PHOTOS FROM NORMAC UNIVERSITY 2

NORMAC University 2 was intended to take place in 2020, a year after the first NORMAC University.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it had to wait until 2022, when it finally took place from Saturday 25th to Wednesday 29th June. It was wonderful to get together in person again; to meet the 24 students from eight universities and eight home countries who took part; and to renew the NORMAC partnership between Polar Aspect , the University of East Anglia and Trent University . Peruse the galley of photos below to get a sense of the action, and read the wrap-up note on the Polar Aspect website.

Prof Kevin Hiscock, Head of the UEA School of Environmental Sciences, officially opens NORMAC University 2
Delegates are privileged to benefit from the guidance of NORMAC Honorary Chair, Prof Tim O’Riordan FBA, one of the founding lights of sustainability science!
The NORMAC teaching morning then continues with a look at the Anthropocene Arctic from Dr Martin Mahony of UEA…
…a presentation on Arctic political geography(-ies) by NORMAC Director Dr Anthony Speca…
…and an analysis of the form and function of the Arctic Council from Prof Heather Nicol of Trent University
Delegates then have the opportunity to hone their public-speaking skills in an interactive workshop with communications expert Beth Derks of UEA…
…before giving their own opening statements!
After the teaching morning and formal opening, delegates enjoy getting to know one another over a delicious welcome dinner at Saporita Norwich!
The whole of the next day, delegates conduct initial diplomatic discussions in AMAP and SDWG Working Groups…
…before returning in plenary the following day to begin the work of drafting a joint political declaration as Arctic Council SAOs
The delegate from Denmark stands to address his fellow SAOs
Conducting some real-time research to inform negotiations!
Delegates discover that negotiations can proceed much more efficiently in informal discussion
The next day, delegates break for a visit to the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, where they hear from Arctic experts Dr Ilona Kater, Prof Gareth Rees and Dr Olga Tutubalina
Before enjoying a free afternoon in Cambridge, they also visit SPRI’s excellent Polar Museum…
…and SPRI’s famous polar library!
Delegates reconvene for their final day of negotiations…
…and the NORMAC Secretariat prepare themselves for a flurry of diplomatic word-smithing!
The delegate from Russia stands to address fellow delegates
Finding words on which all can agree is a painstaking process…
…and delegates concentrate very closely on the emerging document
Sustenance for the hard work of building consensus!
The delegate from the USA stands to speak
Slowly but surely, delegates make progress on their joint declaration…
…but they find they must hammer out contentious details in last-minute informal discussion!
In the midst of the heated diplomacy, the delegate from AIA is the coolest in the room!
The diligent NORMAC Secretariat work hard to keep up with the word-smithing, and a consensus declaration is finally agreed!
As at the end of each day of NORMAC, delegates benefit from guided reflection on what they have learned…
…and they celebrate their achievements with an elegant dinner in the Music Room at the Norwich Assembly House!
Delegates and staff of NORMAC University 2 signing off until next year!

PHOTOS FROM NORMAC UNIVERSITY 1

NORMAC University 1 took place from Friday 21st to Tuesday 25th June 2019. It was the first NORMAC University conference held, as part of a new partnership between Polar Aspect , the University of East Anglia and Trent University . Peruse the galley of photos below to get a sense of the action, and read the wrap-up note on the Polar Aspect website.

NORMAC Director Dr Anthony Speca formally opens NORMAC University 2019
The first day of NORMAC University 2019 was a teaching day, featuring Prof Heather Nicol of Trent University…
…and Dr David Rose of the UEA
Delegates also benefitted from a public-speaking workshop with Ms Beth Derks of the UEA…
…a visit to the UEA’s unique air-sea-ice laboratory with Dr Odile Crabeck…
…and a Q&A with Mr Asher Minns, Executive Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research!
Afterwards, the diplomatic simulation began with opening speeches—starting with the delegate from Canada
Delegates then enjoyed getting to know one another better over a nice dinner!
The next day, delegates met as the PAME Working Group…
…and immediately began to define the terms of their collaboration and negotiation
The rest of the day was spent hammering out details in subcommittees
The next morning, NORMAC University Secretariat staff readied the room for the SAO meeting
Delegates quickly got down to the intricacies of negotations—here the delegate from Finland addresses his colleages…
…followed by the delegate from Denmark
The delegate from Canada was paying close attention to his colleagues’ points!
The delegates from the indigenous organisations don’t look to pleased with the direction of discussion, however!
Delegates took a break the next day with a field-trip to the famous Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University…
…where they learned more about the Arctic from SPRI researcher Dr Nanna Kaalund…
…and enjoyed a punt down the River Cam on a brilliant day!
Delegates returned the following morning refreshed and ready for consensus building…
…but the delegate from the USA was ready for business!
Intense negotiations soon began…
…often carried out in small, informal groups
Diplomacy always goes better with a friendly lunch break!
After lunch, delegates began to coalesce around a consensus position
The delegate from Iceland pointing the way to consensus…
…which was finally achieved!
With diplomacy successfully concluded, delegates dressed to the nines…
…for celebratory dinner at the UEA’s Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts
Delegates and Secretariat of NORMAC University 2019 signing off until next year!