Reflecting on My Experience at ArcticNet's Arctic Change Conference 2024

Louise Mercer

Northumbria University

In December 2024, thanks to a Marine Challenger Society Travel Award, I had the privilege of attending one of the most significant gatherings for Arctic research in Canada: ArcticNet's Arctic Change 2024 (AC2024). This event marked the 20th edition of the Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM), held from December 9-12 in Ottawa, Canada. As a PhD student supporting Community-Based Monitoring (CBM) approaches in Inuit Nunangat (Inuit Homeland in Canada) and Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), the conference provided me with opportunities to share my work in collaboration with project partners and learn about other initiatives monitoring change in the Arctic marine environment. Here, I share my reflections on the event including some key learnings and special moments that made this an experience to remember.

What made AC2024 stand out for me was the amount of project teams sharing their inclusive approach to Arctic research. As an attendee, I was surrounded by experts from natural, health, and social sciences, each bringing their unique perspectives to address the challenges facing the Arctic. The conference was a platform for cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural knowledge exchange.

I was reminded of the importance of centring Indigenous voices and perspectives in research and working in partnership with communities through equitable research approaches to address pressing environmental issues. These insights were directly tied to my PhD research on supporting the development of community-based environmental monitoring programs in the Arctic, particularly in places like Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvialuit Settlement Region. I had the opportunity to present my own research, including an oral and poster presentation entitled “Transitioning Beyond Community-Based Monitoring to Support Indigenous Self-Determination in Arctic Research,”. This includes work I have undertaken as part of the Nuna project, a Canada-Inuit-Nunangat- Arctic Research Program . My work has focused on supporting the co-development of community-based contaminant monitoring programs that track contaminant influx into the marine environment from different sources (legacy infrastructure, river inputs and coastal erosion).

There was an increased emphasis on presenting learnings from community-based monitoring (CBM) programs and the role these approaches play in empowering local communities while producing valuable data to inform decision-making processes. It was inspiring to see so many researchers adopting similar approaches, which highlights how important it is to involve communities directly in research that impacts their lives and lands upon which their culture and livelihoods depend.

Evidence of the rapidly changing Arctic environment were shared widely. Presentations and plenary speakers underscored the multifaceted and multilocational impacts of rapid change on marine ecosystems but also on Indigenous Peoples and communities who are grappling with new risks related to food security, infrastructure failures, and health risks. This focus on the human dimension of climate change highlighted the need for research that is not only scientifically rigorous but also

Attending the conference provided a fantastic opportunity to meet with my project collaborators, where we planned future research directions. As much as the scientific exchange was invaluable, these informal interactions allowed us to strengthen our professional connections and build friendships that will undoubtedly continue long after the conference. It also provided me with the opportunity to reconnect with friends I have made throughout my PhD journey. Even though we are spread out geographically, we share lived experiences and a deep commitment to the work we do together. These friendships have become a cornerstone of my academic and personal growth, and it was great to reconnect with them in Ottawa.

These moments of reconnecting also made me reflect on the importance of aligning values and maintaining integrity when choosing my next steps career-wise. The bonds I’ve formed with these friends and colleagues have always been grounded in shared values in responsible, relevant and reciprocal research practices.

Ottawa itself was a delight to explore. During my downtime, I made sure to indulge in some of the local cuisine, particularly Beavertails, a delicious Canadian pastry. I also became a regular at Tim Hortons, where I enjoyed my daily medium coffee with 3 milks and a bran muffin, which quickly became my go-to order over the course of the week. The local flavours, coupled with the festive atmosphere of the city during the holiday season, made it an unforgettable experience.

After the conference, I spent the weekend in Montreal, where I had the chance to hang out with Oscar (my colleague’s cat) and his bow tie. I also had time to explore the city's famous street art and vibrant Christmas markets. These moments of relaxation were a great way to recharge before heading home for Christmas.


Sustaining Partnerships and Looking Ahead:
As I come to the end of my PhD, attending AC2024 was an invaluable opportunity to network with other researchers and discuss potential future opportunities to continue my work. One of the key takeaways from the conference was the importance of sustaining research partnerships with community partners.

At the event I co-chaired a session titled “KNT80 - Bridging Boundaries: Working Across Cultures, Generations, Disciplines, and Knowledge Systems to Support Solution Development.” This session, which I co-chaired with Morgan Bertheussen (McGill University), Andréanne Robitaille (Aurora Research Institute), Jennifer Rafferty (Aurora Research Institute), and Chris Black (Aurora Research Institute), shared learnings of working across different boundaries in an Arctic research context. The session was a rewarding experience, and the positive responses from attendees highlighted the significance of fostering collaborative, cross-cultural, and interdisciplinary approaches in Arctic research.


As I near the completion of my PhD, AC2024 was a memorable way to round off this phase of my career and set the stage for my next chapter. I’m excited to continue building on the relationships I’ve established and the insights I’ve gained, both from my colleagues and community partners I work with.

As we move into the future, Arctic research will remain at the forefront of global scientific and policy discussions. AC2024 leaves behind an important reminder that together, researchers, rightsholders and stakeholders can collaborate to finding solutions in response to rapid Arctic change.

I would like to express my gratitude to the Marine Challenger Society for their generous support to attend AC2024.

Profile:
Louise Mercer is a 4th year PhD Student at Northumbria University, International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) Fellow and Arctic President of the UK Polar Network. Louises work focuses on supporting the development of community-based monitoring programs in different place-based and research contexts spanning Inuit Nunangat (Inuit Homeland in Canada) and Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland). Louise works to ensure her research process is inclusive of Indigenous community members in all aspects of the research process from data collection to decision-making. Currently, she supports the Transdisciplinary Nuna project (https://www.cinuk.org/projects/nuna/) and an Indigenous-Led CBM project funded by the Northern Contaminants Program, Coastguard. Both projects have focused on supporting contaminant release into the marine environment through community-based approaches. As President of the UK Polar Network (UKPN), Lousie works to support Polar Early Career Researchers with a particular interest in fostering inclusive and safe fieldwork practices.