Mohn Prize
The Mohn prize is awarded bianually to an individual or to a research group who has:
published excellent research related to the Arctic
holds a leading position internationally in her/his/their field of research
has brought to light groundbreaking new knowledge related to nature and/or culture in the Arctic
The Mohn Prize is collaboration by Academia Borealis The Academy of Sciences and Letters of Northern Norway (NNVA), Tromsø Research Foundation (TFS), and UiT The Arctic University of Norway (UiT). The prize amounts to 2 million NOK.
Mohn Prize 2026
At Arctic Frontiers 2026: Turn of the Tide, the Mohn Prize was awarded to Professor John Smol. John Smol is professor at Queen’s University in Canada, where his research focuses on identifying and improving the understanding of human impacts on Arctic freshwater ecosystems. Dr. Smol is a leading scientist in the field of freshwater ecology, and how it is impacted by the changing climate.
The award was presented by the Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre at the start of the Building up the Arctic plenary session of Arctic Frontiers. Read about the Prime Minister’s speech here.
Professor Smol also joined the subsequent Mohn Prize Laureate Seminar, a Side Event at the Arctic Frontiers conference. Watch the side event here.
