About the Project
Background
In 2007, the International Arctic Science Committee and the Arctic Council created Sustained Arctic Observing Networks (SAON). SAON helps coordinate myriad observing activities into a common framework.
Over the years, Arctic Science Ministerials and the Arctic Observing Summit (AOS) established and quantified the shared benefits that sustained observations of a changing Arctic provide to Arctic and non-Arctic countries.
How Arctic CoObs RNA fits into the observing framework
In 2020, SAON developed a Roadmap for Arctic Observations (ROADS) to provide detail and direction for observations and data management. However, ROADS lacks specific activities to fulfill this strategy.
That's where the Arctic CoObs Research Networking Activity comes in.
Enter RNA CoObs
Through meetings, collaborations, and partnership with the AOS Food Sovereignty Working Group, RNA CoObs has been working to advance the SAON ROADS process by identifying a food security observing roadmap that will guide observing activities in the Pacific Arctic and inform the ROADS process at the pan-Arctic scale. ROADS will be aligned to better serve operators, the research community, and decision-makers in their own efforts.
Key lines of effort
Coordination: Transform the AOS from a meeting into a sustained engagement process through exchanges among established and early-career researchers, government agencies, Indigenous and Northern peoples, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and others associated with long-term observing activities.
Observing and Equity: Offer education opportunities for scientists on co-production of knowledge, other research paradigms, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems; include equitable & co-produced processes in RNA CoObs through equitable community engagement; and identify systemic inequities in research processes and benefits assessment, and steps that can be taken to overcome inequities.
Networking and Partnerships Document and assess the existing Arctic observing network; build new connections and partnerships.
Initiating a Shared Arctic Variable Expert Panel: Support the creation of a process for establishing an Expert Panel on a Shared Arctic Variable under SAON ROADS.
Planning for an Information Portal: Work toward building an Information Portal that offers equitable access to data and observing activities on a Shared Arctic Variable.
RNA CoObs is building new partnerships and strengthening existing partnerships between a range of participants in the Arctic observing system. The outer circles represent the various groups of actors that participate in and rely on Arctic observations.
The key attributes, in italics, are what the actors bring to the process of improving observing network development and integration.
Graphic: M. Rudolf, adapted from Chythlook et al., Prog. Oceanogr., 2022
The food security observing roadmap emerging from this work will guide observing activities in the region and inform broader efforts at the pan-Arctic scale.
Putting it all together
RNA CoObs will work to achieve the following goals:
1. Start an expert panel around a community-defined need that co-develops a framework for a set of observables, tools and capacity sharing for a more coordinated and collaborative observing system under SAON ROADS.
2. Identify opportunities and break down barriers to co-production to strengthen observing networks and sustain benefits to Indigenous Peoples across longer timescales and geographic regions.
3. Work with communities to deliver and improve access to information and data on observing activities, relevant expertise and needs, in support of goals 1 & 2.
4. Build relationships with communities through liaising, attending conferences, and participating in Indigenous-led initiatives.
Funding support comes from the National Science Foundation,
with in-kind support from NOAA Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program and the Arctic Institute of North America.
