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Ilulissat Science Forum #ISF26, 4 - 8 November, 2026.


Posted by Kerim Hestnes Nisancioglu August 20th, 2026.

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KALAALLIT NERISAAT - STORIES AROUND THE TABLE

Greenlandic food: Art, knowledge & community
From land and sea to heart and future.

JOIN us in Ilulissat for 5 days packed with food and thoughts. Hosted by ILLU Science and Art Hub from 4th - 8th of November 2026.

JOIN US: Sign up today!

Main event: 5th - 7th November 2026.

The main event, Kalaallit Nerisaat, invites everyone who is curious about the stories, experiences, research, and perspectives that emerge from life in the Arctic.

Food is the common thread throughout the program. Not only as nourishment, but also as culture, identity, community, and storytelling.We explore how experiences, knowledge, and values from the past can create new opportunities for health, research, business development, and local communities.

Open Sessions: 4th & 8th November 2026.

  • Powering Arctic Communities – energy, resilience and local development.
  • Natural resources.
  • Stories from the north - Qaanaaq.

Part of the annual Ilulissat Science Forum #ISF26
hosted by ILLU - Science and Art.

We invite participants to organize open sessions on the 4th and 8th of November - please send suggestions to illu@uib.no



Programme.


Main event 5th - 8th November 2026.

KALAALLIT NERISAAT - STORIES AROUND THE TABLE

Greenlandic food - Art, knowledge & community. From land and sea to
heart and future. What do we bring with us from the past when creating
the future of Kalaallit Nunaat?

Kalaallit Nerisaat brings together researchers, chefs, fishers,
entrepreneurs, cultural communicators, and local stakeholders in
Ilulissat.

Kuluk Helms will moderate the days - A performing artist, culture
bearer, Greenlandic mask dancer, poet, actor and teacher.

Open session: Wed 4th November.
14:00 - 16:30.


Moderator: Klaus Skytte (TBC).

Powering Arctic Communities – Energy, Resilience and Local Development.

  • A conversation on energy, resilience, security of supply and local development in Greenland and across the Arctic.
  • From Ambition to Action: what works in remote and arctic energy systems.
  • Practical experiences and lessons from Greenland and other Nordic and Arctic communities, followed by an open conversation on what works, what can be learned from each other, and where cooperation can make a difference.

Organised by Nordic Energy Research in collaboration with Ilulissat
Science Forum. Open to all forum participants.

Icebreaker: local snacks and mocktails celebrating glacier ice and homemade
fermented kombucha on qajaasat (labrador tea), kuanneq (angelika),
paarnat( crowberries), agrisseq puiaq (ptarmigan crop) and non alcoholic
beer.

Open Session 8th November see below.


Thursday 5th November.
9:00 to 21:00.

Food, Health, and Identity

How have people in the Arctic lived, eaten, and thrived across generations? What does new research tell us about the relationship between diet, genetics, and health? And what can Greenlandic ingredients teach us about the future?

09:00 Sign in and welcome.

How do you develop the foods of the future based on Greenlandic ingredients What opportunities lie in new products, new processing methods, and better utilization of marine resources?

Health in Contemporary Kalaallit Nunaat

What do we know today about diet, genetics, and health in Greenland?

How do genetic factors influence the risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases? And what can future treatments learn from Greenlandic experiences?

  • Tuperna Davidsen, Nurse and Project Manager, Steno Diabetes Center Greenland.
  • Trine Louise Jul Larsen, Nurse, MPH, PhD, Ilisimatusarfik (University of Greenland).
  • Jasmin Hjerresen, PhD Student, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research.

Lunch & discussion: From Ingredient to Meal

Qaaqqutsiaq Fenger Lynge, Chef, Geitmyra Juniorkokker will be in the kitchen during the day with students at the local primary school, Atuarfik Mathias Storch. They will experiment and get curious about using traditional Greenlandic Foods. Lunch is prepared and served by them - and they will share their knowledge and experiences.

The Food of the Future

Stefán Tryggvason, Factory Manager, Royal Greenland, Ilulissat.

Is Greenlandic Food Healthier Than We Think?

Open discussion among researchers, chefs, and participants

17:00 - 19:00 Dinner break.

19:00 - 21:00 Evening Program.

Food, Memories, and Identity

A cultural figure, storyteller, or artist invites participants to share personal stories about the significance of food in life, family, and culture.


Friday 6th November.
10:00 to 22:00.


10:00 Food for Thought.

