Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

IPY: U.S.-Canada Collaborative Study of the Nearly Developing Arctic Natural Gas Industry  (Transporting Natural Gas from the Arctic)

Outline
Discussion of arctic natural gas development focuses on building multi-billion dollar pipelines to deliver energy to markets in mid-continental United States, Europe, and Asia. Such pipelines will travel south across indigenous communities, lands, and territories. Members of these communities will want access to natural gas and to the benefits from its production. But to gain access, they must involve themselves in the discussions over how these projects move forward. This requires learning new ideas about technology, economics, and regulation. We see a real need for focused research on how these local and transnational visions come to play a part in defining these projects. We are concerned by the way economic and technical details often define a realm of thought concerning development. Such arguments over the best location of energy infrastructure, for example, can conflict with arguments about the identity of places, and their environmental and aesthetic quality, or be used to undermine the claims of local communities on choices about local access to natural gas. Our proposal examines the cultural shifts brought forth by recent proposals to develop arctic natural gas in Alaska, Canada, Norway, and Russia. We will consider regional and federal policy on natural gas development, institutional commitments to principles of a newly restructured industry, and how the interplay between these different forces contributes to establishing a global natural gas energy market. We plan to carry out ethnographic field research of government officials, Northern community representatives, and energy executives, at key sites of decision-making in Alaska and Canada. The research relates to studies of globalization that investigate the changing role of state governance by considering the emergence of a new global dynamics that is replacing social systems as central units of analyses in favor of the concept of flows and networks.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Ethnographic research of arctic gas planning partners with endorsed IPY projects and launches a new initiative on how Arctic policy is unfolding. The project expands international cooperation and interdisciplinary research among Canadian, U.S. and Norwegian Scholars; engages arctic residents in meaningful ways through future forums on arctic gas policy at University of Alaska and ICASS 6; provides a legacy of data management for research, and outreach through participation with Association of Polar Early Career Scientists. Creates a legacy infrastructure through a web-based interface at Arizona State University; attracts next generation of scientists by involving graduate students over a three-year period.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Dr. Arthur Mason, Arizona State University (U.S.); Drs. Mark Nuttall, University of Alberta, Benoit Beauchamp of the Arctic Institute of North America, and Doyle Hatt of University of Calgary (Canada); Dr. Jan Simonsen of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and Kristin Vikland of NTNU’s Studio Apertura (Norway).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Mainly urban and rural village sites in Alaska, Western Canada, and northern Norway.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 05/08 – 09/08      05/09 – 09/09      05/10 – 09/10
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Our main tasks relate to ethnographic research and we will therefore not utilize arctic intensive facilities and infrastructure.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
As part of the IPY goal to recognize the importance of data management and legacy of infrastructure, we plan to develop a web-based interface and supporting data management and accessibility infrastructure through Arizona State University’s School of Justice and Social Inquiry (SJSI). The web-based interface will offer personalized experience to meet the needs of its users and will be linked to and from existing IPY websites. We envision the web-based interface as a strategic knowledge service that will give individual users the ability to proactively manage and control the flow of analysis to their desktop computer. Individuals will be able to search for specific research and utilize supporting graphics and data behind the analysis.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Own support
Other sources of support

Our main tasks relate to ethnographic research and we will be working as fieldworkers in various urban and rural village sites.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes/Pending: We are currently pursuing a National Science Foundation grant (submitted March 16, 2007); Dr. Nuttall received a five year research program as a collaborative project between University of Oulu and University of Alberta.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?

Our proposal seeks to partnership with IPY projects: 46 (monitoring Oil and Gas development); 310 (Impacts of oil and gas activity); 299 (Arctic Energy Summit)

How will the project be organised and managed?
Dr. Mason will supervise analysis and data management tasks for the project. This includes the variety of ethnographic sites (e.g., State of Alaska, Alaska Legislature, ConocoPhillips Petroleum). Ethnographic field study will be co-organized between Drs. Arthur Mason and Mark Nuttall.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Forums on arctic gas policy are scheduled to take place through the University of Alaska (UA) sponsored Alaska energy seminars and distanced learning program for UA’s Department of Native and Rural Development; We have submitted a session to the ICASS assembly in 2008; We plant to establish a web-based interface and infrastructure through Arizona State University.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Data management and dissemination of the proposed research is planned through a web-based interface and accessibility infrastructure through Arizona State University (ASU). We plan to create a research program and unit at ASU.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
We have requested $500k from the National Science Foundation. Dr. Nuttall has research funds of one million dollars as part of the 5-year research project with University of Oulu in Northern Finland.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Assistant professor Arthur Mason
Arizona State University
Wilson Hall, #247
PO Box 870403
85287-0403
USA

Tel: 480-965-7682
Mobile:
Fax: 480-965-9199
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information