Established in 2011, The Arctic Institute is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. with a team of researchers across the world. As the region’s preeminent think-and-do-tank, we are committed to promoting diverse voices, knowledge, and new ideas on Arctic policy.
Our Mission
Inform Arctic policy through inclusive research collaborations
The Arctic Institute’s mission is to help inform Arctic policy in the context of the climate crisis. We believe that Arctic decision-making must be based upon interdisciplinary, inclusive research that addresses the most pertinent issues facing the circumpolar region. That’s why our team leads research projects, supports scholarly publications, and organizes events that elevate diverse perspectives, including young scholars and those from communities that have been historically marginalized. The Arctic Institute is building the future of Arctic research through partnerships across the globe. We welcome ideas for collaboration in our mission to promote the Arctic as a secure, just, and sustainable region.
Our Vision
Peace, Justice, and Sustainability for the Arctic
We envision a world in which the complex security issues facing the Arctic are identified, understood, and inclusively resolved. To accomplish this, our work spans the many dimensions of Arctic security.
Our Values
Four core values inform and sustain our work, shaping who we are as an organization and what we stand for as researchers.
- Integrity
- Accessibility
- Deep Inclusion
- Collaboration
Integrity is at the heart of all that we do. We uphold academic honesty and excellence, seeking a range of voices to make fundamental inquiries about the most pressing issues in the Arctic and beyond. We affirm our integrity to each other at The Arctic Institute, and to our readers, ensuring that we will be honest, transparent, and accountable.
Our Commitment
At its core, The Arctic Institute is about bringing people together.
We strive to uplift new voices, facilitate open communication, and build new collaborations in pursuit of more equitable, inclusive Arctic research and policy.
To do this, The Arctic Institute commits to:
- Contributing to the intellectual decolonization of Arctic research by amplifying underrepresented voices, including Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge Holders.
- Upholding equitable organizational policies that advocate for anti-racism.
- Engage in diverse collaboration partnerships across Arctic research and public engagement.
Our Leadership
The Arctic Institute is led by President and Managing Director Romain Chuffart. To ensure transparency and organization-wide consensus, senior management collaborates with a seven-person Leadership Group of Senior Fellows and Senior Associates. Together with the Board of Directors and distinguished Board of Advisers, they guide the Institute’s research agenda and foster an environment where innovation, diversity of thought, and multidisciplinarity thrive.
- Board of Directors
- Board of Advisors
- Leadership Group
Led by Corine Wood-Donnelly (Nord University), The Arctic Institute’s Board of Directors supports TAI’s mission and vision to promote a more just, sustainable, and peaceful Arctic by providing governance of financial affairs, guiding the selection of research projects, and safeguarding the independence of the Institute’s work. Directors serve two-year terms and meet four times a year. Current Directors (2024 – 2026) are Corine Wood-Donnelly (Chair), Cynthia Lazaroff, Alina Bykova (Treasurer), Lindsay Arthur (Secretary), Victoria Herrmann, and Romain Chuffart (President).
Our Impact
