Arctic Initiative Research Assistants Spotlight

HARRIS WEBER

Harvard Kennedy School, MPP Class of 2022

Share a few sentences about the work you did for the Arctic Initiative this year: This year, I supported the James J. McCarthy Leadership Seminar Series for Future Arctic Indigenous Leaders by helping local Arctic leaders develop their innovation ideas. In addition, I am a Course Assistant for IGA-671M, “Policy and Social Innovations for the Changing Arctic,” and look forward to working with students on their pitches for the Arctic Innovation Lab this January.

Why are you interested in the Arctic? With eight countries claiming territory in the region, the Arctic represents a place where geopolitical cooperation is paramount to tackle issues such as climate change. I was initially drawn to the Arctic Initiative because I wanted to explore these relationships in greater detail.

ANNICK STETA

Harvard Kennedy School, MC/MPA Class of 2021

Share a few sentences about the work you did for the Arctic Initiative this year: I was a summer research assistant with the Arctic Initiative from May to August 2021. During this time, my main task consisted in advancing research on a project aiming to use innovative financing strategies to fund community-driven infrastructure projects that promote the restoration and stewardship of Arctic wetlands. We focused on water and sewage infrastructure projects in the Bering Strait region of Alaska, which encompasses large areas of wetland habitats that support the lives and livelihood of Alaskan Native people. I also worked on Northern Lights, a podcast series led by Arctic Initiative Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr. Sarah Mackie. This podcast comprises episodes produced by students from all over the world who tell stories from around the Arctic.

Why are you interested in the Arctic? Until the beginning of my studies at the Kennedy School, I had very limited knowledge of issues pertaining to the Arctic. My interest in wildlife conservation was the main driver of my enrolling in Professor Logadóttir’s module on “Policy and Social Innovations for the Changing Arctic.” Through this module, I discovered that the Arctic was facing challenges pertaining to a large variety of fields. As I consider myself as a generalist with previous exposure to several academic fields, I was immediately interested in increasing my knowledge of this region.

What have you learned while working with Arctic Initiative? Prior to Harvard Kennedy School, I had studied natural resources and their effect on geopolitical tensions in the Arctic. Through the IGA-671M course and subsequent work with the Arctic Initiative, I have learned more about the Indigenous communities in the region as well as gained a more granular understanding of the effects of climate change.

How does this work fit into your career goals? After Harvard Kennedy School, I hope to use the analytical and quantitative skills I have developed in finance to serve the public good. Learning from mentors in the Arctic expert network, developing innovative ideas, and refining my presentation skills will prepare me well for any career.

What have you learned while working with Arctic Initiative? During my time with the Arctic Initiative, I met several Indigenous leaders and worked closely with one of them. I learned a lot about the difficulties of funding and carrying out an infrastructure project in a region where living conditions are particularly demanding. I was amazed by the commitment of Indigenous people to their culture and their community. Interacting with them was a privilege.

How does this work fit into your career goals? I took advantage of my time at the Kennedy School to prepare for the next step of my career: transitioning to a position at the intersection of economics, in which my background lies, and environmental policy. My work with the Arctic Initiative constituted a form of capstone project on which I will build over the coming years.

SHASHANK SINGH

Harvard Kennedy School, MPA Class of 2022

Share a few sentences about the work you did for the Arctic Initiative this year: As a research assistant with the Arctic Initiative, I worked with the team that helped organize the second biannual Arctic Resilience Forum. I had the opportunity to facilitate many conversations between experts, knowledge-holders, and other Arctic stakeholders about the resilience of Arctic communities and ecosystems. I then worked with the Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group to integrate the many insights from these conversations into the council’s work.

Why are you interested in the Arctic? The Arctic is likely to see some of the highest impacts from a warming climate and depleting biodiversity, and thus the Arctic’s resilience in responding to these challenges will define, guide, and inspire our efforts across the world.

SUNAINA PAMUDURTHY

Harvard Kennedy School, MPP Class of 2022

Share a few sentences about the work you did for the Arctic Initiative this year: A major part of my work involved ideating on innovative ways to engage Indigenous youth on topics of climate resilience and adaptation. With the help of our Indigenous partners in the Arctic, we co-designed gamified simulations for youth to equip them with the right skills for leading through a crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, I had a chance to conduct research on the COVID response in the Alaskan region and also prepare interactive educational materials on the Swedish mining town of Kiruna.

Why are you interested in the Arctic? We’ve always known that the magnitude of impact of this region on global ecosystems and communities is hugely significant. Unfortunately, the Arctic has had quite a bit of a head start on global warming compared to other geographies, but what’s fascinating is that the solutions applicable to these communities will be relevant globally as the planet continues to heat up, so we all need to pay very close attention to the climate discussions in the circumpolar north. What have you learned while working with Arctic Initiative? The biggest lesson from my work with the Arctic Initiative has been that there is an immense amount of knowledge that exists within local communities that, if integrated with the current “mainstream” approaches, will greatly benefit the climate movement.

How does this work fit into your career goals? My work with the Arctic Initiative has been a great complement to my professional journey centered on making our financial system more sustainable. The many conversations in the forum have helped me understand the diverse components of resilience and the possible role our financial system can play in creating and sustaining resilience.

What have you learned while working with Arctic Initiative? I had the wonderful opportunity of working alongside some of the most innovative minds from the Indigenous Arctic. My stint with the Arctic Initiative made me aware that it’s not enough to be designing for the communities, but with them in every step of the climate challenge. Co-developing knowledge can be challenging but always leads to a far better solution that has longer term benefits.

