Boylan participates in high-level Arctic conference
September 28, 2015
Brandon Boylan, assistant professor of political science and associate director of
the Arctic and Northern Studies Program, participated in a conference on Arctic affairs
at the Northern (Arctic) Federal University in Arkhangelsk, Russia, in mid-September.
The fifth International Meeting of Representatives of States-Members of the Arctic
Council, States-Observers and Foreign Scientific Community was held Sept. 15-16 under
the auspices of Russia’s Security Council. President Vladimir Putin’s top security
advisor, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, led the meeting. Boylan was
one of two conference participants from the United States.
The conference's purpose was to discuss preparedness and safety, sustainable development
and indigenous peoples in the Arctic. Presentations were given by a number of top
Russian public officials, diplomats from Arctic Council member states and observers
and foreign academics. Boylan presented on the Model Arctic Council, a student simulation
initiative that will be held as part of the Arctic Science Summit Week at UAF s in
March 2016.
Russian media interviewed Boylan and featured his comments on the national channel,
Russia-1. “The Arctic has traditionally been considered a peaceful, neutral territory.
I think, in the Arctic, Russia and the United States can find common ground, struggling
with shared threats and challenges,” Boylan said during the interview.
The conference also included a visit an Arctic Emergency Centre established by Russia's
emergencies ministry, a viewing of a search and rescue demonstration in the Northern
Dvina River from aboard the paddle steamer N. V. Gogol, and a tour of artifacts at
Arkhangelsk's historic merchant court.