The Institute of Arctic Studies

Director: Melody B. Burkins

The Dickey Center’s Institute of Arctic Studies was founded in 1989 in recognition of Dartmouth’s distinguished history in Arctic and northern studies. Our aim is to facilitate faculty and student research, teaching, and an understanding of issues facing high latitude regions with emphasis on the respect and engagement of Arctic communities and Indigenous Peoples. We connect Dartmouth faculty from the College and professional schools with colleagues throughout the circumpolar north and maintain longstanding and valuable partnerships with the University of the Arctic (UArctic), the Stefansson Institute in Iceland, the US Arctic Research Commission (ARCUS), the National Science Foundation Polar Programs Office, the U.S. Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab (CRREL), Arctic Indigenous Peoples’ leadership, Canada Fulbright and the U.S. State Department Fulbright Arctic Initiative, the University of Greenland, the U.S. National Academies Polar Research Board, the Wilson Center Polar Institute, and many more. 

The Institute’s annual programmatic offerings include ongoing education, research, and policy-engaged scholarship opportunities for students hoping to advance work with our partners in scholarship and practice in Canada, Greenland, the Nordic countries, Russia, and the polar region of the south, Antarctica. We also connect Dartmouth communities to UArctic, a network of over 200 Arctic-engaged institutions around the world, where we currently support engagement and leadership in UArctic “thematic networks” ranging from insect ecology to science diplomacy, climate, and gender studies. Since 2008, we have also hosted the UArctic Institute for Arctic Policy, a forum for connecting scientists, policymakers and indigenous leaders on issues of climate, health, security, and development. Recognized as a trusted and inclusive convenor of Arctic education, research, and policy-engaged dialog, we also host and cosponsor a diversity of seminars, conferences, and workshops highlighting the importance of the Arctic region, and Arctic Peoples, in world affairs.

A core focus on international polar science education and outreach is supported by IAS leadership of the Joint Science Education Project (JSEP), an experiential, inclusive STEM education program for high school students funded by the US National Science Foundation in partnership with Greenland and Denmark. IAS also supports several student-led organizations at Dartmouth, including Aurora, dedicated to Dartmouth-Alaska connections, and the Science, Technology, and Engineering Policy Society (STEPS), focused on the advancement of science policy and science diplomacy at Dartmouth, among others.