Center for Sustainable Engagement in the Arctic

About CSEA

Our mission is to transform Arctic research through community-driven approaches that champion innovation in research and outreach. Guided by the Iñupiaq expression isagutilakput, which conveys the spirit of working together to initiate meaningful action, CSEA prioritizes Arctic communities’ leadership in identifying research priorities and co-developing solutions. Through collaboration, CSEA reimagines Arctic research to enhance both scientific knowledge and community-identified outcomes, strengthening Virginia Tech’s position as a leader in impactful, sustainable, and community-engaged research.

At CSEA, this means we listen first. Arctic communities tell us what issues matter most, and we work with them to find answers and solutions together. Our role is to connect communities with the people, tools, and resources at Virginia Tech and beyond. The result is research that not only helps science move forward but also supports the real needs of Arctic communities in practical and lasting ways. 

How It Works

CSEA’s work happens at three levels: big, long-term initiatives, medium-sized projects, and short-term consultations. Think of it like building blocks.

• Consultations (2–4 months): These are no-cost, short-term collaborations where communities bring us a specific need—like analyzing data, drafting a plan, or reviewing options. We connect them with the right expertise and provide an actionable report.

• Projects (1–3 years): Some consultations grow into larger projects, with more time, staff, or grant funding behind them.

• Initiatives (2–5 years): Our biggest efforts bring together multiple projects to address wide-reaching priorities—like health, research systems, or workforce development in the Arctic.

We welcome consultation requests from any Arctic community organization or Arctic-serving organization. While we may not be able to take on every request—or expand each consultation into a larger research project or initiative—every engagement helps us learn what communities most need and value. These consultations provide us with data to map community needs across the Arctic, showing where concerns and opportunities overlap and where new research initiatives might grow.

CSEA frames its work in terms of large-scale, multi-year initiatives supported by several smaller, scoped projects which can 1) address specific community needs through resource allocation and grant funding, or 2) support planning and development of community-focused policy solutions through our no-cost, short term consulting program.  Short-term consultations, usually lasting 2-4 months, can serve as the basis for a larger scoped project which may involve dedicated time from CSEA Staff or partners and may be supported by grant funding.