Julien Lebel

• Indigenous peoples and Arctic communities

• Climate, nature and energy transition

• Oceans and coastal communities

Senior researcher specializing in sustainable societies, transportation, geopolitics and the effects of climate change in the Arctic.

Julien Lebel is a senior researcher at Nordland Research Institute and holds a PhD in Geography with a specialization in Geopolitics. His research focuses on how climate change, geopolitics, transport and tourism affect the Arctic region. He has a particular interest in the interaction between local communities, regional and national governments and international actors in the High North. 

Competence

Julien combines analysis of climate and environmental challenges, transport policy and sustainable development in Arctic communities with expertise in geopolitics, cartography and GIS (geographic information systems). He has researched topics such as sustainability in coastal communities, transport in peripheral regions, tourism in Svalbard, and the role of the EU in the Arctic. In connection with his research, he regularly conducts fieldwork in Arctic communities, in particular to conduct interviews with relevant stakeholders, and organizes interactive workshops with residents to collect data and input and stimulate discussions around sustainability in local communities. 

Education and work experience

Julien holds a PhD in Geography with a specialization in Geopolitics from Université Paris 8 Vincennes Saint-Denis, and master's degrees in both Geopolitics and Geography from Université Paris 8 Vincennes Saint-Denis and Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne respectively. Before joining Nordland Research Institute , he has worked as an advisor in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has written his doctorate on geopolitics and international civil aviation through a research project in collaboration with Air France-KLM.

By Nordland Research Institute He has been employed as a senior researcher since 2021.

Projects and publications

Julien has participated and led work packages in several national and European research projects, such as EmpowerUs (sustainable and inclusive coastal communities in Europe), Balancing Act (sustainable tourism in Svalbard), FACE-IT (effects of climate change in the Arctic), NorValue (sustainable development in Nordic coastal communities), and SmartMOVE (sustainable mobility in Europe). In addition to working with an international network of Researchers who are based in various countries, he has also led regional studies on transport and sustainability with Norwegian partners.

He has published several articles in international journals such as Polar Geography , Marine Policy , Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism , and Arctic Review on Law and Politics in connection with his research work.

Dissemination

Julien has written several articles, book chapters, and policy reports and notes aimed at various stakeholders, especially decision-makers at regional, national, and European levels. He has also worked as an examiner in higher education for courses on sustainability and local communities.