Apply to Be an Arctic Innovator Delegate

This year the Belfer Center's Arctic Initiative is selecting a small group of 2–3 Harvard students to present their ideas at the Arctic Innovation Lab in Iceland. The Lab takes place at the world's largest Arctic gathering, the Arctic Circle Assembly, from October 10–13, 2019.  The trip for students selected for the Lab is funded by the Arctic Initiative. Before traveling to Iceland, students are expected to attend three, 1-hour, group sessions which will support students in the process of developing their ideas. Students are also required to set up office-hours with members of the Arctic Initiative team as they work independently to hone their pitch.

Participation in this opportunity is non-credit. Please note that the full Arctic Innovation module "IGA- 671M Policy and Social Innovation for the Changing Arctic" will be offered this academic year as a Spring 2 module with a field study component to Greenland: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/courses/policy-and-social-innovations-changing-arctic

For students who are interested in exploring innovation for the one of the world's most rapidly transforming regions, this may be an opportunity. Ideas can focus on variety of topics e.g. climate change mitigation, natural resource management, indigenous human rights, economic development, or security issues—and take the form of a new policy, program, or a business which supports a sustainable and environmentally sound future for the region. See information about previous years' participants here: https://www.belfercenter.org/arctic-initiative/overview/arctic-innovators-arctic-initiative.

Students don't need to have a fully developed idea when submitting the application form; the study group meetings and office hours will help with that process. Students interested in applying to be an Arctic Innovator should fill out this application form by September 6 to be considered for the program: https://forms.gle/yxCWGpW4xqrhVnjX6

Application Process:

•  August 26: Official Program Information Released and Application Opens
• September 4: Arctic Innovator Information Session—Hauser Conference Room (Belfer-L-4), 5:30pm–6:30pm
• September 6: Application Deadline
• September 10: Selected Arctic Innovators Announced

Mandatory Program Sessions: 

1. Monday, September 16, 11:30am–12:30pm — The changing Arctic overview + idea development workshop 

• Professor John P. Holdren and Halla Hrund Logadóttir, Arctic Initiative Co-Founders

2. Friday, September 27, 12:00pm–1:00pm — Public Speaking Session and Pitch Workshop

•  Brittany Janis, Arctic Initiative Project Coordinator

3. Friday, October 4, 12:00pm–1:00pm — Pitch Final Dress Rehearsal at HKS

•  Cristine Russell, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy and Senior Fellow in the Environment and Natural Resources Program, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
•  Fran Ulmer, Arctic Initiative Senior Fellow
• Brittany Janis, Arctic Initiative Project Coordinator

4. October 10–13 — Travel to Iceland for the Arctic Circle Assembly (Departure for Iceland will be late afternoon/evening of October 10)

For those with questions, please attend the information session hosted in the Hauser Conference Room (Belfer-L-4) from 5:30–6:30pm on September 4— or email Brittany_Janis@hks.harvard.edu