This month we highlight the work of Chinwe Philomina Oramah, whose research sits at the intersection of risk communication, climate-related security challenges, and disaster governance. Her work explores how communication strategies function in fragile and crisis-affected contexts, and how climate-driven risks shape governance structures at both local and global levels. She also teaches across our bachelor’s and master’s programmes in risk management and societal security.
News archive
28.11.2025:
Member Spotlight: Chinwe Philomina Oramah
Member Spotlight: Chinwe Philomina Oramah
This month we highlight the work of Chinwe Philomina Oramah, whose research sits at the intersection of risk communication, climate-related security challenges, and disaster governance. Her work explores how communication strategies function in fragile and crisis-affected contexts, and how climate-driven risks shape governance structures at both local and global levels. She also teaches across our bachelor’s and master’s programmes in risk management and societal security.
Chinwe’s scholarly output in 2025 reflects this breadth. Her climate-communication study from Nigeria highlights how language barriers can unintentionally exclude communities from meaningful climate action. Her comparative analysis of malaria information and mosquito-net use in West Africa sheds light on how health messaging affects real behaviour. Most recently, her Social Return on Investment evaluation of environmental protection plans in Thailand reveals how targeted interventions can generate substantial benefits for health, the environment, and local resilience.
You can read the articles here:
- Addressing the Impact of Complex English Use in Communicating Climate Change in Nigerian Communities: Through Contextual Understanding.
- A comparative analysis of the predictive influence of access to malaria messages on utilization of mosquito nets by under-five children in West Africa.
- Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of Environmental Protection Plans in Quarrying Using the Social Return on Investment Framework.
Across these projects runs a common thread: rigorous empirical work grounded in real-world problems, with practical relevance for policy and community engagement. We are proud to have her as a member of the Secure Societies group.
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07.11.2025:
Societal Security Conference 2025: Two days of shared learning and new connections
The Societal Security Conference 2025 is now behind us — and what a two-day event it turned out to be. Over 130 registered participants joined panels, workshops, and discussions that brought new perspectives on preparedness, resilience, and security in the Arctic.
Societal Security Conference 2025: Two days of shared learning and new connections
The Societal Security Conference 2025 is now behind us — and what a two-day event it turned out to be. Over 130 registered participants joined panels, workshops, and discussions that brought new perspectives on preparedness, resilience, and security in the Arctic.
We are especially pleased with the strong participation from national and international partners, the engagement of students and local actors, and the lively interest from the media.
With a full programme of panels and workshops, the event showcased the breadth of work underway in our field and created a space for thoughtful exchanges across disciplines and sectors. Participants also contributed to a rich public conversation, with coverage from NRK and active engagement across social media.
Our sincere thanks to all who contributed. The momentum from this year’s conference will carry us well into the work ahead.
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30.10.2025:
Secure Societies at the Arctic Circle
At the Arctic Circle Assembly 2025 in Reykjavík (18th October 2025), Dr. Karina Larsen, Associate Professor at the Department of Technology and Safety and member of UiT Secure Societies Research Group, represented UiT in the international session “Resilience – Lessons from the Arctic.” The panel, organised by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Arctic Initiative in collaboration with Nord University, Oulu Business School, University College Cork, and UiT The Arctic University of Norway, gathered experts to discuss how Arctic communities and high-risk sectors develop resilience through practice, training, and adaptive leadership.
13.08.2025:
A Full House for GLOBSEC Summer School 2025
From 2–8 August 2025, the Secure Societies Research Group hosted the second edition of the GLOBSEC Summer School, welcoming ten students from Stellenbosch University (South Africa) and ten UiT students for a week of intensive learning and cross-cultural exchange.
25.06.2025:
Societal Security Conference 2025 Funded by the Norwegian Research Council
We are proud to announce that the UiT Societal Security Conference 2025 has been awarded funding from the Norwegian Research Council. This recognition will enable us to deliver a high-impact, two-day event in Tromsø on November 4–5, 2025, under the timely and critical theme:
“The Responsibility to (Self)Protect?”
