Arctic Opportunity Explorer 2022 by Sustainia

Arctic Opportunity Explorer 2022

Program Overview

Arctic Opportunity Explorers 2022 Program Overview

Publisher: Rasmus Schjødt Pedersen

Editor & writer: Ana Dellien

Contributors: Ana Dellien (Project Lead, Sustainia), Rasmus Schjødt Pedersen (CEO & Partner, Sustainia), Moritz

Alexander Wolf (Analyst, Sustainia), Olafur Reynir

Gundmundsson (Lecturer Reykjavik University & Lawyer

Icelandic Tourist Board), Alfred Birkegaard (CEO & Founder, Thirdroom), Francesco Rosati (Associate Professor at DTU Technical University of Denmark)

This project has been supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers, Nordic Institute in Greenland, DTU, DIS, Reykjavik University, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, University of Greenland, Jönköping University, College of the Atlantic, Thirdroom, and the Icelandic Tourist Board. Sustainia 2022

We are living in a rapidly changing world whose complexities shine bright in the overlapping crises we are experiencing such as climate change, a global pandemic, an energy crisis, and a looming global recession to name a few. In the context of the Arctic region, these complexities have an even more disruptive impact

For the past three years, we have called on young changemakers to bring forward innovative ideas to tackle social issues related to climate change in this region We lean on them drive change, as young people and students rank climate change as the most urgent concern and are extremely motivated to make a positive impact

The Arctic Opportunity Explorer program is rooted in the need to bring development and innovation to the Arctic region through sustainable entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary collaboration. Now in its third year, the Arctic Opportunity Explorers program continues to empower students to develop sustainable solutions while strengthening their professional competencies, fostering their entrepreneurial mindset, and expanding their network

As we aim to meet the objectives outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we know it is critical to bring together different perspectives and work collectively to develop unique and contextualized solutions. With this publication, we aim to highlight the activities, results, and takeaways from the program that aim to meet those objectives and conclude the three-year journey that has inspired us and the next generation of leaders

Ana Dellien Program Lead, Sustainia

Why the Arctic?

The Arctic is heating up three times faster than the rest of the Earth.

The landscape, biodiversity, and overall way of life are dramatically changing due to climate change, threatening the livelihoods, wellbeing, and culture of people in Arctic communities. The remoteness of some Arctic communities and the limited infrastructure in the region also pose a unique challenge for addressing the social issues that arise due to climate change and pollution

Development in this area brings new economic and educational opportunities for the population, especially children, young people and women. There is untapped potential in the Arctic and promoting innovation, collaboration, and sustainable entrepreneurship can help unlock it. It also provides an opportunity to learn from each other and how to combat the effects of a warming world together.

The Program

Putting the SDGs into practice

The Arctic Opportunity Explorer is a virtual innovation challenge for students that equips them with the necessary competencies to solve complex challenges through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable entrepreneurship. The program's overall objective is to support the implementation of the the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Arctic and aims to achieve three key goals that students can takeaway beyond the program:

Build the skills needed for a career in sustainability. Foster an entrepreneurial mindset to tackle sustainability-related issues.

3.

Learn about the Arctic region and develop sustainable solutions to solve social issues facing Arctic communities.

Students conduct their own research to learn about the realities of challenges facing Arctic communities and develop sustainable solutions to tackle contextualized issues, whether they are locationbased or fall under a general sustainability theme.

The program aims to enhance knowledge of the SDGs in general, but has a particular focus on SDG 3, Good health and Well-being, SDG 5, Gender Equality, and SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals Through their entrepreneurial efforts, students have the opportunity to pursue viable solutions and enhance Nordic synergies in the region.

1.

2.

Partner Network

Collaboration as a cornerstone

With support from an extensive partner network we are able to promote international collaboration by bringing together students from all over the world with different disciplines and perspectives.

An initiative supported and funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

With guidance from NAPA as the Secretariat.

Organized and managed by Sustainia

With oversight and evaluation support from Thirdroom and Icelandic Tourist Board

And an interdisciplinary university partner network that spans across multiple countries.

The Journey Innovation process

Registration & team formation

We raised awareness about program and encouraged students to sign up through social media marketing, email communications, and presentations at partner universities Once registration closed we formed the teams.

Launch event

The program officially kicked off on October 5th, when we held a launch event to introduce the program and its key milestones.

