Fulbright Arctic Initiative IV

Frekari upplýsingar

Upplýsingar um verkefnið og umsóknarferlið, sem og skilyrði sem umsækjendur verða að uppfylla má finna hér fyrir neðan á ensku, en jafnframt má hafa samband við [email protected] ef frekari spurningar vakna. Tekið skal fram að endanlegir þátttakendur skuldbinda sig til að taka þátt í öllum fundum verkefnisins, bæði rafrænum og í eigin persónu, eins og lýst er hér að neðan:

Fulbright Arctic Initiative IV seeks to support research through an interdisciplinary, collaborative model that will inform policy and support a more secure, just, and sustainable Arctic future. This includes approaches that value the assets and potential of Indigenous and Northern communities and focuses on the strength of bringing together scholars from diverse cultural backgrounds, trainings, and disciplines to collaborate on topics of importance to the Arctic. Potential applicants are encouraged to review products from the first three cohorts of FAI scholars and agenda setting documents coming from the U.S. Arctic Research Plan, Arctic Council Working Groups, current and past Arctic Council Chairship programs, and documents from Indigenous People’s Organizations representing Arctic stakeholders. Program participants will focus their research on one of the following Fulbright Arctic Initiative themes:

• Climate Change and Arctic Resources
• Arctic Security and Governance
• Mental Health and Well-Being

Outstanding scholars and practitioners from the U.S. and the other seven Arctic Council member states participate in the program as Fulbright Arctic Initiative Scholars through an open, merit-based competition. At least four of the scholars will be selected from the United States and at least one scholar from Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and Sweden. Co-Lead Scholars will provide intellectual leadership and guidance throughout the program, in addition to mentoring program participants, connecting program scholars to other international experts, and facilitating discussion and collaboration among the scholars.

Eligibility

Successful candidates will include scholars at all career stages, to include applied researchers, professionals, and Indigenous and traditional knowledge experts active in the academic, public or private sectors that demonstrate outstanding qualifications and a record of experience and accomplishment in an area clearly related to one of the designated research themes. Applicants must be actively engaged in an area of inquiry relevant to the program’s themes and objectives, be open to exploring and incorporating comparative, interdisciplinary approaches in their investigations, and interested in developing collaborative activities with other Fulbright Arctic Scholars.

• Applicants must be citizens of Iceland and residing in the country at the time of application. Icelandic applicants who have dual‐U.S. citizenship or who hold permanent residency “green cards”, whether or not they reside in the U.S., are not eligible.
• A Ph.D. or equivalent professional/terminal degree is preferred. For professionals and practitioners outside academia, recognized professional standing and substantial professional accomplishments are required.
• Preference will be given to early or mid-career academics, applied researchers and/or professionals with research experience in the public, non-profit, or private sectors.
• Applicants should have particular expertise and relevant experience in one of the identified research areas and be willing to develop new collaborative research with other members of their thematic group.
• Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English.

A number of factors will be taken into account when applications are evaluated, including: traditional criteria for academic and professional excellence, compelling research methodology, relevance of applicant’s previous research, training, and experience to proposed project area(s), ability of the applicant to work as part of an interdisciplinary team, necessity of conducting research in the United States and the overall strengths of the applicant and application in comparison with others in the applicant pool. Further, the exchange experience should be of intrinsic value to the scholar as well as to the scholar’s home institution.

Length and Timelines

Program activities will commence in Autumn 2024 and conclude in 18 months, in April 2026. All grantees are expected to attend three seminar group meetings, complete a research visit to the U.S. for a minimum of six consecutive weeks and a maximum of three consecutive months, participate in monthly virtual plenary meetings, and maintain ongoing virtual communication with fellow grantees and lead scholars. The research visit must be completed prior to January 2026.

Timeline:

• March 1, 2024 – Application Deadline
• April 2024 – Short-listed candidates invited to submit video recording
• May 2024 – Finalists notified of selection decisions
• June 2024 – Virtual Pre-Departure Orientation
• September 8-14, 2024 – Opening Group Meeting (Norway)
• June 2025 – Mid-year Group Meeting (TBD)
• April 2026 – Final Group Meeting (Washington, DC)

FAI IV scholars will be expected to actively participate in diverse learning environments.  The components of this Fulbright opportunity include:

