'There is no place better to discuss Arctic issues than Bodø in end of May! Almost 24 hours of daylight, mountains, the ocean, and Bodø Glimt is on top of the league in the Norwegian  premier division', remarks Andreas Østhagen, an FNI researcher native to Bodø. He highlights the distinctive character of this year’s conference, noting, 'What makes this conference unique is not just its size but also the organizers' commitment to maintaining a candid, North Norwegian approach to serious discussions — exemplified by our pubinar at Bodø’s only microbrewery'.

On Wednesday, The FNI researchers use the opportunity to gather international participants from different FNI Arctic oriented research projects for a workshop to discuss the Nordic countries’ security concerns in the Arctic, especially looking at their relations with NATO and the EU.

The Arctic Congress in Bodø is a one-time merger between three big Arctic conferences, overlapping with the Norwegian chair of the Arctic Council. It provides a platform for experts to discuss and shape the future of the Arctic amidst evolving geopolitical and environmental challenges. 

FNI's researchers play an important role in these discussions, providing insights into the complexities of Arctic governance and cooperation.

Panel Contributions by FNI Researchers

1. The Future of Arctic Shipping

   - Date & Time: Thursday, May 30, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM CEST
   - Location: Fram Cinema, Hall 2
   - FNI Researcher: Arild Moe
   - Details: Arild Moe discusses the future of Arctic shipping, focusing on the geopolitical tensions, environmental concerns, and the role of Arctic routes in global maritime logistics.

2. Localising Arctic cooperation during geopolitical turmoil and beyond

   - Date & Time: Thursday, May 30, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM CEST
   - Location: Scandic Bodø Hotel, Ambassadør 1
   - FNI Researcher: Andreas Raspotnik
   - Details: Andreas Raspotnik shares perspectives from the Arctic Urban Regional Cooperation Programme to help reconfiguring cooperation frameworks and advance a pan-Arctic understanding of shared priorities. 

3. Navigating Geopolitics and Governance in the Arctic

   - Date & Time: Thursday, May 30, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM CEST
   - Location: Stormen Library, Litteratursalen
   - FNI Researcher: Svein Vigeland Rottem, Andreas Østhagen (chair)
   - Details: Svein Vigeland Rottem and Andreas Østhagen contribute in the discussion on the implications of great power competition on Arctic governance, emphasizing the 
need for strengthened cooperation.

4. High North Hero 2024 and The High North Hero Seminar

   - Date & Time: Friday, May 31, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM CEST
   - Location: Stormen Concert Hall, Main Hall
   - FNI Researcher: Serafima Andreeva
   - Details: Serafima Andreeva participates in a panel discussing inter-generational perspectives on the High North, linking past achievements with future leadership.

5. China in the Arctic - the ArcGov project

   - Date & Time: Friday, May 31, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM CEST
   - Location: Kraft, Tollbugata 2
   - FNI Researchers: Iselin Stensdal, Gørild Heggelund
   - Details: Iselin Stensdal and Gørild Heggelund present their findings on China’s influence on Arctic governance mechanisms, highlighting the regional and global dimensions.

FNI Side event:

Bodø Arctic Geopolitics Pubinar

Join us for an informal pub-talk, organized by the Fridtjof Nansen Institute and High North Center at Nord University. This discussion, chaired by experts including Jennifer Spence and Andreas Østhagen, will delve into the increasing geopolitical dynamics and governance challenges in the Arctic. Scheduled for Thursday, May 30, from 7:30 PM to 8:45 PM at Bådin Brewery, the session offers a laid-back environment to explore critical regional issues and collaborative solutions. 

Scientific Sessions Featuring FNI Researchers

1. Science Communication in the Arctic – Practitioners & Scholars

   - Date & Time: Wednesday, May 30, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM CEST
   - Location: Fram Cinema, Room: Hall 1
   - FNI Researchers: Erdem Lamazhapov
   - Details: Erdem Lamazhapov shares insights into effective communication strategies that engage diverse audiences, including the integration of Indigenous knowledge in scientific discourse.

2. Collaboration Complexity in Nuclear Emergency Preparedness in the Maritime Arctic

   - Date & Time: Saturday, June 1, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM CEST
   - Location: Quality Hotel Ramsalt, Room: Ramsalt 3
   - FNI Researchers: Arild Moe, Serafima Andreeva
   - Details: This session addresses the complexities of emergency preparedness in the Arctic's maritime sector. Serafima Andreeva will talk about development of the Russian nuclear icebreaker fleet in the context of receding ice cover in the Arctic.