Fulbright Arctic Initiative

Fulbright Arctic IV (2024-2026)

Building on the scholarship of three previous cohorts of the Fulbright Arctic Initiative, Fulbright Arctic IV brings together a network of professionals, practitioners and researchers from the United States, Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden for monthly webinars, thematic group collaboration, three in-person meetings and an individual exchange experience between 2024 and 2026. Fulbright Arctic Initiative (FAI) IV will address key research and policy questions related to promoting Arctic security through research in three main thematic areas.

FAI IV will stimulate international research collaboration on different dimensions of Arctic security while increasing mutual understanding between people of the United States and member countries of the Arctic Council. Using a collaborative, multi-dimensional, interdisciplinary approach, FAI IV will address public-policy research questions relevant to Arctic nations’ shared challenges and opportunities as they relate to the multiple elements that contribute to the Arctic being a safe, healthy,  and prosperous place to live and thrive.

The Fulbright Arctic Scholars include academic researchers in the physical, natural, social, and health sciences, Indigenous and local knowledge holders, as well as practitioners working in various disciplines. Twenty outstanding scholars and practitioners from the U.S. and the other Arctic Council member states were selected to participate in the program through an open, merit-based competition. Five of the scholars are from the United States the other scholars are from Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.  Two Co-Lead Scholars who were participants in previous FAI cohorts will provide intellectual leadership and guidance throughout the program, in addition to mentoring program participants, connecting program scholars to other international experts, and facilitating discussion and collaboration among the scholars.

Each scholar will participate in an individual exchange visit to another Arctic country to conduct research on their individual research topic and to serve as a cultural and scientific ambassador from their country of origin, in addition to taking part in virtual and in-person meetings to collaborate with the full group and with their thematic research groups. In April 2026, the full group will convene in Washington, D.C. to present and discuss their research and policy recommendations to Arctic experts and representatives of the Arctic countries.

 Read about the 20 FAI IV Scholars and the two Co-Lead Scholars here and see additional program details and timeline below. 

Award Benefits

In addition to the multitude of professional development benefits that come with participation in this cohort program, Fulbright Arctic Initiative Scholars will receive grant funding in the amount of $40,000 (or an equivalent amount in local currency) to support their international travel to all in-person program meetings and maintenance for the individual exchange visit, research materials and assistance for grantees only.  Accommodations and meals for all group meetings will be covered separately.

FAI Scholars will be provided ASPE health benefits for the periods of their exchange visits and their attendance at the three international program meetings. Participating scholars should maintain any additional personal primary health insurance coverage they may have for the duration of the program.

Program Activities

FAI IV scholars will be expected to actively participate in several different learning environments.  The components of this Fulbright opportunity include:

• Monthly Webinars. Scholars will be expected to attend and actively participate in monthly webinars aimed at increasing awareness of Arctic research and policy issues as well as increasing the capacity to collaborate in interdisciplinary groups. Monthly webinars will include presentations and discussions on a range of topics relevant to the Arctic context including, but not limited to the use of mixed methodologies and Indigenous research practices in research; community engaged scholarship and building multilateral collaborative partnerships; research ethics across interdisciplinary investigative teams; and policy advocacy. In addition, over the course of the 18-month program, each thematic group will a take a lead in organizing and facilitating one or two of the monthly webinars that is related to their thematic group topic. The Arctic Fulbright Commissions will also have the opportunity to lead a webinar on a topic relevant to their respective country’s Arctic priorities.
• Thematic Group Collaboration. A significant component of FAI is to collaborate in interdisciplinary thematic groups to develop actionable policy recommendations for Arctic policy makers. Therefore, scholars must demonstrate the interest, capacity, and skills to collaborate in thematic groups across disciplines, diverse knowledge systems, as well as cultural and linguistical differences. Specifically, in their thematic group, scholars will be expected to produce: 1) one white paper based on the research in the thematic group’s area of expertise as it pertains to their thematic group topic; 2) a collaboratively written policy brief based on their group work and white papers; 3) three to five community listening sessions organized by each thematic group in communities of their choosing to gather input and feedback on each group’s policy recommendations; and 4) one joint manuscript for publication that is based on the findings from their group’s white paper and policy brief.  Scholars will be expected to develop their policy recommendations with some level of community engagement through town hall meetings, community-centered workshops, and/or some form of engagement that creates the opportunity for communities’ voices to shape/influence each group’s policy recommendations.
• In-Person Meetings. Scholars will be expected to attend three in-person meetings over the course of the 18-month program. The first two in-person meetings are designed to provide scholars with the opportunity to work together on their thematic group topic and products with in-person mentorship from the Co-Lead Scholars and other members of the FAI IV leadership team. Scholars will receive training in how to establish group communication and work covenants for constructive collaboration and product development in interdisciplinary teams; what is interdisciplinary scholarship; why is it important to the Arctic; and how does it work, as well as how to work effectively on interdisciplinary teams to develop policy. In addition, during the first two in-person meetings, scholars will be exposed to relevant Arctic research and policy topics as well as the arts and local culture of the two host countries through discussions and events with policy makers, researchers, artists, museums, and universities from the host countries. The final in-person meeting takes place in Washington, D.C. with a series of events and meetings with Arctic policy officials and interface with the public to provide the opportunity for the scholars to showcase their thematic group collaborations on policy development and recommendations and the research from their individual exchange programs.
• Individual Exchange Visit. Each scholar will participate in an individual exchange visit of a minimum of six consecutive weeks and maximum of three months to conduct research on a topic of their choosing and to serve as a cultural and scientific ambassador from their country of origin. U.S. scholars are eligible to conduct research that is relevant to their particular area of scholarship in one of the Arctic Council member states, excluding Russia. Non-U.S. scholars are eligible to go anywhere in the United States to conduct research that is relevant to their particular area of Arctic scholarship. The individual research exchange component is an opportunity for scholars to study and learn about the values, beliefs, and culture of their host country as well as to study a particular area of scholarship that will enhance and contribute to their existing work in a specific discipline that leads to innovation in their field. Scholars will be expected to demonstrate how their individual exchange visit will innovate their Arctic scholarship and will contribute to their skill set in their thematic group collaboration. For their individual exchange program, FAI IV scholars will be expected to submit one individual exchange report based on lessons learned from their exchange.

Timeline

November 2023  |	Fulbright Arctic Initiative Scholar Competition Opens
March 1, 2024 |	APPLICATION DEADLINE
April 2024 |	Country Reviews
April 2024 |	Short-listed candidates invited to submit video recording
Early May 2024 |	Final Review Committee
May 2024 |	Finalists notified of selection decisions
June 2024  |	Virtual PDO
September 8-14, 2024 |	Opening Group Meeting (Norway)
June 2025 |	Mid-year Group Meeting (TBD)
April 2026 |	Final Group Meeting (Washington, DC)

Program Deliverables

A.    Group Work

1. White Paper – January 2026
2. Policy Brief – February 2026
3. Community Listening Sessions – December 2025
4. Manuscript for Publication – April 2026

B.    Individual

1. Research Exchange Visit (1.5-3 months) – Between October 2024 and January 2026 (all exchange visits must be completed by January 2026)
2. Individual Exchange Report – due February 2026
3. Poster for public exhibition – due February 2026