High North Hero 2023 Diane Hirshberg and leader of the High North Hero commitee Anu Fredrikson. Hirshberg received the award during the High North Dialogue conferense in Bodø, Northern Norway in April. (Photo: Trine Jonassen)
Bodø (High North News): The High North Hero of 2023 is Professor Diane Hirshberg of the Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Alaska Anchorage. She thanks her mother for her commitment to social changes and has a burning engagement for the Arctic Youth.
“The sixth High North Hero is heavily engaged in research, education, and social and societal development in the Arctic through international cooperation.”
That was how the chair of the High North Hero Award jury Anu Fredrikson explained the jury’s decision on this year’s High North hero.
HIGH NORTH DIALOGUE 2023
Diane Hirshberg participated in the High North Dialogue in Bodø, Norway April 18-21. The High North Dialogue is an annual conference that brings together major stakeholders concerned with Arctic development. The purpose of the event is to encourage and facilitate dialogue between stakeholders to promote sustainable development in the Arctic, as well as information sharing and discussion of best practices. In 2023 the topic was “Business in the Arctic – Spaces of Opportunities”, emphasizing the opportunities connected to Politics, Business, Outer Space, Education, and Ocean Space.
ISER Director Diane Hirshberg participated in two side events, including a panel titled “How can we create a more attractive job market in the High North?” and in the plenary panel titled Spaces of Opportunities in Education. This panel featured participants from Finland, Norway, China and Alaska, including the Rectors of Nord University in Bodø, and UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø.
