INTERACT Newsletter Summer 2026

Dear friends of INTERACT,

We hope this Newsletter finds you well. The field work season a is in full swing and many of you are also very busy behind the scenes to develop new exciting projects and secure funding.

This year, INTERACT is celebrating its 25th anniversary! Since its early years, the network has grown from 9 to almost 100 research stations across the Arctic, northern boreal, and alpine areas. This milestone is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the many collaborations, achievements, and shared experiences that have shaped INTERACT over the past decades.

Have you been part of the INTERACT journey, perhaps as a station manager, researcher, or collaborator? We would love to hear your story and share your memories with our network. Simply reply to this email and tell us about your INTERACT moments!

Let’s INTERACT!

INTERACT News

INTERACT joins UK and Nordic Leaders to discuss the future of Arctic research

INTERACT Honorary President Terry Callaghan joined the UK-Nordic Arctic Research Seminar by the Ambassadors to the UK from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland. The Ambassadors from Denmark and the Faroe Islands were also present. Hear from Terry as he reports back from the seminar.

INTERACT joins new UArctic Thematic Network on Indigenous Data Sovereignty

On the initiative of our board member Niklas Labba, INTERACT joined a small consortium that successfully applied for funding to form a UArctic Thematic Network focusing on Research Exchange for Indigenous Data Sovereignty (REINS).

INTERACT GIS connects scientists with our stations, reaching over 5,000 visits last year

The INTERACT GIS system provides detailed information on research stations and helps scientists find sites that meet their needs. It is also used by a Swedish observing network and the EU-funded POLARIN project, and its data is shared with international repositories to ensure wide access and up-to-date information.

Two research projects awarded INTERACT Transnational Access pilot call funding

INTERACT has awarded funding to two research projects under its Transnational Access pilot call, enabling fieldwork in Arctic and alpine environments. The projects study moss adaptation to climate stress and biodiversity changes in glacier forelands, supporting research on ecosystem responses to environmental change.

INTERACT continues to strengthen international Arctic research collaboration

INTERACT contributes to ICARP IV outcomes that emphasize stronger Arctic research infrastructure, international cooperation, and sustainable access to facilities, helping shape research priorities through 2035 and preparations for Fifth International Polar Year.

INTERACT awarded funding to coordinate workshop on IPY Arctic Access Programme

We will organise a workshop during the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland in autumn 2026 to bring together researchers, Indigenous representatives, and international partners to help shape a new Arctic Access Programme for the 5th International Polar Year (IPY 2032–33).

25 years of INTERACT celebrated in Bologna

We gathered at the Station Managers Forum in Bologna in April. The meeting reflected on the network’s journey from SCANNET to today’s international research station network, while looking ahead to future cooperation, shared challenges, and new opportunities.

Catch up with online seminar “Conducting Research on Indigenous Lands”

The seminar brought research stations, Indigenous representatives, and researchers to explore ethical and collaborative approaches to research in Sámi and Inuit homelands. With over 100 registrations, the seminar highlighted important perspectives on building respectful partnerships. All four keynotes are now available to watch.

News from the stations

Rif Field Station, Iceland

The Wooden Wings project at Rif Field Station has now finished. As part of the project, twelve wooden birds were built, painted, and installed by the local students across Raufarhöfn in NE Iceland, and will stay permanently in the area on a circuit of 7 km. Each Wooden Wings bird has a QR code where visitors can learn more about the bird species, see photos, listen to bird calls, and hear texts read by local students. The project connects nature, art, and education, and gives visitors a new way to discover the rich birdlife of Melrakkaslétta.

Zackenberg, Greenland

The Zackenberg logistics team arrived on 18 March 2026 under excellent ice conditions. About 15 tons of construction materials have been transported from Daneborg to Zackenberg (approx. 20 km), with stable sea ice enabling efficient hauling by sledge and snow scooters. The materials will be used for a new main building at Zackenberg, including accommodation and kitchen facilities. Construction work will commence in August.

Solar production continues to perform strongly. From March–May, solar supplied approximately 50% of total electricity in Zackenberg, increasing from 24% in March to 84% in May. This has significantly reduced generator use, fuel consumption, and emissions.

The CO₂ emission reduction this spring is equivalent to approximately 12 tons.

Uapishka, Canada

For the fourth consecutive year, Station Uapishka hosted the Pamishkatau-Biosphere Class, a historic first in the heart of Nitassinan.

Last June, around thirty Indigenous and non-Indigenous secondary school students took part in an immersive experience at Station Uapishka. This fourth edition marked a historic milestone: for the very first time, the two groups came together as one. The initiative’s new name reflects this spirit—pamishkatau, meaning “let us journey together” in Innu. Activities included stargazing; a hike to the summits of the Uapishka Mountains, where many students encountered alpine and tundra vegetation for the first time; an Innu ceremony; vegetation surveys; water sampling in the Manicouagan crater lake; and an introduction to Innu-aimun. Students also participated in a workshop where they actively contributed to shaping climate adaptation strategies for their region.

Credit : Antoine Laforte