On January 7, 2026, the American Museum of Natural History in New York hosted a compelling SciCafe event titled “Reindeer and Resilience,” featuring conservation scientist Dr. 
Mary Blair (Associate Director of the Museum’s Center for Biodiversity and Conservation) and Anders Oskal (Director of the International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry and Secretary General of the World Reindeer Herders).
The sold-out SciCafe drew an engaged audience to Cullman Hall of the Universe, where Blair and Oskal shared a deeply personal and insightful discussion about the impacts of climate change on Sámi reindeer herding communities in the Arctic.
Drawing from decades of research collaboration and lived experience, the speakers highlighted how Indigenous Sámi herders are adapting to unprecedented environmental shifts — from dense ice layers forming within snowpack that block reindeer grazing, to wind energy development and tourism infrastructure that disrupt traditional migration routes.
Rather than positioning modern technology against ancient knowledge, the presentation emphasized partnerships between Indigenous expertise and scientific tools, such as using satellite data to monitor rain-on-snow events and pasture degradation in near-real-time.
The discussion offered a powerful reminder of the resilience of Sámi communities and the importance of blending traditional ecological knowledge with cutting-edge science to navigate climate challenges.
