Conversations at the edge of the world

A conference where you are slightly afraid to leave the guesthouse because of the strong wind bending low-growing trees down. A conference set amongst stunning landscapes, where fish and chips are sold next to woolen sweaters, and coinciding with a traditional Faroese whale hunt. Yes, the UArctic Congress 2026 at the Faroe Islands (sometimes referred to as The Edge of the World) was a very unique conference experience.

My participation was seemingly straightforward: I presented my research on the impact of energy transition on more-than-human landscapes in the panel on meaningful stakeholder engagement co-organized with my colleagues from UArctic Thematic Network on Arctic Sustainable Resources. However, large academic events represent much more than a presentation slot.

I valued the chance to engage in conversations during lunches and coffee breaks, discussing my emerging project on Arctic data centres as well as the work of other colleagues, from waste management in the North to the river infrastructures of Canadian First Nations. This atmosphere of friendly and enthusiastic exchange always energizes me and provides strength and courage later, in the moments of doubt. It also reminds me why I value being part of the Arctic research community.

Another plus was the chance to explore the town a bit – even though my stay was rather short. Tórshavn, the capital of Faroe Islands, is a friendly place with hills and cliffs, lots of children, more-than-human inhabitants such as chickens, horses, and sheep. And, very importantly, free public transportation for all, including tourists.

With a population of around 14,000 residents, Tórshavn hosted more than 1,400 conference guests. I have heard that chairs and headphones had to be sourced to the conference venue from elsewhere to manage such a large amount of guests at the same time. Keeping that in mind, the smooth organization of the Congress deserves a special applause. And this is the first time when I actually had sushi (with local salmon of course) as a conference lunch.

Finally, as one of the colleagues said, “We should get a separate day just to hug each other!” – and indeed, it was amazing to see so many friends from different countries and stages of my career trajectory. In such moments, I truly feel at home in the Arctic research community.