Kristina Bär, PhD

What’s the work that you do?

I work as the head of communications at the Arctic Council Secretariat in Tromsø, Norway, and thus, manage the communication and outreach work on behalf of the Arctic Council. On a daily basis, this means working with my fabulous three-women team on raising awareness about the Council’s work – especially the important project work conducted by the six Working Groups. We work closely with policy makers, scientists, researchers, and traditional knowledge holders to find the stories that will interest people in the Arctic and beyond and to showcase the impact of reports and projects on daily life and (inter)national policies.

What keeps you going?

What keeps me going – even during the current pause of the Council’s work – is the people we work with and the issues we jointly address. Communications is important to raise awareness of Arctic issues (also those that go beyond climate change, for example mental health or Indigenous languages). But it’s also essential to showcase that the Arctic is a home to people(s) and that they have tools and solutions to address changes in the Arctic – ideas and best practices worth sharing. The Council does a lot of important work on the ground that I think is often overlooked.

What’s your message to the world?

Come to the Arctic with an open mind and be aware that you are visiting people(s) homelands. Come to listen and to feel humbled. There’s a lot to learn, acknowledge that but don’t let it put you off – it’s a rewarding journey.