Environmental scientist Dr. Robert Corell is the High North Hero 2019

Every year, the High North Center for Business and Governance awards the High North Hero prize, which is given to any organization or individual who has contributed to value creation and growth in the Arctic. The winner of the award will enter a proud line of award winners including Paavo Lipponen, Scott Minerd and Mary Simon.

This years winner of the High North Hero prize is the American scientist Robert Corell. As leader of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) of the Arctic Council, Corell has had an important role in putting Arctic issues on the agenda.

As stated by Director of the High North Center for Business and Governance, and secretary of the award committee:

- He is one of the world's leading researchers in climate change and how they affect society. In his work, he has been very concerned about how climate change will affect the life and social conditions in the Arctic. He is certainly a worthy High North Hero.

- I received the committee's decision with great satisfaction. Corell has not only delivered important research, but he has also been involved in developing research environments that have the expertise and insight to further the work on exploring how climate change affects society. Knowledge is crucial for us to undertake the right actions. This applies in all areas, and not least how we should handle the climate challenges.

Corell is today the principal of the Global Environment Technology Foundation, an ambassador for ClimateWorks, professor II at the University of the Arctic’s new Institute of Circumpolar Reindeer Husbandry and a professor II at the University of Tromso.

As is the tradition, Corell received the award personally during the High North Dialogue conference in Bodø April 4.

- I am very grateful and humbled by the High North Hero-award. I am respectfully here to seek ways to join you discuss and develop ideas for the economic development of the Arctic region, with an emphasis on future scenarios, development cross sectors and governance needed in order to ensure sustainable growth, states Corell.

The award is delivered by the Director for The Arctic Economic Council, Anu Fredrikson:

- This year’s High North Hero has made outstanding efforts in order to put Arctic issues on the public agenda. Dr. Corell is actively engaged in scientific work related to global and Arctic change. Further, he has worked tirelessly to improve  understanding of the vulnerability of the Arctic, and to promote the understanding of sustainable development in our region.

The contributions of Dr. Corell are many. He has been awarded the Brazilian Order of Scientific Merit by the President of Brazil. In addition, in 2003 a mountain region in the Antarctic was named  “Corell Cirque” in his honor.

About the High North Hero Award:

The High North Hero Prize was awarded for the first time in 2016, and the first high north hero was former Prime Minister of Finland, Paavo Lipponen. The High North Hero award for 2017 went to American Scott Minerd, founder of Guggenheim Partners. Minerd received the award for his efforts for sustainable investments in the Arctic. The High North Hero of 2018 is Mary Simon for her work with promoting indigenous peoples’ rights and welfare in the Arctic area.

The committee evaluating the nominated candidates for the High North Hero award 2019 consisted of:

• Director Anu Fredrikson, Arctic Economic Council
• Professor Laurence C. Smith, UCLA, US
• Special advisor Finn Roar Aamodt, Equinor
• Professor Indra Øverland, NUPI, Norway
• Rector Elena Vladimirovna Kudryashova, NArFU, Arkhangelsk, Russia
• Vice-President Interregional cooperation, University of the Arctic, Marina Kalinina
• Director Sergej Vasiliev, MGIMO University, Moscow, Russia
• Editor in Chief, Arne O Holm, High North News, Norway

About the High North Center for Business and Governance

The High North Center, Nord University, is a national center for research, education and dissemination. The center researches and communicates knowledge about value creation, innovation, business opportunities, community life and politics in the High North.