EPB session at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum – Polar Dialogue, March 3

The European Polar Board (EPB) will convene a dedicated panel session at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum – Polar Dialogue to spotlight the strategic importance of Europe’s continued investment in polar research.

Titled “Europe’s polar research (Investing in Polar Research: Europe’s Path to Knowledge Security & Sustainability),” the session will bring together perspectives from the Ministry of Science Innovation and Universities, Spain, the European Commission, the Icelandic Centre for Research (RANNIS) and the Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) to discuss why sustained, coordinated polar science is essential for Europe’s future resilience.

The EPB session will take place on March 3, 18:40 - 19:35 CET.

Description of the session:

Sustained investment in polar research remains essential for safeguarding Europe’s resilience, security, and global standing. Accelerating climate-driven changes in the Arctic and Antarctic are reshaping Europe’s climate patterns, affecting key economic sectors and supply chains, and influencing the wider security landscape. In this rapidly evolving context, Europe needs continuous access to independent, high-quality information grounded in long-term observations, research, and scientific assessments. Such investment enables Europe to detect emerging risks early, understand their potential consequences, and take proactive action rather than respond after the fact. For this knowledge to remain consistent, reliable, and actionable, coordinated and cooperative research efforts are essential. The session will highlight how polar knowledge continues to be a foundation for Europe’s strategic resilience and why coordinated polar research is not optional, but a strategic necessity for Europe’s future.

Panelists:

• Dr. Eva Ortega-Paíno, Secretary General for Research at the Ministry of Science Innovation and Universities, Spain 
• Ágúst Hjörtur Ingþórsson, General Director of the Icelandic Centre for Research- RANNIS 
• Larisa Lörinczi, Policy Officer for Ocean, Climate, and Polar Research and Innovation in the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission 
• Dr. Sandro Carniel, Research Director, CNR - Institute of Polar Sciences

Moderator: Dr. Maria Grigoratou, Executive Secretary, European Polar Board

The National Research Council of Italy, an EPB Member, is hosting the Arctic Circle Rome Forum at its headquarters in Rome. Find more information about the Arctic Circle Rome Forum on the official website: The Arctic Circle Rome Forum - Polar Dialogue