Mohn Prize Panel and Cocktail Reception
The prestigious Mohn Prize for Outstanding Arctic Research will be announced on Wednesday, December 3rd during the 16th Arctic Futures Symposium.
Awarded biennially, the Mohn Prize celebrates excellence in Arctic research. The 2 million NOK award recognizes individuals or research groups who have made exceptional contributions to our understanding of the Arctic - whether through groundbreaking insights into its nature, environment, or cultures - and who have demonstrated international leadership in their field.
The final panel of the Arctic Futures Symposium the afternoon of December 3rd, starting at 3:30 pm, began with a special keynote speaker and focused on the area of expertise of the 2026 winner of the Mohn Prize: freshwater biology in the Arctic.
Cocktail reception
The panel was immediately be followed by a cocktail reception from 5:30 pm until 8:00 pm to close out the 16th Arctic Futures Symposium.
Separate registration was not required for this event as it is part of the main symposium programme.
About the Mohn Prize
The Mohn Prize for Outstanding Arctic Research was established through collaboration between Academia Borealis - The Academy of Sciences and Letters of Northern Norway (NNVA), the Tromsø Research Foundation (TFS), and UiT The Arctic University of Norway (UiT).
Named after Henrik Mohn, a pioneer of Norwegian meteorology and a supporter of early polar expeditions, the prize pays tribute to Norway’s long-standing legacy in Arctic science and exploration.
By highlighting exceptional Arctic research, the Mohn Prize aims to bring vital Arctic issues to the forefront of both national and international agendas, from the impacts of climate change to the balance between resource development and the preservation of traditional cultures.
The Arctic Futures Symposium was honoured to host the announcement of the 2026 Mohn Prize laureate and to continue fostering dialogue between science, policy, and Arctic communities, and extends its warm congratulations to 2026 laureate Prof. John P. Smol of Queen's University.