Educational webinars & mentorship

Solution ideation

The teams went through the ideation, innovation, and iteration process. They developed their solutions with guidance from the mentors and the educational webinars hosted by Sustainia

Problem identification

Teams began working together and identified a problem area of interest that they wanted to focus on By October 19th, all teams shared a problem statement. We assigned each team a mentor based on the problem statements

Presentations & evaluations

Students presented a final pitch deck about their solution at the end of November to a panel of three judges who evaluated them based on 7 pre-determined criteria

Arctic Opportunity Day

The program concluded with a celebratory event on November 30th, when we shared each team's solution and announced the winning teams.

Educational Webinars

Skills development & guidance

Webinar 1: Effective Teamwork

Moritz Wolf and Anne-Sofie Nissen, analyst and project managers at Sustainia, provided tools and frameworks to achieve effective teamwork and strong communication.

Webinar 2: ESG

Moritz Wolf, analyst and project manager at Sustainia, introduced the pillars of ESG, key metrics and reporting standards, and its role in achieving sustainable development.

Webinar 3: Attitude-Behavior Gap

Dr Jatinder J Singh, professor at EADA Business School, presented the attitude-behavior gap that drives consumer choices and the importance of bridging this gap to achieve meaningful impact

Webinar 4: Experiences in Greenland

Anne Lise Kappel, lecturer and PhD fellow at University of Greenland, discussed what life is like in Greenland and provided insights into challenges that communities in this region of the Arctic face

Webinar 5: Experiences in Norway

Rasmus Gjedssø Bertelsen, professor at University of Tromsø discussed daily life in northern Norway, provided insights into the misconceptions about the Arctic region, and the Arctic's role in international relations.

Webinar 6: Pitching Your Idea

Ana Dellien, analyst and project lead at Sustainia, delivered a presentation about how to put together an impactful pitch deck that communicates an idea clearly.

Webinar 7: Systems Thinking

Dr Josep Coll, professor at EADA business school, introduced systems thinking and its relevance and importance to solving sustainability challenges, linking it back to the Arctic region.

Mentorship

Guidance from sustainability experts

Mentorship provides additional guidance for the teams as they work through their solutions. We pair each team with a mentor who is either an expert in the topic the team is focusing on or familiar with entrepreneurship and/or has relevant sustainability expertise It also provides students with an opportunity to connect with sustainability professionals and expand their networks.

The program was brilliant and as a mentor it was great to see all the teams having the courage to work on complex challenges that are sometimes overlooked. The teams have really cool, practical ideas that can actually be implemented and have the potential to become successful companies if they pursued them.

Siddardha Koneti, Ph.D. Entrepreneur Arctic Opportunity Explorer Mentor

Alaskan Women's Alliance

Supporting

victims of domestic violence

Problem Solution

There are substantial reports of domestic violence in Alaska and victims, specifically women, don’t have the necessary support or resources to reenter society independently after they have escaped situations of abuse

Impact

Team

Mentor

Sara Shafiee Founder and CEO, DivERS

A non-profit organization that creates an alliance between other organizations in Alaska that support women in different phases of their recovery journey inclusive of providing financial, psychological, legal, housing, and employment resources.

Sydney University of Michigan

Avery University of Michigan

Grace University of Michigan

Ricardo University of Michigan

Empower to Grow

Building greenhouses to tackle food insecurity

Problem Solution

Due to the climate conditions in Greenland, it is very difficult to grow nutrient-dense food, creating situations of food insecurity.

Impact Team

Build a greenhouse system in Sisimiut that can empower the community, especially women, to grow their own food and is sustainable throughout the entire year.

Koneti, Ph.D. Entreprenuer

Siddardha

Alyssa DIS / Penn State

Max DIS / Wake Forest University

Camila DIS / St. Lawrence University

Jackson DIS

Mentor

Dwarf Fireweed Hub

An educational platform to motivate the youth

Problem Solution

Members of the Inuit community feel a loss of identity, a sentiment exacerbated by climate change that contributes to culture dissociation and loss of heritage This often leads to lack of purpose & motivation to seek new opportunities, brain drain, and other mental health challenges.

Impact

Team

Sebastian Zastruzny PhD Fellow, University of Copenhagen

An educational hub where youth have the opportunity to take free online courses about different topics and participate in a culture exchange that teaches others about Inuit culture to restore a sense of heritage.

