Project Description
The CAP-SHARE: Building Bridges of Shared Capacity between Scientists, Policymakers, and Communities is funded by the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) program and will run from 2024 to 2027. CAP-SHARE aims to develop a model for effective capacity sharing for biodiversity preservation and climate resilience within municipalities by promoting cooperation between communities, scientists, and policymakers. Activities, such as public online and in-person workshops in collaboration with local museums, and an international youth science symposium, will focus on building solutions based on the following themes:
- Co-creating bridges between communities, policymakers, and scientists
- Recognizing intergenerational, local and indigenous knowledge
- Involving youth in place-based actions from conception to policy
All CAP-SHARE project partners are part of the Youth for Arctic Nature Steering Committee; the Lead Partner for CAP-SHARE is the Icelandic Museum of Natural History, with Project Partners being Arctic Frontiers in Norway and the University of Lapland in Finland. They will collaborate with other members of the Steering Committee throughout the project.
Total funding: 794,241.80€
NPA funding: 428,772.12€
Project Milestones
As a partner to the project, the role of Arctic Frontiers is to strengthen and internationalize the Science for Schools program. The program is a collaboration between Arctic Frontiers and Nordnorsk Vitensenter and involves around 400 school students in Tromsø every year.
In the fall of 2025, the program will be conducted both in Norway, Finland and Iceland. In early 2026, Arctic Frontiers and Nordnorsk Vitensenter will host an International Arctic Youth Science Symposium where select student projects will be showcased.
Furthermore, Arctic Frontiers will contribute to the project’s joint efforts to create a model for capacity sharing for biodiversity preservation and climate resilience.
Above: Rissa Citizen Science teaches the students about underwater drones.
Below: The Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic logo.
Project Updates
A series of online workshops have been held to gain insights into what different stakeholders need to be able to implement biodiversity measures. Local municipalities, scientists, Indigenous community leaders, youth and policy makers have all joined the discussions. Summary reports are on their way!
In addition, we have been involved in some in-person local workshops in northern Finland. Youth from across Norway, Finland, Sapmi and Iceland were gathered for discussions on how they connect to nature, and the importance of biodiversity in their lives. The project members also conducted workshops in northern Finland with local school children, where the focus was ‘what does biodiversity mean to you?’
Read more about the CAP-SHARE project at the project website.
