Bridging Science, Art, and Community in the New Arctic

Abstract:

Transdisciplinary models of research are critical to address the complexity and magnitude of issues facing many Arctic communities, particularly due to the impacts of climate change, urbanization and economic transformation. Additionally, the various disciplinary or cultural contexts in which research is undertaken value different ways of knowing. Therefore, recognizing and communicating the plurality inherent in community-based research is an important first step toward the study and management of socio-ecological systems in the Arctic. In order to further the development of convergent research practice frameworks that can mutually benefit Arctic communities and scholars conducting transdisciplinary research, a three-day conference entitled Bridging Science, Art, and Community in the New Arctic was held in September 2019 at the University of Virginia. The conference aimed to develop a network for Arctic residents and researchers pursuing similar goals, facilitate knowledge exchange, and outline research practices that can generate mutual understanding and benefit. It further aimed to catalyse creative forms of communicating knowledge across multiple sectors and disciplines by integrating diverse voices and presentation formats into the conference structure, including musical performances, art exhibits, and film and storytelling by Alaskan youth participants (Arctic Youth Ambassadors program). Attendees of the conference came away with a broader understanding of the relationships between the natural and built environments in the Arctic, as experienced from multiple disciplinary and cultural viewpoints, as well as with various tool sets for communicating these viewpoints. Several challenges and opportunities for bridging disciplines and communities through research were discussed, and key insights were developed on 1) Communicating transdisciplinary knowledge, 2) Foregrounding indigenous knowledge, and 3) Sustaining convergent research that matters to communities.