Corine Wood-Donnelly

My research focuses on norms, governance, and geopolitics of the Arctic, with particular attention to how sovereignty, legitimacy, and territorial authority are constructed and maintained in Arctic and maritime spaces. Although primarily situated within International Relations, my work bridges to political geography, international law, and history to explore how environmental change, geopolitical shifts, and normative transformations shape governance structures and sovereignty in the region. Alongside my primary research interests, I lead interdisciplinary research initiatives that address security dynamics, science-policy interfaces, and justice in Arctic governance. Through strategic research development and collaboration, I work to strengthen the visibility and impact of Arctic social sciences within national and international policy frameworks.

For 2025-2027, I am an Arctic 6 Chair for a project on maritime security.

Current Roles at the University

• Coordinator for Nord Arctic, the university's cross-faculty platform for Arctic research
• GEO-Security: Governance, Geopolitics & Security Research Group Co-Lead

Current External Roles

• Chair for The Arctic Institute-Centre for Circumpolar Studies Board of Directors
• Scientific Advisory Board Member Arctic Centre-University of Lapland
• Steering Committee member for the UArctic Læra Institute for Circumpolar Education
• Management Committee for Norway. COST Action 24169 Science in Diplomacy Network

Funded Projects in Progress

• ICE-BRIDGE (NFR) 'Bridging Ice Climate Technologies & Governance for Biodiversity in the Arctic'. Project webpage
• AUTO-MARE (NORDFORSK) 'Autonomous Technologies for Ocean Governance: Maritime Autonomy, Responsibility and Environment'. Project webpage
• INFRAPOL (NFR). 'Strengthening Critical Infrastructure Governance for Resilience and Security. Project webpage

Current PhD Students:

Jason Bunderson Thesis project: Arctic Resilience: How Resilience Manifests through Mobility Networks during Crises of Conflict and Dislocation in the Arctic

Alexander Craig-Thompson Thesis project: Future Imaginaries of the City Subsurface: The Case of Stockholm

Defended PhD Students:

Virginija Popovaite (Defended 2024). Thesis project: Lost Found and in Between: Following Maps in Norwegian Rescue Services in Northern Norway

Charlotte Gehrke (Defended 2025). Thesis project: From Science Communication to Science Diplomacy: Setting the Agenda on Arctic Marine Mammals

Keywords: Arctic sovereignty, Geopolitical narratives, Ocean governance. Space and Territory, Maritime security, Ice and Environmental governance, Resource Politics, Science Diplomacy, Arctic Justice, SAR, technological sovereignty