Project Description
The second Arctic Youth Conference (AYC) will be held in Nuuk, Kalaallit Nunaat/Greenland in early 2027. APECS will leverage this important gathering of Arctic youth to advance youth engagement in Arctic research coordination through a workshop held under the AYC umbrella. The workshop will be co-organized with early career Arctic Indigenous individuals and will address two overarching themes:
- fostering early career and youth engagement in Arctic research policy and decision-making, and
- best practices in conducting and decolonizing Arctic research.
Organized by the Arctic Council Secretariat and the Kingdom of Denmark’s Chairship of the Arctic Council, AYC 2027 brings together Arctic youth aged 18–30 from diverse backgrounds. This unique setting provides participants with direct exposure to Arctic governance structures and key organizations, creating opportunities for networking and mentorship that are rarely available to Arctic youth. Our workshop will familiarize participants with the Arctic research coordination landscape and current engagement pathways and will facilitate discussions about enhancing future opportunities, with particular focus on IPY-5. Insights gathered during the workshop will directly inform the planning framework being developed by IPY Task Group 4, co-led by APECS and UArctic, ensuring that IPY early career engagement and capacity-building activities extend beyond academia to directly engage a broader Arctic youth audience.
Following the event, APECS will publish a summary report with key recommendations and conclusions from discussions held during the workshop. IASC cross-cutting funding supports logistical costs of the workshop, travel costs for organizers and early career/youth participants, and honoraria for Indigenous co-organizers. By fostering formative connections among Arctic youth, this workshop lays the foundation for stronger cooperation as participants advance into careers within Arctic research and governance.
Date and Location
Early 2027, Nuuk, Greenland
IASC Working Groups funding the project
- Atmosphere WG
- Cryosphere WG
- Marine WG
- Social & Human WG
Project Lead
Sarah Strand (Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) International Directorate, Norway)
Year funded by IASC
2026