Personal overseas research grant for ACTOR PhD project

Many communities in the Arctic rely on natural resources for their livelihood, and this is also the case for the PhD study's case communities in Vesterålen and Senja, northern Norway, which to a certain degree directly and indirectly rely on natural resou rces for their livelihood. A change in the natural resource base will thus have implications for the communities. There are different ways of approaching studies on how changes in the natural resource base affect local communities and how they adapt. In my project I will apply the theoretical framework of linked social-ecological systems (SES), and the NRI, University of Manitoba is a leading institution is this field. Researchers at NRI have developed SES theories based on empirical data through extens ive research in and with northern communities in Canada. This emphasis on empirical data and field work matches my own approach and focus on community natural resource management and adaptation. We lack this level of expertise on SES in Norway. It would t herefore be of great benefit for my project to interact with and seek advice from the leading international experts. In addition, interaction with our Canadian colleagues will increase the visibility of Norwegian research and scientific interests.