19.06.2025:
Secure Societies at NATO Arctic Resilience Exercise
The Secure Societies research group was invited to contribute to the NATO-led Tabletop Exercise Coherent Resilience 2025 Arctic (CORE 25-A), held on 17–18 June 2025 in a hybrid format.
04.06.2025:
Taiwan Fellowship Fieldwork, and New Research Horizons in Asia
We’re pleased to share that our group member, Dr. Monika Gabriela Bartoszewicz, has recently completed the prestigious Taiwan Fellowship, spending three months as a Visiting Scholar at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR) in Taipei.
01.04.2025:
New Publication: Resilient Societies in the Era of Disinformation
We’re excited to share our colleague’s new paper, Combatting Disinformation – How Do We Create Resilient Societies? Literature Review and Analytical Framework, which takes a fresh look at the challenges of disinformation in highly digitized democracies.
03.03.2025:
New Publication: Cracking the Code of Interorganizational Coordination in Emergencies
We're excited to announce a new publication by our research group members, Maria Sydnes, and Are K. Sydnes, who, along with Morten Kjeve, have tackled one of the most enduring puzzles in emergency management: inter-organizational coordination (IOC).
19.02.2025:
Celebrating Excellence: Masoud Awarded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship
We are thrilled to announce that our colleague, Masoud, has been awarded the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship for his groundbreaking project, "A Framework for Modelling and Optimising the Resilience of the Integrated Natural Gas Production and Transmission Network System" (RESILIENTGAS).
01.02.2025:
Upcoming Book Publication: A Time of Disastrous Anticipations
We are thrilled to announce the upcoming publication of A Time of Disastrous Anticipations: Essays on Life in the Shadow of Catastrophe, edited by two members of our research group, Reidar Staupe and Monika Gabriela Bartoszewicz.
Upcoming Book Publication: A Time of Disastrous Anticipations
We are thrilled to announce the upcoming publication of A Time of Disastrous Anticipations: Essays on Life in the Shadow of Catastrophe, edited by two members of our research group, Reidar Staupe and Monika Gabriela Bartoszewicz.
This compelling volume highlights the role of anticipation in shaping societal narratives and explores strategies for redefining responses to catastrophic imaginaries. Through a combination of theoretical insights and practical examples, the book reveals that catastrophe is not so much a matter out of place, but primarily a matter out of time.
This publication truly showcases the versatile expertise within our group, featuring chapters by other members, including Leikny Bakke Lie, Miriam Matejova, and Barbara Schabowska. Their contributions cover a diverse range of topics, from natural hazards and disinformation to the mental health crisis, reflecting the breadth and depth of our research endeavors.
For those interested in learning more about the book, please visit: Routledge - A Time of Disastrous Anticipations.
We look forward to the impact this publication will have on the field and invite you to explore its insights.
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23.01.2025:
NoCoU Kickoff Meeting
On January 23, 2025, representatives from our team, Ingeborg Skjelmo and Are Sydnes, attended the NoCoU kick-off meeting in Oslo. The gathering was marked by a spirit of creativity, inclusivity, and openness, setting a positive tone for the collaborative efforts ahead.
NoCoU Kickoff Meeting
On January 23, 2025, representatives from our team, Ingeborg Skjelmo and Are Sydnes, attended the NoCoU kick-off meeting in Oslo. The gathering was marked by a spirit of creativity, inclusivity, and openness, setting a positive tone for the collaborative efforts ahead.
The meeting featured a series of lightning talks where partners presented their European, national, and self-funded projects. This format facilitated a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights, highlighting the diverse expertise and innovative approaches within the network. Following the presentations, participants engaged in a brainstorming session focused on individual contributions and activities planned for the near future.
We are particularly excited about our role as the coordinating institution for Work Package 2 in this project. This position allows us to significantly influence activities at both the national level and within the regional nodes of the network. It is a great responsibility, but also a remarkable opportunity for our research group to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of civil security in society.
We look forward to leveraging this opportunity to enhance our research impact and foster stronger collaborations across the network. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting journey.
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