Svalbard’s ecological, historical, political, and social positioning provide a unique location for considering the fast-changing climatological, governance, and knowledge regimes that proliferate in a globally connected, locally inflected late-modernity. The Svalbard Treaty of 1925 giving 46 nation-state signatories equal rights to engage commercial activities on Svalbard places the archipelago at the intersection of diverse different nation-state interests. In fact, Svalbard is both a Demilitarized Zone and Free Economic Zone making it the only demilitarized zone globally (areas that forbid military installations, activities, and personnel) that promotes open rules and duties that encourage market exchange. Svalbard is also home to various scenario planning projects with the aim of securing sustainable livelihoods far into the future including the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a secure backup facility for the world’s crop diversity and the Arctic World Archive a facility for data preservation expected to last 1,000 years. With University Centre in Svalbard and Norwegian Polar Institute, Svalbard is among the circumpolar research sites and stations of the Polar regions.

Activities will take place at UNIS during the week with scheduled meetings at these locations:

• Monday 22/5: 15.00 -17.00, Kapp Schoultz Lecture room
• Tuesday 23 May: 10.00 - 16.00, Kapp Mitra Lecture room
• Wednesday 24 May: 10.00 -16.00, Kapp Schoultz Lecture room
• Wednesday 24 May: 17.00 -19.00, Lassegrotta Large auditorium
• Friday 26 May 10.00 -12.00, Lassegrotta Large auditorium