Adam Stepien is following Arctic policy on the front line. Besides working on his dissertation, he has published reports and organized seminars to support Finland during the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council and the EU in the Arctic policy.

It would be hard to imagine better timing. Adam
Stepien from Poland got a traineeship in the Arctic Centre at the best possible
moment in 2008. Two major projects had just begun and there was an urgent need for
more researchers.

– I was very lucky. Immediately, I was
able to join a research group that worked on questions concerning the European Union
and Arctic maritime governance.

He chose Rovaniemi as the
place for his traineeship for two reasons: the Arctic regions and their unique
features fascinated the young researcher, and he was already familiar with the
environment. The first contact with the culture and way of life in Lapland took
place already in 2005 when Adam came to Rovaniemi as an exchange student. The Arctic
Circle attracted him back like a magnet.

– I love skiing
and the nature in Lapland. The biggest difference between Finland and Poland is that
people here seem to trust each other. I am not implying that the Polish would be
less trustworthy, but people just do not have that trust towards the others. It is
because of history.

"AdamStepien_PhotographerPiotr
Photo: Piotr Graczyk

Even though maritime
policy was not really Adam’s field, the period as trainee gave him a strong
foundation. At the same time, it opened new doors for the future. Lapland was such
an attractive, interesting and safe environment, and as an area for research, it was
unique. Therefore, when the time for writing his dissertation came, Adam had already
his luggage packed. In 2010, he came back to the Arctic Centre to work on his
dissertation, and he has stayed.

– At present, I am trying
to work on my dissertation alongside other research. However, since 2013 I have
mainly worked coordinating projects and on research relating to those projects, so I
am a bit behind with my dissertation. I have permission to take a leave to finalize
the dissertation, but I guess I am also needed here.

The
topic of the dissertation initially revolved around development cooperation issues,
but the subject changed on the fly five years later. The main reason for the change
was the change in Adam’s own interests. The research projects at the Arctic Centre
further boosted his interest in the Arctic policies, governance and cooperation in
the European Union. His research interests also include minority groups, and the
Sámi policy is of particular interest.

– My master’s thesis
also addressed minority groups and related policies. With research, the Arctic
regions and the Sámi rose to the top of my research interests.

Adam Stepien believes he can complete the dissertation this year. Work as a
researcher at the Arctic Governance Research Group keeps him busy though.

– I cannot say that I am a real expert in any field, but I
believe I am one of the few who can contribute to research in so many different
areas. I enjoy working in an international team at the Arctic Centre that provides a
nice atmosphere and a great framework for such research.

Adam Stepien

  • Researcher at the Arctic

    Governance Research Group     of the Arctic Centre
  • Master of Political Science
  • Research objects/targets:

    the Arctic policy of the European Union, Arctic governance, cross-sectoral

    policy-making, indigenous governance in the North, innovation in peripheral and

    Arctic regions
  • More information: www.arcticcentre.org/stepien

 

Text and photo: Maria
Paldanius