With over 130 participants gathered in Inari, Finland, UArctic held its annual assembly, hosted by the Sámi Education Institute. The event marked a milestone, welcoming the largest number of new members in the network’s 20-year history — with Chile’s Millennium Institute BASE standing out as the sole representative from both Chile and Latin America.
The University of the Arctic (UArctic) is a network of universities, research institutes, training centers, and other organizations dedicated to education and research in and about the North. Is a decentralized organization with several offices across the Arctic countries, and its annual assembly took place from June 6 to 9, 2025, in Finland.
Among the key announcements, Frederik Paulsen was re-elected as Chair of the UArctic Council for a second three-year term (2025–2028). The network also welcomed 21 new member institutions — 13 from Arctic regions and eight from other parts of the world. Chile’s BASE Millennium Institute on Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE Millennium Institute) was the only institution from Latin America to join.
“We’re excited about this new partnership, which not only allows us to share our scientific expertise in Antarctic ecosystems, but also to bring fresh perspectives from our recent Arctic expeditions, launched in 2024 in collaboration with the French company PONANT,” said Dr. Elie Poulin, professor at the University of Chile and director of the BASE Millennium Institute.
In the field of Arctic research, the BASE Millennium Institute is spearheading several cutting-edge studies. One key project, led by Dr. Juliana Vianna (BASE/PUC/CRG) in collaboration with Dr. Lucas Kruger (BASE/INACH), explores the adaptive convergence of seabirds in the Arctic and Antarctic. Another initiative, headed by Dr. Léa Cabrol (BASE/IRD/MIO) alongside Dr. Julieta Orlando (BASE/UCH), focuses on Arctic and Antarctic microbial communities, particularly their role in regulating oceanic methane balance. A third line of research, directed by Dr. Hugo Benítez (BASE/UNAB/CHIC) in partnership with Dr. Tamara Contador (BASE/UMAG/CHIC/INVASAL), examines insect adaptations to Arctic environments.
Connecting with Global Experiences
With the latest additions, UArctic now counts 212 member institutions. “This milestone reflects Arctic’s increasingly inclusive and interdisciplinary approach to Arctic issues,” the organization stated. Alongside the Millennium Institute BASE, new members include Carleton University, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), New York University, Norwegian Police University College, University of Chicago, University of Ottawa, the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research (ICHR), and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA).
Founded under the framework of the Arctic Council, UArctic aims to strengthen and develop shared capacities and infrastructure that enable its member institutions to support and contribute to their communities and regions. The network maintains a strong commitment to sustainable development principles and to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UArctic also promotes a circumpolar vision that is inclusive and respectful—valuing cultural diversity and Indigenous knowledge of the North. It fosters open, barrier-free collaboration across cultures and academic systems, encouraging broad participation in the creation of knowledge. In addition, it provides guidance to support sustainable development and informed decision-making in the Arctic region.
The Assembly confirmed that the next UArctic Congress and Assembly will take place from May 26 to 29, 2026, in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, hosted by the University of the Faroe Islands.
More information: https://www.uarctic.org/news
By: Nadia Politis / BASE Millennium Institute
Cover photo: UArtic
