Erika Varik holds a Master’s in International Security (2022) from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Her research interests are international affairs, security, sovereignty, shipping, and infrastructure projects in the Arctic and sub-Arctic states. Previously, she wrote a Master’s thesis on U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard organizations’ agency in their respective Arctic safety and security policies. During her three-month internship in 2021-2022, Erika analyzed an Icelandic port project’s geopolitical and social acceptance aspects. She remains highly passionate about polar (social) sciences, currently in a non-affiliated way. Most recently, she became APECS Netherlands Board Member in November 2022.