• Monthly Webinars. Scholars will be expected to attend and actively participate in monthly webinars aimed at increasing awareness of Arctic research and policy issues as well as increasing the capacity to collaborate in interdisciplinary groups. Monthly webinars will include presentations and discussions on a range of topics relevant to the Arctic context including, but not limited to the use of mixed methodologies and Indigenous research practices in research; community engaged scholarship and building multilateral collaborative partnerships; research ethics across interdisciplinary investigative teams; and policy advocacy. In addition, over the course of the 18-month program, each thematic group will a take a lead in organizing and facilitating one or two of the monthly webinars that is related to their thematic group topic. The Arctic Fulbright Commissions will also have the opportunity to lead a webinar on a topic relevant to their respective country’s Arctic priorities.
• Thematic Group Collaboration. A significant component of FAI is to collaborate in interdisciplinary thematic groups to develop actionable policy recommendations for Arctic policy makers. Therefore, scholars must demonstrate the interest, capacity, and skills to collaborate in thematic groups across disciplines, diverse knowledge systems, as well as cultural and linguistical differences. Specifically, in their thematic group, scholars will be expected to produce: 1) one white paper based on the research in the thematic group’s area of expertise as it pertains to their thematic group topic; 2) a collaboratively written policy brief based on their group work and white papers; 3) three to five community listening sessions organized by each thematic group in communities of their choosing to gather input and feedback on each group’s policy recommendations; and 4) one joint manuscript for publication that is based on the findings from their group’s white paper and policy brief.  Scholars will be expected to develop their policy recommendations with some level of community engagement through town hall meetings, community-centered workshops, and/or some form of engagement that creates the opportunity for communities’ voices to shape/influence each group’s policy recommendations.
• In-Person Meetings. Scholars will be expected to attend three in-person meetings over the course of the 18-month program. The first two in-person meetings are designed to provide scholars with the opportunity to work together on their thematic group topic and products with in-person mentorship from the Co-Lead Scholars and other members of the FAI IV leadership team. Scholars will receive training in how to establish group communication and work covenants for constructive collaboration and product development in interdisciplinary teams; what is interdisciplinary scholarship; why is it important to the Arctic; and how does it work, as well as how to work effectively on interdisciplinary teams to develop policy. In addition, during the first two in-person meetings, scholars will be exposed to relevant Arctic research and policy topics as well as the arts and local culture of the two host countries through discussions and events with policy makers, researchers, artists, museums, and universities from the host countries. The final in-person meeting takes place in Washington, D.C. with a series of events and meetings with Arctic policy officials and interface with the public to provide the opportunity for the scholars to showcase their thematic group collaborations on policy development and recommendations and the research from their individual exchange programs.
• Individual Exchange Visit. Each scholar will participate in an individual exchange visit of a minimum of six consecutive weeks and maximum of three months to conduct research on a topic of their choosing and to serve as a cultural and scientific ambassador from their country of origin. U.S. scholars are eligible to conduct research that is relevant to their particular area of scholarship in one of the Arctic Council member states, excluding Russia. Non-U.S. scholars are eligible to go anywhere in the United States to conduct research that is relevant to their particular area of Arctic scholarship. The individual research exchange component is an opportunity for scholars to study and learn about the values, beliefs, and culture of their host country as well as to study a particular area of scholarship that will enhance and contribute to their existing work in a specific discipline that leads to innovation in their field. Scholars will be expected to demonstrate how their individual exchange visit will innovate their Arctic scholarship and will contribute to their skill set in their thematic group collaboration. For their individual exchange program, FAI IV scholars will be expected to submit one individual exchange report based on lessons learned from their exchange.

A.    Group Work

1. White Paper – January 2026
2. Policy Brief – February 2026
3. Community Listening Sessions – December 2025
4. Manuscript for Publication – April 2026

B.    Individual

1. Research Exchange Visit (1.5-3 months) – Between October 2024 and January 2026 (all exchange visits must be completed by January 2026)
2. Individual Exchange Report – due February 2026
3. Poster for public exhibition – due February 2026

Grant Provisions

• Scholars will receive funding in the amount of USD 40,000 (or an equivalent amount in local currency). This allowance is intended to support travel to all program meetings, travel and maintenance for the individual exchange visit, research materials and assistance for grantees only.
• Accommodations and meals for all group meetings will be covered separately.
• Grants will also include limited accident and sickness benefits.

Application Notes

All applicants must complete and submit an online application:

• Visiting Scholars: https://apply.iie.org/arctic

The following materials comprise a complete Arctic Initiative application:

• Application form
• Statement of purpose (three to five pages)
• Bibliography (up to three pages)
• Curriculum vitae (up to six pages)
• Letters of recommendation (two)
• Letter of invitation (recommended but not required)

* Applicants are welcome to provide a letter of invitation from a potential host institution. Scholars without proposed affiliations can be assisted by the Fulbright Commission, Arctic Initiative Lead Scholars and/or IIE in finding appropriate hosts.

Research proposals must fall within one of three inter‐related areas:

Theme #1: Climate Change and Arctic Resources 
Given the impact of climate change and increase in extractive industries in the Arctic, there is a need to understand how climate change affects access to and use of Arctic resources. Further, geopolitics in the Arctic and local Arctic governance structures influence decision making about resources in Arctic communities. The rich natural resources of the Arctic are the basis for livelihoods in the Arctic. At the same time, the Arctic region has considerable potential for economic development in connection with the global green transition.

