The Arena for the gap analysis of the existing Arctic Science Co-Operations (AASCO-2) project began its 2023-2025 dialogue in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, during the Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) on 23-24 March 2024. This transdisciplinary project is funded by the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco with the University of the Arctic (UArctic) as a key partner for the two periods: 2020-2022 (AASCO-1) and 2023-2025 (AASCO-2).
Coordinated by the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) at the University of Helsinki – the AASCO project is dedicated to understanding the feedback and interactions between land, ocean, and atmosphere in the Arctic-boreal context under changing climate. AASCO began with the PEEX “Pan-Eurasian Experiment”, which is a multidisciplinary climate change, air quality, environment and research infrastructure initiative focusing on the Northern Eurasian particularly Arctic and boreal regions that was founded by several European, Russian and Chinese research organizations and institutes.
Prof. Paul Arthur Berkman is among the AASCO-1 and AASCO-2 partners, sharing perspectives about science diplomacy in the Arctic with informed decisionmaking to balance national interests and common interests for the benefit of all on Earth across generations. In this common-interest building context – observations in 2020 from former Finnish President, Tarja Halonen about AASCO, reflecting on scientific cooperation in the Baltic Sea during the Cold War, seem particularly relevant today when Cold War Lessons for Arctic Diplomacy are urgent to heed.
