Celebrating 10 Years of ARCTICenter

On January 30, the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) hosted a special celebration marking the 10th anniversary of the Arctic, Remote, and Cold Territories Interdisciplinary Center (ARCTICenter). Members of the Frozen Commons project team were glad to take part in the event and share current research and community-driven methods that speak directly to the realities of Arctic change.

Founded within UNI’s Department of Geography, ARCTICenter brings together faculty, staff, and students across the social and natural sciences, education, and the humanities, working in close relationship with Indigenous knowledge holders and Arctic community members. The center is nationally recognized for its contributions to Arctic social sciences and sustainability research, with a strong emphasis on ethical, reciprocal engagement with Indigenous communities.

ARCTICenter’s work addresses urgent national and global challenges—from adaptation to environmental change to sustainable development—while also serving as a training hub for the next generation of scholars at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels. Just as importantly, it acts as a locus for community engagement in remote, northern, rural, and Indigenous contexts in the Arctic and beyond.