Preparing students and early-career researchers for ethical decision-making in community-engaged research in the Arctic

As community-engaged and community-driven research grows in the Arctic, research collaborations increasingly encounter ethical dilemmas that extend beyond procedural ethics guidelines, which require nuanced and culturally-sensitive navigation. Early-career researchers and students play a critical role in community research collaborations in the Arctic, but often do not receive structured guidance on ethical decision-making in cross-cultural settings. In this manuscript we draw from our diverse experiences in community-engaged research to examine underpinnings of common ethical dilemmas, including managing power imbalances across research teams and community partnerships; encountering and addressing harassment and discrimination; attending to mental health and safety during research activities; and navigating resource (in)equity. We highlight the need for intentional trust-building, reflexivity exercises, and team-based exploration of principles to address ethical dilemmas in community-engaged research settings. Additionally, we provide examples of dilemmas and questions to guide ethics discussions for Arctic research teams, including students and early-career researchers. Establishing clear team guidelines for ethical decision-making and equipping team members with the skills to navigate ethical challenges can foster more equitable research collaborations with Arctic communities, and lay the foundation for co-generating ethical standards with community partners.