Septentrio Reports

Progress report I

Lilli Mittner — 2024-02-23

The Center for Arctic Humanities responds to the challenges in the Research Council of Norway's evaluation of the humanities in Norway. The center is part of UiT's humanities initiative from 2021, initiated by the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education (HSL-fak), The Arctic University Museum of Norway and Academy of Fine Arts (UMAK), and the University Library (UB), and is a measure to achieve the goals in the development agreement with the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research (KD) regarding the strengthening of knowledge in and about the Arctic. It is based on the Norwegian parliamentary report on the Humanities in Norway (2016-2017), UiT's humanities strategy (2021), and UiT's strategy Eallju – Developing the High North: UiT’s strategy towards 2030 (2022). The University Board decided in November 2021 to finance the center for a four-year period with funds from UiT's strategic development fund and a grant from the Ministry of Education and Research.

This report documents the background for the establishment of the ArcHum Center for Arctic Humanities and activities in the period from July 2023 to February 2024.

Legal pathways towards sustainable blue food systems in the aquaculture sector

Margherita Paola Poto — 2024-02-01

The workshop, organized by Mathilde Morel on January 10th 2024, as a part of her PhD project and preparatory work for her PhD midway presentation, aimed to convene experts within the realm of blue food systems with the overarching objective of exploring viable pathways toward sustainability transitions. The reason for this inquiry stems from the escalating recognition that contemporary food systems are increasingly linked to adverse environmental and socioeconomic repercussions, contributing substantially to approximately 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This imperative for change is driven by numerous factors, including the climate crisis, rapid urbanization, evolving dietary preferences, and the expansion of the global population. Consequently, a foundational shift towards food systems characterised by diminished environmental impacts and carbon footprints becomes imperative. Furthermore, aligning with the Agenda 2030, there is an urgent call for expeditious adoption of a more resource-efficient bioeconomy within the world's food systems. Within this context, the integration of sustainable blue food systems, particularly in food producing sectors such as aquaculture, emerges as a critical facet of the solution. Despite the prevailing inclination towards augmenting sea-based food consumption through diverse blue growth strategies, it is crucial to ensure that unsustainable practices inherent in land-based food systems, are not replicated in marine environments. To actualize sustainable blue food systems in the aquaculture sector, the realization of resilient, equitable, and enduring solutions is paramount. The anticipated outcome of this investigative endeavour is rooted in the understanding that the application of legal and regulatory mechanisms can wield substantial influence in the transition process. Such mechanisms are integral to the formulation of comprehensive aquaculture management strategies that strike a judicious balance between safeguarding, rehabilitation, and utilization. The workshop constitutes a key touch base activity and outcome for the project SECURE, UiT The Arctic University of Norway.

Report Evaluating Safety Culture at UiT

Deanna Wolfson — 2024-04-22

The system of safety associated with lab and fieldwork at UiT The Arctic University of Norway’s Tromsø campus is in serious need of improvement. A volunteer working group of employees evaluated current safety conditions at NT-faculty and beyond, and found a wide range of issues with many overlapping causes. This report contains their findings related to three overarching problem areas: communication, accountability, and training; as well as a range of topical safety areas such as chemicals, fieldwork, and biohazards. The report concludes that significant reform is needed from the top and at all levels to prevent both physical injury and further damage to the working environment.