Hello Collaborations community,
I am excited to announce that the Secretariat is now supported by UIC Science. UIC Science is an SBA 8(a) subsidiary of the Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC), the Alaska Native Corporation representing shareholders from the community of Utqiaġvik, Alaska. Their expertise encompasses traditional knowledge, technical and logistical support, project management and strategic planning, Indigenous community outreach, and science support while understanding the politics, culture, land use issues, regulations and environmental conditions related to scientific research in the Arctic and Subarctic Alaska.
This collaboration will ensure the long-term sustainability and success of the Secretariat, and will allow us to continue to make Collaborations an effective hub for building connections and facilitating research for a thriving Arctic and Earth. This partnership will also enable us to increase capacity around engaging with Arctic Indigenous communities.
I would like to express my gratitude to the National Science Foundation for their continued financial support of , and to the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States () for supporting the Secretariat over the past several years. ’s support was vital for the development of the Arctic Research Plan 2022-2026 and its first implementation plan, as well as the development and implementation of the Arctic Research Plan 2017-2021. We look forward to additional opportunities for our organizations to collaborate. I am also grateful to the members of the Secretariat — Meredith LaValley, Sorina Stalla, Hazel Shapiro, and Liz Weinberg — who will continue their important work under this new contract.