PROTECT : Polar marine resources under shifting environmental conditions

Taking stock of shifting marine dynamics in polar environments : an interdisciplinary view into the Artic

About

Acknowledging that conservation of Arctic marine resources along with the ecological and economic systems upon which they depend, require more direct policy action to achieve multiple socio-economic and ecological goals, this event is bringing together expertise from a) different disciplines to identify key challenges and interdisciplinary pathways & b) Arctic and non-Arctic states. The workshop will serve as a horizon scoping exercise where besides ongoing research presented, participants will be challenged to identify new ways of addressing pressing research questions that contribute to an advanced understanding of the shifts in Arctic marine environments, social and ecological implications of those.

Key Objectives

The workshop aims at:

• Fostering interdisciplinary collaborations among participants, encouraging joint proposals and publications in Arctic research. This collaboration is intended to fortify the polar axis within the Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer and enhance the reputation of Arctic research at the Department of Sociology, Environmental and Business Economics, particularly within the international interdisciplinary Arctic research community.
• Inviting international experts in Arctic marine resource dynamics to stimulate collaborations, networking, and informed discussions on data and research topics relevant to participants’ expertise.
• Utilizing a hybrid workshop format that allows content to be repurposed for future student education. Recordings of plenary talks will be shared with relevant academic programs, integrating the workshop content into student learning.
• Engaging Master’s and PhD students, integrating both those involved as part of their curriculum and those expressing individual interest in the topic. Encourage participation of Indigenous representatives and engage students from diverse backgrounds.
• Allowing an open participation to researchers, stakeholders, and students interested in polar environments, acknowledging the potential for cross-learning between Arctic and Antarctic research.

Expected Outcomes

Some of the major expected outcomes of the PROTECT workshop are listed here:

• Foster stronger connections among researchers interested in Arctic studies, promoting knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Encourage collaborative work to address environmental challenges in polar environments, aligning with the growing recognition of the need for interdisciplinary solutions by research funders.
• Facilitate the formation of successful research proposals, strengthening Arctic expertise within involved laboratories.
• Enhance local expertise’s reputation by inviting international experts, facilitating potential international collaborations or participation in consortia.

Expected Impact

Artic issues are in the forefront of the EU policy agenda as reflected in the various published documents over the years on EU’s policy and strategies for the Arctic. We are therefore confident that this workshop falls directly within the interests of the EU and that the published outputs planned will help attract visibility to this Euromarine initiative and the organization itself. The published outputs will help attract international attention to the initiative as an increasing number of stakeholders beyond Arctic states keeps an eye on Arctic marine systems and their potential owing to the various geopolitical interests present.