Keith Larson

Keith Larson, PhD, is an ecologist and internationally recognised Arctic research, education, and policy leader. He is the Director of the Arctic Centre at Umeå University and the new host of the European Polar Board and European Polar Coordination Office from 2025. He drives inter- and transdisciplinary collaborations that address societal, environmental, and geopolitical challenges in the Arctic and the Polar regions. His research integrates Indigenous knowledge and Western science to understand climate change impacts, such as Arctic greening, biodiversity shifts, and their effects on Arctic communities. Through his leadership, he fosters global partnerships through collaborative initiatives like the Arctic Six, the European Polar Board, the International Arctic Science Committee, and UArctic. He leads public engagement efforts, including citizen science programs and high-profile media projects such as a recent segment on Arctic pollinators in BBC Frozen Planet II. Under his guidance, the Arctic Centre thrives as a hub for inter- and transdisciplinary research, advancing sustainable development and evidence-based policymaking in the Polar regions. He serves in leadership positions at the Arctic Six and European Polar Board.