinates and initiates new Sámi and Indigenous research.