Arctic Science Summit Week 2019

Arkhangelsk, Russia - May 2019

May 2019 - Currently writing from Russia while I attend the Arctic Science Summit Week in Arkhangelsk! I was invited to attend as a plenary speaker on one of the last days of the conference and I am so honored to have this opportunity to share my work. I presented for about an hour on my research on the role of Indigenous communities in conservation planning, especially as it pertains to a research project I have been conducting in partnership with the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna on wetland-related protected areas in the Arctic. Despite being close to the end of the conference, the turn out was quite good and afterwards I was approached several times about a few different Arctic research and conservation programs that might be interesting to affiliate with and share knowledge.

The one downside of the conference was that our Indigenous Peoples Day was cancelled at the last minute, so Indigenous peoples and allies from all across the Arctic and former Soviet republics came together and met anyways to discuss Indigenous perspectives on research in an impromptu session. While I may have met many new colleagues, I feel like I made lifelong friends.

As for Russia itself, Arkhangelsk is beautiful! I have been able to see so much of the city very much in part thanks to my friend (and personal guide) who is originally from town. Russia people are very kind and friendly so long as you’re not meeting in the middle of the street. I am very much looking forward to coming back!