Noor Johnson – United States
Dr. Noor Johnson is a cultural anthropologist whose research focuses on environmental governance and Indigenous knowledge in the Arctic. She holds a joint research appointment at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado Boulder. From 2015 – 2016, she was an inaugural Fulbright Arctic Initiative Scholar working on offshore and renewable energy. Noor has worked with a variety of non-profit organizations on science policy, communications, program development, and project management, including the National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian Institution, the Inuit Circumpolar Council, and City Year. Previously, Noor served as a Fulbright Scholar in Sri Lanka, where she researched peacebuilding and development. Noor has a Ph.D. from McGill University (Cultural Anthropology), where she was a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar, an M.A. from American University (Public Anthropology), and a B.A. from Brown University (Development Studies).
Yekaterina “Katia” Kontar – United States
Dr. Yekaterina “Katia” Kontar is a postdoctoral scholar – Arctic Data e-Cosystem Scientist with the Pan-Arctic Options (PAO) project at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. Her research focuses on knowledge and information systems in the context of environmental, economic, and societal elements associated with Arctic sustainability. Katia joined the PAO team from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she received her doctoral degree in Science Communication and Policy. The focus of Katia’s graduate research was disaster risk reduction in rural Arctic communities. A key accomplishment of her research was a facilitation of a dialogue among stakeholders — tribal and civil leaders of flood-prone communities, federal and university scientists, and representatives from federal agencies — responsible for flood management involved in flood management in both regions. Katia has published multiple peer-reviewed articles, and two interdisciplinary Springer monographs. Her professional background is in science communication and outreach.
Diwakar Poudel – Norway
Dr. Diwakar Poudel is a Postdoctoral Researcher with the Pan-Arctic Options (PAO) project at the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI). His research focuses on developing methods and instruments for managing variable environmental values in the Arctic. Prior to starting work with the Pan-Arctic Options (PAO) project at the Norwegian Polar Institute, he worked in several environmental management projects and most recently ecosystem-based fisheries management in the Barents Sea. Dr. Poudel received his PhD in Resource Economics from Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and MSc degree in Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture (MNRSA) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). His research interests include Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management (BNRM) and Environmental and Resource Economics (ERE). He has published in various Resources Economics journals. He has work experience on Management of Natural Resources and Biodiversity at different governmental and non-governmental organizations, both in developed and developing countries.