Victoria Reykjavik University

Alper DTU

Timna EADA

David IBEI

Mentor

Caught

Bracelets with Inuit-inspired designs

Problem Solution

Inuit people are becoming more disconnected from their heritage and isolated from their communities as a result of the changing landscape due to climate change and influence from Western culture.

SDG Impact

Team

Mentor

A social enterprise that converts old fishing materials, locally sourced beads, and community collaboration into handcrafted pieces that reflect Inuit culture inspired design.

Joëlle EADA

Jessica EADA

Christopher EADA

Benita EADA

Maria Jose Ramirez Founder of Fundacion Corazones Unidos Contra la Indiferencia

Ellen EADA

Petal to the Metal

Raising awareness about metal contamination

Problem Solution

People in the Nunavut region face malnutrition and heavy metal contamination due to mining exposure and high red meat diets, which negatively impacts people’s health, particularly young women who are pregnant.

An at-home testing kit that uses a blood and urine sample to test the levels of mercury, bromine, iodine, selenium, cadmium, and arsenic in a person’s system - information people can use to manage their health and nutrition.

Impact Team

Graeme Stewart Business Analysis and Planning Manager

Ben DIS/ Northwestern University

Madeline DIS / Wake Forest University

Isabel DIS / Middlebury College

Zoe DIS / Duke University

Mentor

INUK

Facilitating decision-making SDG

Problem Solution

Children and students in Greenland are struggling with mental health issues due to the environment of their education system.

Impact Team

A multi-purpose educational platform that will empower and support Greenlandic children and their families in finding the right place for them to continue their education while alleviating the stresses on their mental health.

Mentor

Lars Lohmann CTO, SocialSpace & Analyst, SAGA DK

Janis DTU

Alma The Arctic University of Norway

Bruno IBEI

Janice EADA

Power-to-Arctic

Decarbonising society through clean energy

Problem Solution

The population in Svalbard is still relying on coal-powered energy, which is due to run out within the next 10 years.

SDG

Impact

Team

Mentor

Sanjay Banka Chairman, Banka BioLoo Ltd.

Diversify the energy mix by investing in other renewable energy sources such as wind energy and develop offshore wind farms in the region using Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology.

Decolonising Policies

Giving Saami people their power

Problem Solution

Members of the Saami indigenous group are not properly represented in decision-making processes that impacts their livelihoods, ultimately affecting their mental health.

Impact

Team

Mentor

Adarsh Raj

Development Manager,

Propose decolonised policy recommendations that put Saami people at the forefront of decision-making and gives them ownership over their human and land rights.

Astrid EADA

Nicole EADA

Nelson EADA

Meghan EADA

Market

Aquaporin A/S

Winner Spotlight

The top three

Team 6

Ben, Madeline, Isabel, and Zoe developed an at-home metal testing kit prototype to help tackle malnutrition and help people, especially women, manage their health.

Team 5 Team 2

A word from the judges

An impressed jury panel

This program is about building new competencies for the green economy. It is wonderful to see the young generations unfold their skills, creativity, and optimism as they seek to take on some of the biggest challenges of our time.

Rasmus Schjødt Pedersen CEO & Partner Sustainia

This was a really exciting competition and I was captivated by the creativity of all the teams. When I looked at the presentations, it struck me just how important a project like this is because the only way forward to is have everyone on the planet focusing on how to proceed with new ideas about well-being, sustainability, and finding new opportunities for future generations.

One of the most important skills in the 21st century is collaboration and it is no longer enough to develop solutions in silos It's really interesting to see the new generation in online environments and how they can collaborate in crosscutting ways to communicate and produce high quality work These students have done an amazing job and shown how online global collaboration is possible.

Alfred Birkegaard CEO & Founder Thirdroom

Ólafur Reynir Gudmundsson Lecturer Reykjavik University & Lawyer Icelandic Tourist Board

Looking Ahead

Promoting sustainable entrepreneurship

While the Arctic Opportunity Explorers 2022 program has now concluded, we know the work is not done. Given our belief that students and young people are critical stakeholders in solving these issues and are the next generation of green leaders, we want to continue to empower them to create change and develop the skills they need to thrive in their future careers.

We will be exploring new opportunities to ensure this program continues and we can inspire even more people to take action. Watch this space to find out how the Arctic Opportunity Explorers program will evolve and come to life in the near future.