The aim of the Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic is to shape the agenda for Arctic and Antarctic research in Sweden, through dialogue among academia, government agencies, and other stakeholders. The overarching theme is to raise the ambition of Swedish Polar Research.

The programme will include highlights of ongoing and emerging Arctic and Antarctic research, as well as panels where researchers, authorities, and civil society actors will discuss future needs and avenues for polar research in Sweden.

The Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic will take place on November 10–11, 2025, at Stockholm University, a venue renowned for its leading research environments on processes of change affecting the Arctic and Antarctic, including climate change and geopolitics.

Program

Venue: Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Stora hörsalen

Monday 10 November 10.00-18.00

10.00-11.00 Coffee and networking, arrival and registration

11.00-12.00 The building of a Swedish Centre for Arctic and Antarctic research

• Presentations and discussion, moderated by Dag Avango and Keith Larson.

12.00-13.00 Lunch

13.00-14.30 A new generation of polar researchers in Sweden - networking event for Early Career polar researchers 

• Presentations and discussion, moderated by representatives of APECS Sweden and the Bolin Centre Early Career Network.

14.30-15.30 Swedish Polar Research - platforms, partnerships, and progress

Presentations of ongoing projects and future plans from the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat

15.30-16.00 Coffee

16.00-18.00 Funding Arctic and Antarctic Research – presentations by representatives from Swedish funding agencies for polar research:

• Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research
• Swedish Research Council
• Formas
• European Polar Board

19.00-22.00 Dinner at Fakultetsklubben

Tuesday 11 November 09.00-16.00

09.00-11.00 Swedish Polar Research - where is it coming from?

Keynote Talks

• Michael Tjernström, Professor Emeritus of Boundary Layer Meteorology, Stockholm University
  - Adventure, exploration, politics and science: On the utility of Arctic expeditions for climate science
• Peder Roberts, Professor in history of ideas, University of Oslo
  - Changing trends in Arctic and Antarctic humanities and social sciences
• Christina Storm Mienna, Director, Várdduo, Centre for Sámi Research at Umeå University
  - Beyond the ice: Sámi and indigenous knowledge transforming views of the Arctic
• Keith Larson, Director, Arctic Centre at Umeå University
  - Eyes on the polar regions - Arctic and Antarctic research trends (2016-2024)

11.00-12.00 Lunch

12.00-14.00 Polar Research Highlights - where are we going?

Presentations of ongoing research in the Arctic and Antarctic

• Gunilla Svensson, Professor of Meteorology
  - Polar climate observations and modeling
• Arjen Stroeven, Professor of Physical Geography
  - East Antarctic sea level rise contribution in 2300 - iQ2300
• Helen Coxall, Professor of Marine Micropaleontology
  - Tracing how Atlantic water impacts North Greenland: thawing
• Paul Zieger, Professor in Experimental Atmospheric Sciences
  - The mobile Aerosol-cloud laboratory and the Zeppelin Observatory
• Örjan Gustavsson, Professor
  - Studies of Arctic carbon-climate cycling
• Nina Kirchner, Professor of Glaciology and Director of Tarfala Research Station
  - Tarfala Research Station, 80 years of glaciological research

14.00-14.30 Coffee

14.30-16.00 Future ambitions and tasks for Swedish Arctic and Antarctic Research with the Arctic Council chairmanship 2028-2029 and the fifth International Polar Year 2032/2033.

Keynote presentations and a panel on future directions for Swedish polar research

• Anil Mishra, Chief of Hydrological Systems, Climate Change and Adaptation Section
  - Focal point for the UN decade of action for Cryospheric Sciences, Unesco
• Helen Eduards, Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, Sweden
• Johanna Franke, International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and International Polar Year 2032/2033

Register here