Julie Babin

Julie Babin was a postdoctoral fellow at the Indian Ocean World Centre from 2021-2022.

Julie Babin completed her Ph.D. in the Department of Geography at Laval University with Dr. Frederic Lasserre. Her research interests include Arctic geopolitics, Science Diplomacy, asian arctic policies, and Japan’s Foreign Policy. Julie Babin’s doctoral work, Stretching the Icecap: Japan’s Engagement and Policy in the Arctic, examines the strategies developed by Japan to support its interests in the arctic region. As the Arctic ice melts, non-bordering states underline their interest and concerns for this region, rising interrogation on the role of emerging actors who have or are perceived to have an interest in the polar regions. Japan’s arctic strategy builds on its research and innovation expertise to strengthen economic and diplomatic cooperation with the Arctic states and especially with Russia.  

Julie Babin is investigating the impact of the climate change in the Arctic for Asian states from a socio-economic perspective, considering governmental and business public policies. Given the development of the Arctic Ocean caused by climate change, Asian states must address climate migration, security in maritime transport and navigation, border issues, conservation of the environment, or the promotion of international coordination and cooperation. Global warming in the Arctic is already having an impact on the rainfall regime in Asia, the movement of winds and sandstorms, the release of gas and the salinity of marine currents.  

She is also investigating the impact of climate change for local Asian communities such as the Haenyeo community in South Korea. This local community of women sea-diver have been living on the harvest of maritime resources for the past four centuries. The warming of sea temperature directly impacts the localization and re-partition of those resources