Hello. My name is Matthias Finger. I will be guiding you through our Global Arctic MOOC. The purpose of our MOOC is to inform you about what is currently going on in the Arctic. We also want to sensitize you to what is at stake in the Arctic and more generally, what is at stake for the planet, what happens in the Arctic? Indeed, the development in the Arctic are of global relevance and the developments at the global level are, of course, of key importance for the Arctic. This is what we call the Global Arctic. But we have to have a brief discussion before we dive into this MOOC. What is the Arctic? There are many definitions. There are geographical ones, the Arctic circle. There is the temperature. The 10-degree July is a term which, of course, changes as a result of climate change. There are ecological definitions, fauna and flora definitions. For example, the treeline. Again, that changes as a result of climate change. One can also take definitions of indigenous peoples or simply of institutions, governments. In this MOOC, we follow the definitions of both the Arctic Human Development Report, which is the red line on the map, and the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, which is the green line. They overlap on many issues and actually give you a clear idea of what we cover when we talk about the Arctic. But I must also say that all these definitions actually create an artificial border between the Arctic and the rest of the planet. Indeed, in the context of the Global Arctic, these borders are particularly problematic. The Arctic is, in fact, fully connected to the planet and the world through climate, through ocean currents, through the economy, through transportation and communication technologies, through peoples and their movement and, of course, because of geopolitics. Thus, to us, the Arctic rather looks like a space without very clear borders. Our approach to the Global Arctic is especially relevant today when stakes both for the Arctic and for the planet have become numerous and high. Indeed, the Arctic is warming more than twice as fast as the rest of the planet as you will hear in this MOOC. The Arctic is probably one of the last frontiers for the planets hunger for resources, also a topic we will talk about. As a consequence, the Arctic is rapidly becoming a key witness to the effects of industrial civilization on the planet. So to speak, a laboratory of the Anthropocene, something we will explain later in the MOOC. Of course, what is key is the way the Arctic will be governed and the way that these transformations in the Arctic will be dealt with in the future. Our MOOC is structured into four blocks, and each block reflects one of the stakes that we have identified. So the first block talks about the relationship between the Arctic and the Earth's system from an ecological point of view. The second block will talk about the Arctic as part of the global economy. The third block will have a more historical approach and show how the Arctic has gradually become integrated into the military industrial civilization process. The fourth block, finally, is about the key issue namely the governance of the Arctic. This MOOC is for you if you want to understand the forces and the dynamics that currently affect the Arctic. It is also for you if you want to understand how these changes in the Arctic are affecting the planet and the world. It is furthermore for you if you will look for a comprehensive view of the different issues and stakes and dimensions of the Arctic. It is for you if you are interested in a transdisciplinary approach to Arctic issues. As a consequence, this MOOC is aimed both at academics and practitioners like you. In order to complete this MOOC, you will have to watch all the videos. There are additional complimentary readings that go with each of the videos. At the end of each of the four blocks, there will be quizzes and finally, there will be a final exam. We, of course, hope that you will enjoy the journey through the Global Arctic with us.
