News Report: The Latest Happening at the NORWEL Research School

Day 1. Symposium with keynote presentations

What a symposium! What an incredible few days we have experienced in Tromsø, focusing on a deeply serious and thoroughly contemporary theme: Social work in times of conflicts and war – how do geopolitics impact social problems, practice and research?

On the first day, we gained deep insight into how the current geopolitical situation—marked by conflict, war, unstable power dynamics, and climate change—affects every part of the population across borders in both the Global South and the Global North. Psychologist Katrin Glatz Brubakk shared powerful, firsthand accounts directly from children in Gaza. She brought the voices of children in war to the forefront, highlighting the brutal consequences of conflict on children and families. Through her warm, deeply moving presentation, she especially illuminated war’s traumatizing effects.

Professor Sven Erik Mamelund, who has broad experience in international research collaboration, highlighted the challenges of promoting genuine diversity among research participants. Drawing on his own experience, he also shared how political leadership in the US directly interferes with researchers’ academic freedom and the consequences for collaborative relationships with American researchers. His core message was that it remains vitally important to keep cooperating with individual researchers, even when the broader political climate creates severe difficulties for the university sector in that country.

Next, we got an intriguing look at the situation in Greenland after the US threatened to annex the country. Bonnie Jensen from the University of Greenland, who leads the CARE research center, described how this threat generated unrest, conflict, and fear. She showed how the arrogance of power and undemocratic forces can divide and disrupt a small, tight-knit community.

Joanna Ikävalko, a marine biologist and director of the Center for Geopolitics, Peace and Security at UiT, gave the final presentation. She offered a new perspective on geopolitical tensions in the High North by placing the Arctic at the center of our understanding. We also gained crucial insights into how human-made climate change directly affects people’s living conditions and the environment. She provided a grand, holistic view of how war, power relations, increased consumption, and climate change are interconnected and mutually shape the global conditions for human life. Her message is clear: degrowth and lower consumption represent the only viable path forward to turn this development around.

After this first day, one participant remarked to me, «We haven’t spoken directly about social work, yet everything has actually been about social work in the grand scheme of things.» This sums up the day perfectly. We must challenge the traditional boundaries of our discipline and view social work as a field of study, research, and practice within a larger, holistic, and global framework.

A warm thank you to Aina Lian Flem for guiding us so wisely throughout the day.

Day 2. Workshop and presentation from the PhD candidates

The new head of the research school, Hilde Marie Thrana, started the day by sharing insights into the PhD journey, emphasizing that it isn’t a straight line, but a circular, back-and-forth process. To be a researcher is, first and foremost, to be curious and to let the exploring child be your role model. And, of course, to have fun!

The candidates presented their work within three thematic groups: global perspectives in North–South & Dissemination; crucial systemic questions in Research in Welfare Services; and relational research focusing on Young People.

The day was filled with high engagement, deep discussion, insightful questions, and generous contributions from all participants. We closed the session with a reminder from one of the presentations on social work among youth: Don’t face the problems alone! We think those words truly count for all members and participants at the NORWEL Research School!

We met on the first evening at Ardna’s cozy, nice house at UiT for a social gathering, dinner, and small talk. Many thanks to Walter, Kristine, and Ingvil for arranging everything so well.

Warm thanks also to Walter and Kristine for leading the school steadily for four years. Fortunately for us, Prof. Walter Schönfelder will still play an important role in the school.

Regards,

Hilde Marie Thrana