For the 6th time Reykjavik was a host of Arctic Circle Assembly. Within three extensive days, almost two-thousand participants gathered to Harpa and attended to plenaries and more than two-hundred breakout sessions to discuss on various topics, and to implement the interplay of science, politics and business.
TN on Geopolitics and Security was actively involved in Arctic Circle Assembly. The thematic network organized together with GlobalArctic project and International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASSA) six breakout sessions: The interplay between science, politics and business – experiences and learned lessons how to develop new arctic standards, protocols, services & technologies; The future of the arctic council: form and function; Paving the frozen silk road – eastern outlooks on arctic geopolitics and socio-economic development; Human security in the Barents region; Technology, open source software solutions and cooperation – the Arctic in critical security studies, and; Curriculum development for the GlobalArctic. In addition to breakout sessions Arctic Yearbook’s AY2018 Special Section: China & the Arctic (https://arcticyearbook.com) was published during the assembly.
TN’s influence in Arctic Circle assembly was not limited only to the events organized by the network. This year in the assembly’s plenaries and, in particular, the Opening session, applied so-called ‘Calotte Academy style’. The Calotte Academy style is a method that stresses that there is time allocated for questions and comments. Thus, the emphasis is on open and active dialogue between presenters and audience, which is often missing in conferences. This style is implemented in every activity that is organized by the TN on geopolitics and security and it has turned out to be popular and valuable asset.