Fulbright Arctic Initiative IV

Building on the scholarship of three previous cohorts of the Fulbright Arctic Initiative, Fulbright Arctic IV brings together a distinguished group of professionals, researchers, and practitioners from the United States, Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Over an 18-month period, participants will engage in monthly webinars, thematic group collaboration, three in-person meetings, and an individual exchange experience to advance research and policy discussions on Arctic security.

FAI IV fosters international cooperation by stimulating interdisciplinary research that addresses public-policy questions relevant to the Arctic nations. The program aims to enhance mutual understanding among member countries of the Arctic Council while contributing to sustainable and inclusive solutions that support a safe, healthy, and prosperous Arctic. Scholars will examine Arctic security through three thematic areas: governance and security, climate change and resources, and mental health and well-being.

Among the 20 scholars selected through a competitive, merit-based process are two researchers from the University of Akureyri, who contribute expertise from diverse fields. Rachael Lorna Johnstone, Professor at the Faculty of Law, focuses on just transitions in the Arctic, with an emphasis on Indigenous rights and governance frameworks. Sigrún Sigurðardóttir, Professor in the Faculty of Nursing, brings her expertise in trauma, stress, and suicide prevention related to gender-based violence, particularly in Arctic communities. These scholars, along with colleagues from across the Arctic, will collaborate through virtual and in-person meetings, advancing knowledge that informs policy and decision-making.

As part of the individual exchange component, each scholar will travel to another Arctic country to conduct research in their field while serving as a scientific and cultural ambassador. These exchanges foster collaboration between institutions, researchers, and local communities, strengthening academic and policy networks across the region.

The program will culminate in April 2026, when all participants will convene in Washington, D.C. to present their findings and policy recommendations to Arctic experts, decision-makers, and representatives of Arctic nations. By connecting scholars across disciplines and borders, Fulbright Arctic IV contributes to long-term international cooperation on some of the most pressing challenges facing the Arctic today.

Members

For unak:

Rachael Lorna Johnstone, professor, Faculty of Law, University of Akureyri
Sigrún Sigurðardóttir, professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Akureyri

Collaborators

Press

Fulbright Commission Iceland. (2024, February 14). Fulbright Arctic Initiative IV inaugural meeting in Norway. Fulbright Iceland.

Fulbright Program. (2024, February 21). Arctic Initiative scholars in the Norwegian Arctic. Fulbright Program.

Fulbright Commission Iceland. (2024, January 30). Three Icelandic scholars in Fulbright Arctic Initiative IV. Fulbright Iceland.

Vikublaðið. (2024, February 22). Fulbright Arctic Initiative IV verkefni – Tveir prófessorar við HA taka þátt. Vikublaðið.

Akureyri.net. (2024, February 15). Rachael og Sigrún fá rannsóknarstyrk Fulbright. Akureyri.net.