Now in its eighth year, the Norwich Model Arctic Council for Schools (NORMAC Schools) remains the flagship MAC in our annual series, with three and a half days of diplomatic negotiations, official ceremony, social events and dinners — and of course a huge amount of enjoyable learning.

Over 50 pupils took part in NORMAC 8 — 41 delegates from four schools in Spain and the UK, plus 13 NORMAC Secretariat staff from Norwich School, our long-standing and generous host school.  Over the course of the conference, delegates grappled with the complex questions of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Arctic, and food security for Arctic communities, with the assistance of the NORMAC Secretariat, who served as meeting facilitators and rapporteurs.  Both delegates and Secretariat benefited from ‘debriefing sessions’ after each day of negotiations, at which they could reflect on what they learned about the diplomatic process, as well as about the Arctic and its challenges.

Those debriefing sessions are a critical part of all of my Polar Aspect MACs.  Participating pupils need the time and space to think critically about what they’re doing, in order to transform their experience into learning.  The sessions also provide me as NORMAC Director with an opportunity to offer some teacherly guidance that doesn’t interrupt the flow of the delegates’ own negotiations.  At NORMAC Schools 8, I was also delighted to be joined in that guiding role by this year’s Honorary Co-Chairs, Drs Simon and Samantha Fox — scientists, educators, and founders of the Youth STEMM Award programme with which Polar Aspect has just recently partnered.

In this particular case, the debriefing sessions seemed to help delegates find their way through some significant obstacles.  Their negotiations were proceeding very slowly, not only because the questions of Arctic MPAs and Arctic food security are difficult, but also because different delegations wished to discuss different aspects of those questions, and to advance different thought not necessarily competing priorities.  The delegates were in danger of drowning in too many topics, of disagreeing unnecessarily on how to organise their priorities, and of failing to reach any significant agreement in the short time they had for their discussions.  But after reflection and guidance, they decided to divide themselves into multiple working parties to negotiate all of their priorities in parallel, before reassembling as a plenary group to combine, refine and ultimately build consensus on their approach to Arctic MPAs and food security.

This mode of working proved effective, and I’m pleased to say that delegates were able to agree their joint ‘Norwich Declaration’ on both issues.  Congratulations to them!

It wasn’t all hard work, of course.  Delegates and Secretariat staff enjoyed a Welcome Dinner at The Norfolk Club after their Opening Ceremony, as well as a formal dinner in the elegant surroundings of Norwich’s historic Assembly House.  Breaking the ice by socialising together smooths the way towards building consensus!

Some lovely testimonials from delegates make it clear that they did indeed have fun and learn a lot:

• I have learned a lot about the Arctic, but also about how to work in groups, achieve a conclusion, express opinions, which I think is really important for life. Thank you so much ❤️
• I learned most about diplomatic discussion and working as a group.  Also as a not very confident person, being able to talk to people I don’t know has been really valuable in building self awareness and confidence.
• It was a great experience that I’m sure to never forget.
• Absolutely amazing!

And their teachers were very clear about the benefits of NORMAC for their pupils:

• What a fantastic opportunity for our young people! Thank you so much for the whole weekend – from the warm welcome and wonderful hospitality to the structured opportunities for meaningful discussion and collaboration. Thank you for everything you have planned and delivered for us, it truly has been an experience to remember. Our students will leave here with skills they never knew they had.
• Totally brilliant. Thanks for all your hospitality, patience and guidance. The experience has been truly beneficial for our pupils – looking forward to next year already.

And rather excitingly, NORMAC Schools 8 received public praise from the Arctic Council itself, as well as from Finland’s Senior Arctic Official, Ambassador Petteri Vuorimäki!

Many thanks as always to Norwich School for hosting, to Mr Tom White for his unfailing support as NORMAC Deputy Director, and to the pupils of Norwich School for their brilliant work as the eighth NORMAC Secretariat!  Looking forward to NORMAC 9 in 2025.