Learn and Connect
The Navigating the New Arctic Community Office (NNA-CO) is supporting all funded (and future) NNA awardees in their education, outreach, and community engagement efforts. The Broader Impacts Network (BIN) is designed to bring NNA projects that work across the Arctic together to learn from and connect to each other, as well as increase the capacity for culturally appropriate education and outreach. The meetings take place virtually 3 times per year with additional in-person opportunities at the NNA Annual Community Meeting. Learn more about the goals and purpose of our network by visiting these slides.
BIN Meetings
- In coordination with StoryCenter, the NNA-CO offered Part 1 of a Storytelling Workshop Series that provided an introduction to storytelling and utilizing story as a method for sharing and communicating science. This webinar focused an introduction to storytelling and ethics of storytelling. Watch the workshop recording here.
- The NNA-CO hosted an Inclusive Mentoring Workshop where participants learned about how to build a more inclusive research environment, foster meaningful relationships, and build support networks. Watch the workshop recording here.
- The November 2022 Learn & Connect Series (formerly BIN) meeting focused on different mediums for communicating your research with Arctic communities. View the meeting slides here and the meeting recording here.
- The August 2022 BIN meeting focused on making connections between NNA projects in order to leverage resources and efforts across projects.
- The April 2022 BIN meeting focused on effective ways to use social media in broadening the reach of research and connecting with Arctic communities. View the meeting resources here.
- The September 2021 BIN meeting focused on Catalysts of Success and sharing of successful practices around education and outreach. View the meeting slides here.
- The July 2021 BIN meeting took the participants through a scenario of the community perspective to imagine how education and outreach activities may be perceived by local residents and build awareness. View the meeting slides here.
- During the May 2021 BIN meeting panelists shared their experiences and perspectives around culturally appropriate education and outreach in Arctic communities (Alaska and Greenland). View the meeting slides here.
Summary of Discussion and Highlights from BIN Meetings
November 2022 Learn & Connect Series (formerly BIN) Meeting: Communicating Your Research to Arctic Communities
The NNA-CO hosted a Learn and Connect series meeting which focused on different mediums for communicating your research with Arctic communities. A panel of communication experts discussed when and how to use newsletters, local media, podcasts, and StoryMaps. The panelists included Heather McFarland, science communication manager at International Arctic Research Center, Rod Boyce, public information officer at the Geophysical Institute, Karli Tyance Hassell, Indigenous Engagement Coordinator at Alaska Pacific University, and Mike DeLue, science communicator at International Arctic Research Center.
View the meeting slides here and the meeting recording here. Additional resources include:
August 2022 BIN Meeting: Collaboration Accelerator
The NNA-CO invited NNA researchers to the Broader Impacts Network (BIN) collaboration accelerator. The group used the Topia platform to break out into small groups facilitated by NNA project leaders. Groups were organized by geographic region and research interests across diverse knowledge systems and career levels. The focus of these breakout groups was to explore ways to leverage resources and efforts across projects.
April 2022 BIN Meeting: Social media engagement
The NNA-CO hosted a Broader Impacts Network (BIN) meeting on April 27, 2022, which focused on effective ways to use social media in broadening the reach of research and connecting with Arctic communities. A panel of communication experts discussed utilization of social media for sharing research with Arctic communities, impactful and culturally-relevant messaging, and actionable and tangible communication strategies. Panelists included Alice Glenn, host of Coffee and Quaq, Sara Eckert, Communications from the Office of Polar Programs National Science Foundation, and Kristin Timm, expert in science and environmental communication from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Access the meeting resources here.
September 2021 BIN Meeting: Catalysts of success
This September event focused on Catalyst of Success for education, outreach and community engagement in Arctic communities built on the work in our previous meetings. Network members engaged in group discussions around best successful strategies for respectfully and thoughtfully conducting research in and with Indigenous communities. These discussions were supported by examples from Kaare Sikuaq Erickson of Ikaagun Engagement and built on his extensive experience advising Arctic research projects and outreach initiatives in communities in the Arctic. The four key catalysts that Kaare discussed were:
- Flexibility
- Sharing of Resources
- Local Relevance
- Building Relationships
In the breakout room discussion BIN members and in the group discussions additional examples and lessons learned were shared:
- Sharing research (reflect on power, who benefits from research, ensure all voices are reflected in publications)
- Invest the time necessary to build connections, allow extra time for meetings
- Share food or other gifts
- Identify who are the local champions, work with community champions (some people may not want to engage)
- Learn the local language (at least a few words)
- Serendipitous collaborations often lead to opportunities
- Relationship building in COVID times/virtual is more challenging and the nature of the connection changes. Be mindful of these changes.
- Seek and incorporate feedback from advisory board in design and co-production, also for the community engagement and outreach
View the meeting slides or the catalysts of success presentation recording (Kaare Sikuaq Erickson, Ikaagun Engagement).
July 2021 BIN Meeting: Building awareness for community impact
In this July event, network members engaged in self reflection and group discussions around best practices for respectfully and thoughtfully conducting research in and with Indigenous communities. These discussions were grounded in a scenario shared by Kaare Sikuaq Erickson of Ikaagun Engagement, who has extensive experience advising Arctic research projects and outreach initiatives in communities in the Arctic and serving as a liaison between researchers and residents. The meeting focus was inspired by requests from NNA community members looking for strategies to improve their research practices with and within Arctic communities. View the meeting slides or the scenario presentation recording (Kaare Sikuaq Erickson, Ikaagun Engagement).
May 2021 BIN Meeting: Panel discussion - Learning from perspectives
Participants in the BIN meeting shared what they see as the most important characteristics of BIN in Arctic research. View the meeting slides here.
How to become involved in the BIN
Videos: The NNA-CO will continue to feature NNA-funded projects in social media and our newsletters. We encourage every NNA project to develop a short video that introduces your Broader Impact and community engagement work. Here is some more guidance on making a video.
NNA Annual Community Meeting: Participate in the annual meeting to learn about education and outreach opportunities, as well as to learn how other NNA projects are approaching their outreach efforts.
Connect: Check out the NNA-CO website.
- Subscribe everyone on your team to our newsletter
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "subscribe to the NNA-CO newsletter"
- Join our Facebook group “Arctic Together”
- Follow us on Twitter @ArcticTogether
Resources: Links and resources for your own learning.
