People have lived in the Arctic for thousands of years, learning how to survive in extreme and changeable environments, and sharing this knowledge in spoken stories passed down through generations.
Adapting to the Arctic
People have lived in the Arctic for thousands of years, learning how to survive in extreme and changeable environments, and sharing this knowledge in spoken stories passed down through generations. Yet in the last few centuries, this ability to adapt has been tested by faster changes in climate, society, and technologies than ever experienced before. Research in the humanities and social sciences helps us understand both the past and the present of the Arctic, so that better decisions can be made about the future of this region, in ways that support both the people who live there and the planet as a whole. This research is done in many ways.
Traditions, language and science
When Arctic regions were colonised, a lot of important traditional knowledge and ways of life were pushed aside by the settling populations.
Today, historians, linguists and archaeologists are helping to uncover and protect these important traditions, for example helping Arctic communities to revitalise local languages like Yu’pik in Alaska, and North Sámi in Norway. These languages are both an important part of culture, and contain important stories and concepts that cannot always be easily translated.
Through communication and collaboration, Indigenous hunters and scientists have been able to protect bowhead whale populations in the waters between Alaska and Russia, for example, by combining traditional knowledge with modern scientific techniques to monitor their numbers.
Social and economic research
Social and economic research is playing a role in helping find ways that new industries and technologies can be used by northern communities to create healthy local economies that match with local values. This includes using renewable energy to power remote communities in Canada, or building data centres in Greenland that use the cold Arctic air to keep technology cool, saving energy. Geopolitical research is also looking at how governments, Indigenous communities, and international organisations can work together meaningfully to take care of the Arctic, as many environmental and social changes go beyond the borders of just one country.