Arctic Cooperation
University of the Arctic (UArctic) is a cooperative, multidisciplinary network of universities, colleges, research institutes and other organizations working together in education, research and knowledge sharing in and about the Arctic. Members are from the Arctic countries (Arctic members) and other countries in Europe and Asia (non-Arctic members).
The University of Oulu is one of the founding members of the UArctic and has a vital role in both the leadership of UArctic and in developing joint activities and networks.
Jouko Niinimäki serves as the Executive Vice President of UArctic. Docent Mervi Heikkinen (Faculty of Education) is the Primary Council representative and docent Harri Saarnisaari (Centre for Wireless Communications CWC) is the Alternate Council representative from the University of Oulu. Alun Hubbard is the UArctic Chair in Cryospheric Science and Arja Rautio is the UArctic Emerita Chair in Arctic Health.
UArctic has 70 Thematic Networks and 3 Institutes, which provide a collaborative framework for the development of education and research infrastructures, and the knowledge generation on topical Arctic issues.
University of Oulu is leading the following Thematic Networks:
- Arctic Space Hub
- Arctic Migration
- Arctic Telecommunications and Networking
- Arctic Water
- Communicating Arctic Research
- Gender in the Arctic Knowledge Production
- Health and Well-being in the Arctic
- Natural Hydrogen
- Terrestrial Biodiversity Monitoring
University of Oulu is a partner in 19 other Thematic Networks:
- Ageing and Gender in the Arctic
- Arctic AI
- Arctic Plastic Pollution
- Arctic Sustainable Resources and Social Responsibility
- Arctic WASH
- Circular Economy
- Decolonization of Arctic Library and Archives Metadata (DALAM)
- Environmental Humanities
- Herbivory
- Managing Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in the North
- Nordic Snow Network (NordSnowNet)
- Northern Tourism
- Polar Research Analytics
- Renewable Energy
- Smart Societies in the High North (SmartNorth)
- Sustainable Arctic: Futures, Education and Research (SAFER)
- Sustainable Strategies for Waste Removal and Restoration of Arctic Mine Waste Areas (RAMWA)
- Teacher Education for Social Justice and Diversity in Education
- Working in the Arctic
The UArctic Thematic Networks Leadership Office is located at the Thule Institute. It supports Thematic Networks, which link educational, research and outreach activities in key issue areas. Besides the overall coordination of UArctic Thematic Networks, the office services aim to enhance research cooperation and improve conditions for funding.
Issues related to the Thematic Networks, including guidance for the establishment of the new ones are handled by the Vice-President networks Kirsi Latola and Manager of Thematic Networks Heli Niittynen.