Goldilocks & the Four B.E.A.R.S

This project focuses on years of research alongside the Het Nieuwe Instituut Data Centres collective by Dr. Marina Otero. I created two comprehensive books exploring the digitalisation of the Arctic and Nordic regions, with a focus on data centers. The first book, "Goldilocks and the Four B.E.A.R.S," examines the Barents Euro-Arctic Region's (B.E.A.R.S) collaboration between Russia, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. It highlights the region's potential as the 'Goldilocks' zone for data centers due to its ideal geopolitical location, cold climate, and cost-effective energy, which are crucial for sustainable digital infrastructure.

The second book, "Funding the Nordic," investigates the significant energy consumption of data centers, which are often misunderstood as part of a 'cloud.' This project delves into the pressure on data centers to innovate 'green' technologies amidst global warming and environmental activism. The Nordic region, with its cold climate, emerges as an optimal location for data centers, yet faces challenges in balancing digital expansion with environmental and social impacts, especially concerning indigenous communities.

These works critically analyze energy use, environmental impact, and social security measures, providing a nuanced perspective on the intersection of digital infrastructure and sustainability in these geopolitically significant regions.