Oulu/Luleå 2006

The Borderless North

The 4th NRF Open Meeting
in Oulu and Tornio in Finland, and Haparanda and Luleå in Sweden
5 - 8 October 2006

Report on the 4th NRF Open Meeting given by Lassi Heininen Chairman of the NRF Steering Committee for the Sustainable Development Working Group, Arctic Council, Tromsø, Norway, April 10-11, 2007.

Position Papers
Abstracts by young researchers (pdf) (30.09.2006)
Call for Participation and for Applications from Young Researchers (pdf) (15.08.2006)
Themes and Sessions (pdf) (12.09.2006)
Program
Organisers' website
Tourist information Oulu
Tourist information Luleå
What's up North: photographic exhibition in Oulu
Deadly after dark: dance performance in Oulu

A Call for Participation and for Applications from Young Researchers (16.03.2006)
The 4th Open Meeting of the Northern Research Forum (NRF), The Borderless North, to be held on October 5-8, 2006 in the Bothnian Arc, in Oulu and Tornio (Finland) and Haparanda and Luleå (Sweden). The event is being organized by the Northern Research Forum, together with the 4th NRF Host Planning Committee representing the City Administration of Luleå, City Administration of Oulu, Council of Oulu Region, Luleå University of Technology, Provincia Bothiensis, Provincial Government of Lapland, Provincial Government of Norrbotten, Provincial Government of Oulu, Regional Council of Lapland, University of Lapland and University of Oulu.

If you would like to be on the NRF notifications e-mail post list, then please send your information to Lara Olafsdottir at the NRF Secretariat.

ØTopic Submission Deadline: April 18, 2006
ØFunding Application Deadline for Young Researchers: June 15, 2006
ØRegistration Deadline: September 1, 2006

The main theme of the 4th NRF Open Meeting is Tech-knowledgy in Economies and Cultures, with several integrated sub-themes and regional case studies. The discussions are expected to highlight in particular the matters of the role of research and the social relevance of science in addressing the issues of economics, knowledge and technology, borders, (sustainable/regional) development, international relations and politics, environmental politics, culture and community viability, integration and security, and regionalism and globalization in Northern regions.

For information on the Themes, Case Studies, Project-Day Topics, Special Sessions and draft program and schedule of the 4th NRF Open Meeting, as well as an introduction of the 4th NRF Hosts and Planning Committee members, please read here.

The final list of sub-themes and case studies for the plenary sessions as well as workshop topics for the Day of Projects will be decided during a upcoming meeting of the NRF Steering Committee, in late April 2006. Please send your proposals or suggestions to the NRF Secretariat, Lassi Heininen, Chairman of the NRF Steering Committee, Andrei Golovnev, for the Northern Research Forum of Russia, or to any member of the NRF Steering Committee.

Young Researcher Funding Eligibility
Young researchers and young professionals, primarily graduate students and those who have recently passed their MA or PhD, are eligible to receive full or partial travel funding from the NRF in order to participate in the 4th Open Meeting in Finland and Sweden.

If interested, please apply by providing the NRF with the following:
(1) Brief statement of interest describing how your research and professional or personal experiences relate to the particular themes or projects which the 4th Open Meeting will focus upon.
(2) One page resume.
(3) An abstract for a presentation to be considered for a Square Hour, Plenary Session, or Project-Day Session.

Please send these written materials to: nrf@unak.is
Application Deadline: June 15, 2006
For specific questions and additional information, please write to the NRF Secretariat.

The First Host Planning Committee Meeting in preparation for the 4th NRF Open Meeting in 2006

The first Host Planning Committee meeting of the 4th Open Meeting of The Northern Research Forum was held in Oulu, Finland, December 1st 2004. During the meeting, the composition of the Host Planning Committee was approved and is as follows:

Governor Per-Ola Eriksson, Provincial Government of Norrbotten
Chairman of the NRF Steering Committee, Lassi Heininen, University of Lapland
Director Kari Laine, Thule Institute, University of Oulu
Rector Lauri Lajunen, University of Oulu
Director Pentti Lampinen, Council of Oulu Region
Director Esko Lotvonen, Regional Council of Lapland
Mayor Kari Nenonen, City Administration of Oulu
Ingegerd Palmér, President of Luleå University of Technology
Governor Hannele Pokka, State Provincial Office of Lapland
Mayor Karl Petersen, City Administration of Luleå
Mayor Raimo Ronkainen, City of Tornio
Rector Esko Riepula, University of Lapland
Governor Eino Siuruainen, Provincial Government of Oulu

Governor Eino Siuruainen was elected as a Chairman of the Host Planning Committee and Governor Per-Ola Eriksson was elected as a Vice-chairman of the Host Planning Committee

The following have agreed to be the he hosts of the 4th NRF Open Meeting:

City Administration of Luleå
City Administration of Oulu
Council of Oulu Region
Luleå University of Technology
Provincia Bothiensis
Provincial Government of Lapland
Provincial Government of Norrbotten
Provincial Government of Oulu
Regional Council of Lapland
University of Lapland
University of Oulu

The 4th NRF Open Meeting will be held October 5-8, 2006 in Sweden and Finland

The first Host Planning Committee meeting of the 4th Open Meeting of The Northern Research Forum was held in Oulu, Finland, December 1st 2004. During the meeting, it was agreed that the next Open Meeting of the NRF will be held during the days of October 5-8, 2006 in Oulu, Tornio, Haparanda and Luleå in the countries of Sweden and Finland.

The proposed main themes of the Open meeting are as follows:

1. Economics, Technology and Regional Developments
2. Corporate Globalization and Civil Globalization and their Societal Responsibilities
3. Role of Science and Education in Region-Building
4. The possibility of Northern Regions to influence the scientific research agenda
5. History and Cultures

The list of themes will be finalized during the next meeting of the Host Planning Committee in March 2005.