About Us

Hiroyasu Hasumi (National Institute of Polar Research)

The Arctic is the region of the world where the effects of global warming are most visible. These changes, caused by human activity, are happening faster and more dramatically here than anywhere else on Earth. The consequences are not limited to the daily lives of those living in the Arctic; they also affect countries far away, including Japan, in the form of extreme weather events and disasters. Such changes impact many aspects of society, from farming and fisheries to infrastructure, health and medicine. They shake communities and nations in the Arctic while creating challenges for the whole world. Finding ways to adapt to these changes, as well as reducing and preventing the causes of global warming, is a shared concern for all of humanity.

At the same time, the Arctic is also undergoing changes that are not directly related to nature. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for example, has created new uncertainties for Arctic societies. It is also important to understand how such political and social changes will affect the Arctic and the wider world. To address these issues, we need to examine politics, economics and human behavior through the lens of the social sciences and humanities, bearing in mind their close interaction with changes in the natural environment.

At the same time, the Arctic is also undergoing changes that are not directly related to nature. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for example, has created new uncertainties for Arctic societies. It is also important to understand how such political and social changes will affect the Arctic and the wider world. To address these issues, we need to examine politics, economics and human behavior through the lens of the social sciences and humanities, bearing in mind their close interaction with changes in the natural environment.

Through ArCS III, we aim to generate new knowledge to help solve these challenges. We are bringing together research from a variety of fields, including the natural sciences, engineering, the social sciences and the humanities, to improve our understanding of the changes occurring in the Arctic and develop solutions that will benefit both the region and the world.

To achieve the project goal, ArCS III has set three strategic objectives. Strategic Objective 1 is responsible for generating outcomes based on a natural scientific understanding of changes in the Arctic natural environment and their environmental impacts. Strategic Objective 3 is responsible for generating outcomes based on an understanding of changes in the cultures and socio-economic systems unique to the Arctic. Strategic Objective 2 involves forming interdisciplinary research teams to address issues where both of these approaches (i.e. Strategic Objective 1 and 2) are equally effective, thereby generating information useful for solving such challenges.

10の研究課題を設定し、自然科学と人文社会科学の視点から、北極域の環境と社会に関する多面的な課題解決に取り組みます。

観測・衛星・データ管理・人材育成・研究成果発信など、7つの研究基盤によってプロジェクトを支えます。

北極域研究における国際的ネットワークや共同研究の枠組みを通じて、海外の研究機関や専門家と連携し、知見の共有と協働を推進します。

運営会議、外部有識者委員会、国際助言委員会、 事務局を設置してプロジェクトを運営します。

プロジェクト紹介パンフレットや、これまでの成果・報告書などの関連資料を掲載しています。研究・教育・広報等にご活用ください。