The Issues Behind Arctic Emerging Scholars

Arctic youth face many multifaceted challenges in a changing physical, economic, and social region – but are too often left out of the conversation. The Arctic Institute’s Emerging Scholars (as of November 2022 – Expanding the Field) publishing platform offers a place for northern students to voice their opinions, share their experiences, and influence the debate about their homeland. The forum features articles, videos, illustrations, poems, and multimedia projects created by youth living in the Arctic on the issues that matter to them most. Hosted by the Arctic Institute, Emerging Scholars is produced in partnership with Students on Ice, Arctic Youth Ambassadors, and the Arctic Adaptation Portal.

But if we truly want to empower northern students, we must understand the structures that define their challenges and opportunities. The Youth Infographic here is a first step towards sharing that understanding. It provides a brief, visual overview of five key issue areas for Arctic youth today: (1) Suicide, Violence, and Abuse; (2) Education; (3) Health; (4) Culture; and (5) Climate Change. Each of these issue areas will be explored further by both Arctic experts and Arctic youth in the months to come through articles, commentaries, videos, and audio recordings. Together, they will identify the underlying economic, political, and environmental factors that create those issues, seek solutions, and enable the Arctic’s future leaders.

Bryony Bradford is a London based graphic designer. You can see more of her work by visiting www.bryonybradford.com.