During the meeting, the Board discussed and approved the upcoming 2025 budget, approved new Chairs, and approved the new members of the Academic Advisory Board (MIMIR). The 11 new UArctic Chairs being welcomed to the Board include Allison Crawford of University of Toronto, Alun Hubbard of University of Oulu, Andrey Petrov of University of Northern Iowa, Chris Southcott of Lakehead University, Daniel Chartier of Université du Québec à Montréal, Dimitrios Dalaklis of World Maritime University, Hans Bernstein of the Arctic University of Norway, Maria Huhmarniemi of University of Lapland, Supid Rakshit of Lakehead University, Sylvia Moore of Memorial University, and Tiina Ikäheimo of the Arctic University of Norway. The New MIMIR members are Philip Steinberg of Durham University, Tuija Turunen of University of Lapland, and Karl Kreutz of University of Maine.
The Board also discussed UArctic’s strategic priorities and steps for implementing a framework that supports and advances these goals.
The 2024 meeting program took board members to Goose Bay and Nain, and included a visit to the SmartICE Community Operations, which is a company that offers tools for climate change adaptation, integrating Indigenous knowledge of ice with data collection, and the mapping and monitoring of ice for research and travel safety. The Board also had the opportunity to tour the Pye Centre for Northern Boreal Food Systems, learn about Inuit myths and legends with cultural teacher Heather Angnatok and Elders Jean Crane and Elizabeth Penashue, and enjoy other local sights and traditions.