Policy-relevant research questions on this theme could address questions such as:

1. How could resources from the Arctic be pivotal in driving innovation and maintaining global economic competitiveness? Critical raw minerals play a vital role in powering modern technologies, such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, advanced electronics, and defense technologies.
2. The Arctic region has a long history of “extractivism” which is entangled with colonialism and struggles over rights and resources. What can be learned from these historical and contemporary encounters of northern Indigenous communities with large-scale resource developments?
3. How can a green transition be just and how can local communities benefit from a green transition today? Could this development target the energy dependencies in the Arctic region? In other words, how can the Arctic become less fossil-fuel dependent and what could be the appropriate policy instruments to both support a green transition and climate action in a long-term perspective?
4. What are strategies for engaging communities and developing community-centered practices for sustainable resource development that also address issues of climate change relevant for sustainable livelihoods in the Arctic?
5. What role does the following play in the intersection of climate change, extractive industries, and sustainability: permafrost melt, water and air quality, environmental contaminants and hazards, and/or natural/manmade disasters such as wildfires, oil spills, and mining accidents play? Furthermore, how can innovative research models that prioritize co-production of knowledge, partnerships, and collaborations address this complex intersection?

Theme #2: Arctic Security and Governance
The Arctic region benefits from innovative models of bilateral and multi-lateral international cooperation. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in addition to the present threat of climate change, bring urgency to further developing and strengthening Arctic governance structures and multifaceted partnerships that support Arctic security and attend to the geopolitics of the Arctic Region. Further, Arctic security comes in multiple forms, including human security, environmental security, energy security, and the security of Indigenous peoples of the Arctic and their traditional cultures and livelihoods. The concept of Arctic security becomes more nuanced, complex, and precarious with political conflicts in the Arctic region. Public diplomacy plays an important role in activating diverse stakeholders on Arctic security issues and can contribute to honoring Indigenous sovereignty and diplomatic dynamics in Arctic politics, particularly as it relates to concepts of Indigenous sovereignty in the Arctic.

Policy-relevant research on this theme could address questions such as:

1. How will Arctic nations, inter-governmental organizations like the Arctic Council, and communities navigate the current unfolding events? Can new security actors be identified in the years to come?
2. How can be conceptualize,  discuss, and promote Arctic security?
3. What is the construction of security in contemporary Arctic politics and how can community-based experience and resources be integrated in security policies?
4. What could be the pathways and models for regional-local cooperation and partnership?
5. What are strategies to develop capabilities for expanded Arctic activity that promote the multidimensional components of what security signifies to Arctic communities?
6. How can stability and constructive cooperation be promoted in the Arctic region between the Arctic nations and within individual Arctic countries?
7. How can we advance our understanding of the role of shipping as these Sea Route become more economically important?
8. More cruise tourism and the evolving economic importance of new  Sea Route push for a better understanding of Arctic marine operations. Thus, what is the Arctic shipping emissions inventories and future scenarios for growth of shipping in the region?
9. What can be learned from  historical encounters when thinking about security in the Arctic?
10. What is the evolving nature of sovereignty in the Arctic and related securitizing moves?
11. What are the rights of Indigenous peoples in Arctic policymaking with regard to security?
12. How do the impacts of climate change on Arctic communities, lifestyles and livelihoods influence security in the Arctic and what are ways to mitigate these impacts?

Theme #3: Mental Health and Well-Being 
The mental health and well-being of Arctic citizens are impacted by the consequences of Arctic security, development, and climate change on individuals, families, and communities. Furthermore, the daily stress of changes in livelihood, the impacts of climate change, colonialization on traditional life pathways, economic and educational pressures, out-migration to larger cities, and increasing geopolitical tensions in the region influence mental health and well-being in the Arctic. Arctic communities are grounded in diverse Indigenous and local traditions, values, and beliefs, and languages that foster family, kinship, sharing, consensus building, and community connectedness. In addition, vibrant natural environments and rich ecosystems continue to promote thriving Arctic communities. These cultural and environmental elements also influence mental health and well-being in the Arctic.

Policy-relevant research questions on this theme could address questions such as:

1. What are specific indications of how the intersection of cultural, social, environmental and political security concerns of the Arctic, intertwine with the impacts of climate change in the region, impact mental health and well-being?
2. How can community practices, perspectives, and priorities be integrated into mental health prevention and treatment that promotes human well-being?
3. How can families, schools, and agencies be engaged in promoting positive mental health and well-being in their communities?
4. What multi-level intervention designs, frameworks, and methods might address the complex interconnectedness of mental health and well-being in diverse Arctic populations?
5. How can land-based healing practices be promoted and integrated into mental health and well-being in the Arctic?
6. What strategies or steps can be taken to incorporate the natural and/or built environment to support mental health and well-being in Arctic communities?
7. How can the cumulative effects of multiple risks be assessed and analyzed in the Arctic in a way that brings together the medical, social, natural and physical sciences and humanities to improve the mental health and well-being of people living in the Arctic?
8. What are innovative approaches to mental health and well-being that include youth, families, elders, communities, and policy makers?