The I Interregional Scientific Forum «The Arctic Our Global Neighbourhood» has started in Petrozavodsk

May 22-24, 2024

Petrozavodsk, May 22, 2024 – The First Interregional Scientific and Practical Forum with International Participation «The Arctic Our Global Neighbourhood» has officially opened in the capital of the Republic of Karelia. The three-day event brings together experts, policymakers, and researchers to discuss sustainable development, international cooperation, and cultural heritage in the Arctic region.

Grand Opening at Petrozavodsk State University

The forum commenced with a ceremonial opening at Petrozavodsk State University (PetrSU). Distinguished speakers included:

• Artur Parfenchikov, Head of the Republic of Karelia;
• Valentina Pivnenko, Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Far East and Arctic Development;
• Elissan Shandalovich, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of Karelia;
• Nikolay Korchunov, Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Senior Arctic Official of Russia in the Arctic Council;
• Anatoly Voronin, Rector of PetrSU, Professor.

Plenary Session: Key Topics and Speakers

Leading experts in Arctic studies delivered presentations on critical issues:

• Andrey Golovnev, Director of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Corresponding Member of RAS, State Prize laureate;
• Mikhail Goldenberg, Director of the National Museum of the Republic of Karelia;
• Dmitry Danilov, Head of the European Security Department at the RAS Institute of Europe, Professor at MGIMO University;
• Alexander Sergunin, Professor at St. Petersburg State University’s Department of International Relations Theory and History;
• Dmitry Balakin, Deputy Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of Pan-European Cooperation.

Discussions covered Arctic cultural heritage, international collaboration prospects, and the role of the EU and other Western institutions in the region.

«Arctic Karelia» Section Highlights

At the Legislative Assembly of Karelia, speakers addressed regional development strategies:

• Alexander Lomako, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Karelia («Arctic Karelia: Implementing Socio-Economic Development Tools»);
• Grigory Revzin, Partner at KB Strelka («Master Plan for the Kem-Belomorsk Agglomeration»);
• Anatoly Voronin, Rector of PetrSU («Arctic Initiatives in PetrSU’s 2024–2033 Development Program»);
• Irina Suvorova, Director of PetrSU’s Institute of History, Political and Social Sciences («Shifting Value Priorities Among Arctic Residents»);
• Vladimir Shchiptsov, Head of Mineral Resources at the Karelian Research Center RAS («Strategic Mineral Resources in Karelia’s Arctic Zone»);
• Vladimir Mayzus, Director of Onega Shipyard («Arctic Shipbuilding Projects»);
• Leonid Liminchuk, Chairman of Karelia’s Committee on Industrial Policy («Interregional Cooperation as a Driver of Arctic Connectivity»).

Youth School Seminar on Arctic Hydrometeorology

A Roshydromet workshop for young researchers focused on «State Monitoring of Karelia’s Arctic Water Bodies», featuring:

• Tamara Kuchko, Director of PetrSU’s Institute of Biology and Ecology;
• Raisa Terekhova, Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) («Hydrological Observations in Karelia’s Arctic Zone»);
• Mikhail Tretyakov, AARI («Arctic Estuarine Ecosystems»);
• Alexander Trunin, AARI («Geospatial Data Applications in Hydrology»).

General Sponsors

The forum is supported by:

• Karelian Investment Company «RBC»
• Segezha Group
• Arctic-2 Data Centers

Event Dates: May 22–24, 2024
Venues: PetrSU, Legislative Assembly of Karelia, Karelian Hydrometeorological Center