Svalbard: An Arctic Laboratory

*What is Svalbard telling us about our changing planet, and what makes it such a unique place for Arctic research?* Joining the conversation are: - **Harald Stee**n, Research Director, Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) - **Heikki Lihavainen**, Director, Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System (SIOS) - **Marion Maturilli**, Scientist, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Germany; Scientific Coordinator, AWIPEV Research Base - **Bartłomiej Luks**, Assistant Professor, Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences - **Olga Gavrichkova**, Senior Researcher, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRET); Co-chair, Ny-Ålesund Terrestrial Flagship The Session is moderated by **Mauro Mazzola**, Scientist, Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ISP), and Station Manager, Dirigibile Italia CNR. This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum — Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026. Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization.  Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.org TWITTER: @\_Arctic\_Circle FACEBOOK: The Arctic Circle INSTAGRAM: arctic\_circle\_org