Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic 2025

On 10–11 November 2025, Stockholm University hosted the Forum for the Arctic and Antarctic at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. The conference was organised jointly by the Bolin Centre for Climate Research, the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, Luleå University of Technology, and the Arctic Centre at Umeå University. The event gathered researchers, government agencies, and stakeholders for a strategic dialogue on strengthening Sweden’s polar research landscape.

Photo: Private

The overarching theme of the forum was raising the ambition of Swedish polar research, with the aim of shaping future research agendas through coordinated discussion among academia, state authorities, and civil society.

Photo: Laila Islamovic

Across the two-day programme pdf, 293.6 kB., participants addressed several key topics, including:

A proposal to establish a Swedish Centre for Arctic and Antarctic Research.
Networking and career development opportunities for early-career polar researchers.
Updates and strategic needs relating to Swedish polar research platforms.
Current and future funding mechanisms for polar research.
Historical perspectives and long-term directions for Swedish polar science, including contributions from Stockholm University.
Reflections on Sweden’s role in international polar governance in view of its upcoming Arctic Council chairmanship (2028–2029) and preparations for the Fifth International Polar Year (2032/2033).

By convening a broad community of actors, the forum aimed to strengthen coordination, align national research priorities, and raise the overall ambition of Sweden’s contributions to Arctic and Antarctic science.

Thank you to all the speakers, participants and the fellow organisers for contributing to a fruitful and successful forum!

Last updated: 2025-11-21

Source: Bolin Centre for Climate Research