Knowledge, Research, and Understanding Greenland

What research is being conducted in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland)? How is knowledge about Greenland produced? Who asks the questions?

  • Paninnguaq Boassen, PhD Student, Ilisimatusarfik (University of Greenland).

Open discussion

Can we ensure that research conducted in Greenland is also relevant to Greenland.
How do we ensure that research is relevant to people and local communities

Lunch - From Ingredient to Meal

Qaaqqutsiaq Fenger Lynge and students from Atuarfik Mathias Storch. They will experiment and get curious about using traditional Greenlandic Foods. Lunch is prepared and served by them - and they will share their knowledge and experiences.

Inuit Specific Dietary Findings - From Kayak to Dataset

Research and stories from fieldwork, kayak expeditions, and encounters with people along Greenland’s coasts.

  • Biologist Sascha Schiøtt, Pinngortitaleriffik (Greenland Institute of Natural Resources).
  • Chef Mike Keen, Eat Your Environment (UK).
  • Phd of Arctic studies Manumina Lund Jensen (Ilisimatusarfik) (On video)

Living on an Inuit diet

Presentation about curiosity, collaboration, and the stories that rarely make it into research reports.

Discussion

What Knowledge Will Greenland Need in the Future?

Around the table discussion with researchers, students, and participants. Sascha Schiøtt, Paninnguaq Boassen, Jasmin Hjerresen, Trine Louise, Jul Larsen and Mike Keen, et.al.

17:00 Join us in cooking the Greenlandic way

18.30 - 22:00 Shared Dinner and storytelling

Greenlandic ingredients, storytelling, and community around the table. Evening with stories from kayak expeditions, fieldwork, and everyday life in Greenland.

Saturday 7th November.
10:00 to 16:00.


10:00 Food for Thought.

From Tradition to Future

How can cultural heritage, local resources, and traditional knowledge be transformed into businesses, jobs, and new opportunities? The Future of Business in Greenland.

Visit Ilulissat: Director Karsten Høy (TBC).

Halibut Greenland

How can growth be created through fishers, local communities, and shared ownership? What impact will the new airport have on local businesses and emerging markets?

CEO Erik Sivertsen, Halibut Greenland.

12:00 Lunch.

Taste local products and meet the producers behind them.

14:00.

Rocks and Soap Stones Natural Resources

A traditional Kitchen by Geologist Majken Djurhuus.

Take Aways Reflections and Take Aways from the 3 days

A shared reflection on the most important insights, new relationships, and ideas for future collaboration and communities.

Sunday 8th November.
13:00 onwards (open session).


Rocks and Soap Stones Natural Resources

The Traditional Kitchen by Geologist Majken Djurhuus. Bring your stones and get and get to know their secrets. This program is also suitable for children.

Stories from Qaanaaq

Emile Holba (Freelance photographer and storyteller) will share his stories from a recent trip to Qaanaaq.


Practical Information.


Registration JOIN US: Sign up today!

Fee

3.000 Dkk.

Venue

Illu – Science and Art, Ilumiut 18, Ilulissat.

Travel

Early arrival in Ilulissat is encouraged - weather can change rapidly. There are weekly direct flights to Ilulissat from Copenhagen, as well as daily from Nuuk with AirGreenland.

Accommodation

To be arranged individually. Hotels in Ilulissat include Hotel Arctic, Hotel SØMA, Hotel Ilulissat, Hotel Icefiord, Hotel Hvide Falk and Hotel Nuka. There are also other alternatives, such as Ilulissat Guesthouse.

Program Committee



Monday 2 - 8 November.
Art Exhibit and Workshops.


We are open for side-events during the forum, please email illu@uib.no

Participants are ecouraged to join excursions while visiting Ilulissat (Ilulissat Icefjordcenter, Disko Bay boat trip, Icefjord hike). Contact illu@uib.no for recommendations.

Community events with art exhibits and workshops in collaboration with local community and organizations in Ilulissat.

Note that Illu is also open before/after the Science Forum with times announced on the Illu Facebook page, or by appointment, please contact us at illu@uib.no

Partners in Ilulissat Science Forum:


Foreningen ILLU - a non-profitt run locally in Ilulissat.

ILLU Science & Art Hub
Avannaata Kommunia
Universitetete i Bergen

Thanks also to the support from:

The Research Council of Norway
Hotel Arctic
Lions Club Ilulissat
Hotel SØMA
NUNAFONDEN
Halibut Greenland
Royal Greenland





CVR-nr45936333 / ILLU Science & Art is funded by: