Russian biologist Vyacheslav Rozhnov delivered the keynote speech at the conference, "Canada/Russia/Norway: Dialogue and cooperation in the Arctic – development of the best international practices". Rozhnov is a deputy director of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution.

In his report at the two-day forum, Rozhnov spoke about his institute's efforts to survey the life of polar bears in the Arctic. This research, performed in collaboration with the Russian Geographic Society, is aimed at studying the distribution and population of polar bears in the region. Scientists use aircraft, ships and the Argos satellite radio beacon to study the animals' migration patterns. Using molecular genetics methods, they can gauge the impact of human activities on the health of polar bears. Such studies are crucial to preserving the species, which also serves as an indicator of the state of the Arctic's ground and ice ecosystems.

Researchers agreed that there is a need for a special centre where all relevant information can be processed and stored. They suggest engaging various Russian agencies that are represented in the Arctic, with the coordination of the National Geographic Society, to draw on the capabilities of Federal Security Service border control units, stations of the Russian Meteorological Service, vessels navigating in the Arctic Ocean, and various nature and wildlife sanctuaries located in the region.