How does this work fit into your career goals? I have a keen interest in the intersection of technology and climate resilience. I strongly believe Indigenous knowledge systems give strong grounding for modern science to rely on, and a lot of our climate goals can be achieved through respectful collaboration. The Arctic Initiative exposed me to some of the most inspiring scientists, researchers, and Indigenous community leaders. Working with this team helped me gain a pragmatic view on resilience, and has trained me well on how to prioritize while working with communities on ground.

ULLA HEMMINKI-REIJONEN

Harvard Graduate School of Education, MEd Class of 2021

Share a few sentences about the work you did for the Arctic Initiative this year: This spring, I concentrated on the changing world of climate change education and opportunities for adopting innovative pedagogical approaches such as immersive technologies, participatory methods, and art-based learning. Besides co-writing a publication, I designed a learning environment for the course taught at the Arctic Initiative, and got to explore these recommended methods in action, too.

Why are you interested in the Arctic? Being from a small Arctic country, Finland, where education is taken seriously, it was natural for me to investigate how we could respond to the climate challenge efficiently with innovative education and modern educational technologies. By offering learners engaging possibilities to explore this complex topic, we can hopefully help them mitigate and adapt to the climate change better in the future. What have you learned while working with the Arctic Initiative? I learned the power of global collaboration. As part of our pilot project, I collaborated with skilled artists around the world who were excited to create original art for our learning environment on climate change. I saw that there are so many experts from different fields who would like to contribute somehow—we just need to find them and offer channels for using their skills. Together we can make more engaging experiences and raise awareness of the issue, including among the participants of the design process, too. While investigating this topic, it also felt nice that I could use some sources that were originally written in a small Arctic language, Finnish— sources which might not reach global readers otherwise.

How does this work fit into your career goals? This project has been a perfect experience for me when thinking about my work after graduation. I am currently in charge of the activities of the edtech community at the Helsinki Education Hub. Building a sustainable future is one of the key goals of all the levels of administration at the City of Helsinki. Innovative climate change education with modern technologies will no doubt be on the Education Hub’s agenda, too.

MIE DAHL

Harvard Kennedy School, MPA Class of 2022

Share a few sentences about the work you did for the Arctic Initiative this year: I worked as a research assistant, focusing on Indigenous communities and resilience building. More specifically, I developed a seminar series about Indigenous youth leadership, supported work on financing infrastructure resilience projects in the Bering Strait region, and assisted our work on the Arctic Resilience Forum.

Why are you interested in the Arctic? I am fascinated and motivated by the diverse set of challenges and opportunities in the region, which call for interdisciplinary approaches. I am particularly inspired by the role of Indigenous communities in building a more resilient Arctic. What have you learned while working with the Arctic Initiative? While the Arctic is absolutely unique, I have realized that there are very strong parallels between the Arctic and other regions—for example, the role of Indigenous communities in governance, science, and environmental protection efforts.

How does this work fit into your career goals? I aspire to work on creating more inclusive governance processes and raising the voice of under/misrepresented groups. Working with Indigenous communities in the Arctic has taught me a lot about the importance of that work, as well as potential ways forward.

SARA AMISH

Harvard Kennedy School, MPP Class of 2022

Share a few sentences about the work you did for the Arctic Initiative this year: I worked with a team focusing on the progress Iceland has made on international climate agreements since 2011.

Why are you interested in the Arctic? It is a place of such dynamic change and close-knit relationships. To be able to make it, one has to be able to work together and make things work. These incredibly strong community bonds are going to be tested as the Arctic warms three times as fast as any other place on the globe. It’s also a place where there are still intact ecosystems, and faces unique challenges in continuing to live within those functioning systems. What have you learned while working with the Arctic Initiative? So many Arctic systems are completely informed by history and yet are strangely devoid of a past. History has informed many of the current agreements in place, how structures like the Arctic Council have evolved, and how different communities work together. At the same time, because there has been so little interest in the Arctic compared to other parts of the globe, there is also an opportunity to build new systems and start fresh.

How does this work fit into your career goals? Collaborative governance of natural resources has always been hard, although it’s been shown that it is possible and the tragedy of the commons is not inevitable. However, as climate change impacts increase, there will be more and more pressure on resources and we will require better systems to collaboratively govern. That is where I see myself, and the Arctic, in many ways, is the first test case of how we cope with climate change impacts and work together, rather than in opposition.

ALLISON AGSTEN

Harvard Kennedy School, MC/MPA Class of 2021

Share a few sentences about the work you did for the Arctic Initiative this year: Halla Hrund Logadóttir’s class on Arctic policy and social innovation opened many doors for me, amongst them, the opportunity to work as a summer RA for Dr. Douglas Causey, an Alaska-based biologist and Arctic Initiative Associate. I helped Dr. Causey draft a plan for a research project on successful knowledge co-production practices as envisioned by three Indigenous communities in Alaska.

Why are you interested in the Arctic? I am curious and concerned about the disconnect Americans and others have with this region of the world. The Arctic—a site of rapid climate change, national security interest, and crucially, home to millions—seems to exist mostly as an abstraction in the public imagination. I believe that we can transform apathy to interest

(and even engagement) by deploying more nuanced, evocative storytelling practices.

What have you learned while working with the Arctic Initiative?

I have learned that Indigenous knowledge-holders should receive infinitely more respect, acknowledgement, and compensation than they have typically been granted by researchers, writers, and others studying the region.

How does this work fit into your career goals? Since spending the past year embedded within the Arctic Initiative in different capacities, my career goals have shifted. In early 2020, if you would’ve told me—a museum curator and lifelong Californian—that I’d be looking for jobs related to the Arctic after graduating from the mid-career MPA degree program, I wouldn’t have believed you.