Maria Osipova, a postgraduate student at the Institute of Finances and Economic, and Nina Keukey, a graduate of the Chukotka branch of North-Eastern Federal University, won a travel grant to attend the Arctic Futures 2050 Conference, which was held in Washington from September 4 to 6. The conference gathered Arctic scientists, representatives of indigenous peoples and politicians to make decisions regarding Arctic research in the coming decades.

Maria Osipova, a postgraduate student at the Department of Sociology and Personnel Management of NEFU IFE, has been studying for a PhD in the field of “Sociological Sciences” for 3 years, she writes a dissertation on truck drivers in Yakutia. “Visiting Nizhny Kolyma last year, I got interested in the indigenous peoples living in the Arctic. Hearing about the conference, I submitted an application for participation, which was approved for me,” shared Maria Osipova.

A conference of that nature is a new impetus for thoughts and research, an opportunity to meet scientists from all over the world, learn from their experience and share my own. “At the panel discussions, the speakers spoke about climate change in the Arctic, discussed practices and possible scenarios for the development of the Arctic regions,” she said.

Nina Keukey is a graduate of the Department of Software Development at the Faculty of Informatics and Computer Engineering of NEFU Chukotka branch. “I presented Chukotka and my native university with a poster presentation on the traditions, culture and nature of my homeland. The conference was aimed at combining the efforts of indigenous peoples, scientists and politicians. All three audiences must interact for the development of the Arctic. It is necessary to concentrate efforts together, because without the participation of one link, the plans will not be able to be fully and comprehensively implemented,” she shared.

The aim of the conference was to improve international relations. “Acquaintance with scientists studying the Arctic will be useful in the future to contribute to the preservation of the Arctic zone and the knowledge that the indigenous peoples of the world possess,” concluded Nina Keukey.

Reference:

The organizers of the Arctic conference are the Arctic Committee for Natural Change, the US Arctic Research Consortium, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the University of Michigan, Stantec, the National Consulate for Science and Nature.

Lectures and speeches of speakers can be seen here.