Bright Lights at the Arctic Circle Assembly

Since 2014, over 250 students, faculty and alumni have joined The Fletcher School’s annual delegation to the Arctic Circle Assembly. For 10 years, Professor Rockford Weitz, director of Fletcher’s Maritime Studies program, has led the Fletcher delegation, which is the largest non-Icelandic academic delegation every year and is composed primarily of students. 

Founded in 2013 as a forum for multilateral negotiations between the eight Arctic nations—the United States, Canada, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia—the Arctic Circle Assembly today draws 2,000 participants from over 60 countries. As a Track II diplomatic conference, it is open to the public but is distinct in that diplomats also attend. 

“The purpose of the conference is to create dialogue and democratize the Arctic,” said Weitz. “The Arctic has a governance structure under the Arctic Council, which was established in 1996 after the Cold War ended and the Soviet Union collapsed. The Arctic is a geographic region where multilateralism still works.”

Though Russia has not sent a delegation in-person since their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the assembly has continued to bring together key global players for discussion on the resource-rich Arctic. In every iteration, the conference provides unparalleled experience in the field and networking opportunities. 

“There's no conference like the Arctic Circle Assembly,” said Weitz. “Lisa Murkowski usually attends all three days and sits in the audience with the rest of us and asks questions. Fletcher students have the same ability to ask questions during the Q&A as do the journalists, private citizens, business investors, professors and U.S. senators."

“Fletcher students get to see diplomacy in action,” he added. “They get to talk to heads of state. We met with both the current and former prime ministers of Iceland.” 

A Chance to Shine

As the preeminent forum for Arctic dialogue, this year’s assembly offered a rich opportunity for Fletcher community members to share their research and learn from others. Weitz presented as part of a panel discussion on “Mapping Futures” alongside Fletcher partners at the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry and the Woodwell Climate Research Center. Doctoral student and Master in Global Affairs (MGA) graduate Benjamin Brimelow, F22, spoke at the Arctic Innovation Lab, where young leaders presented policy ideas for a better Arctic. 

Brimelow first attended the Arctic Circle Assembly in 2022 as an MGA student and was eager to represent Fletcher on his second visit. 

“I was one of six students from various university and graduate school programs across the world, including Norway, Iceland, Canada and the United Kingdom,” Brimelow said. “My proposal was to create a program that would oversee the leasing of icebreakers from Arctic and near Arctic states so that countries without experience in their construction and maintenance would still be able to commission them for Arctic research missions.”

“Ideally, the program would be managed by the Arctic Council, and would help democratize the Arctic so that this crucial area, the common heritage of mankind according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, could truly be accessed by all,” he added.

Brimelow based his proposal off of similar programs, like NATO's C-17 partner program and the International Space Station. 

“The experience speaking was a great one,” he said, reflecting on the panel. “I felt confident giving my speech, but, most importantly for me, I felt proud to represent Fletcher, which educated me, guided me and gave me this chance to shine.” 

A Warm Dialogue on Arctic Issues 

While assembly veteran Weitz was familiar with the assembly’s power for fostering discussion, students were inspired to see it in action. 

“I think the thing that surprised me the most was just how onboard everyone was with the idea of global cooperation,” said Brimelow. “I truly felt like this might be the last place on Earth in which global cooperation isn't just possible but can really thrive.” 

Master of International Business (MIB) student MarMar Luo, F26, was similarly struck by the sense of collaboration among conference attendees.

“Rather than competition or finger-pointing, there was a real emphasis on shared responsibility and inclusion,” said Luo. “One of the standout moments for me was hearing Indigenous leaders speak about traditional ecological knowledge as a complement, not competition, to scientific data. It was a powerful reminder that sustainability isn’t just technical—it’s cultural and also deeply human.”

As an MIB student, Luo studies Human Security and Humanitarian Affairs, and she attended the conference to understand how global environmental shifts affect communities on a more human level. 

“My biggest takeaway was that the Arctic isn’t just about melting ice or geopolitics—it’s about the people,” she said. “I think oftentimes in the classroom we talk about policy, climate or security as separate issues, but in Iceland, I saw how deeply interconnected they really are. Hearing from Indigenous leaders and policymakers reminded me that security isn’t only about protection from threats. It’s also about dignity, identity and the ability to adapt. That perspective really stayed with me.”

A Bright Future in Iceland

During the delegation’s visit, they also had time to explore various parts of Iceland, which Weitz sees as an inspiration located only a short flight away from Boston. 

“The future is Icelandic,” he said. “They've already done the energy transition. It's the safest country in the Western Hemisphere. They rank number one in the world for gender equality in politics.”

A group traveled to the country’s famous Blue Lagoon, which Weitz noted is emblematic of the country’s ingenious thinking. 

“The Blue Lagoon is this famous spa, but people don't realize it’s not a natural spa,” said Weitz. “It's the wastewater from a geothermal power plant. Their energy system doesn't send out carbon emissions. It sends out hot water that has healing capabilities and has essentially generated a billion dollar spa business for Iceland. It's pretty amazing.”

Luo and some friends visited the lagoon during a road trip along the country’s western coast on one of their free days. 

“Five of us squeezed into one car with way too many snacks, laughing, sharing stories and all taking turns DJ-ing as we passed waterfalls, lava fields and sweeping mountain views,” she said. “We even stopped for a relaxing visit at the famous Blue Lagoon, which felt like such a dream, and took photos of sights so beautiful they’d been featured in Game of Thrones.” 

Yet one of the most memorable moments arose in the city itself—the group saw the northern lights from the streets of Reykjavik. 

“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Luo said. “One moment I was walking, and the next, the sky lit up green. I was so excited that I literally screamed. Later that night, we drove to another area further from the city and watched the night sky light up once more.”

Read more about Fletcher’s Maritime Studies program.