Academia in Svalbard: an increasingly important role for research and education as tools for Norwegian policy. Issue 1 (1st January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Misund, Ole Arve
• Is Part Of: Polar research. Volume 36:Issue 1(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-01-01
• Subjects: Arctic -- higher education -- University Centre in Svalbard -- Svalbard Treaty -- geopolitics -- climate research; NPI: Norwegian Polar Institute -- SIOS: Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System -- SNSK: Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani -- SSC: Svalbard Science Centre -- SSF: Svalbard Science Forum -- UiT: University of Tromsø—the Arctic University of Norway -- UNIS: University Centre in Svalbard; Polar regions -- Research -- Periodicals; Polar regions -- Periodicals; 508.311
• DOI: 10.1080/17518369.2017.1308131
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0800-0395

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Svalbard, a High-Arctic archipelago over which Norway practises sovereignty in accordance with the terms of the Svalbard Treaty, has become an increasingly important area for Arctic research and higher education. There are four more or less permanent settlements with substantial research infrastructure, and a few manned observatories for special purposes. Several Norwegian and foreign research institutions have established stations and installations in the archipelago. With coal mining activity scaling down because of economic difficulties and lack of political support for subsidies, Norwegian policy will prioritize research and higher education as a way of maintaining Norwegian settlements in Svalbard. I give an overview of the institutions, organizations and facilities for research and higher education in Svalbard, and discuss the increasingly important role of research and education in Norwegian Svalbard policy.