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Student in UW’s First ARCTIC 200 Course now intern for Arctic Caucus

Devon O'Niell

January 30, 2015

I was originally exposed to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) through previous research but received additional exposure in the ARCTIC 200 course through the Jackson School of International Studies. This introductory class has proved to be incredibly useful in securing an internship and exposing me to opportunities outside the university. It provided me with the chance to meet with the Executive Director of PNWER, Matt Morrison, and gave me the knowledge I needed to participate in discussions about the Arctic.

PNWER’s Arctic Caucus provides a forum for legislators in the Canadian and American governments to work with private sector actors to share information, discuss issues of mutual concern, and collaborate on action items and policy. This year, the Arctic Caucus will be focusing on Arctic marine transport, the implications of changing leadership in the Arctic Council, and working towards a regional policy that encompasses all jurisdictions.

In the next several months, PNWER will be working towards progress on the collective goals of the region, and I am excited to work with all involved parties in developing these comprehensive strategies, as well as increasing my knowledge of a relatively unknown region. It will be interesting to see how both of these aspects play out.

The Arctic Caucus of the PNWER is a partnership between Alaska, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. The partnership aims to provide a forum to share information, discuss issues of mutual concern, identify areas for collaboration between the three jurisdictions and the rest of North America, and provide Arctic-relevant input to PNWER working groups and the region at-large.

by Devon O’Neill, International Studies