For the previous three weeks 25 international students from 13 different countries and a range of scientific backgrounds have adventured in the Arctic. They attended the second interdisciplinary IPY field school held in Svalbard, which follows the success of the inaugural field school held in 2009. The focus of the field school has been on environmental and climatic change in the Arctic, with particular emphasis on how the IPY 2007-2009 has furthered our understanding. Coupled with lectures held at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), the students completed field work/excursions in and around Longyearbyen, examining, not exclusively, the biology, geology, and permafrost of Svalbard. The trials and tribulations of the students have been expressed in their blog which can be found by following the IPY Field School Blog. You can also read about the Summer School in the local Svalbard newspaper: Ice People.
The Field School was sponsored by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the University of the Arctic, UNIS, and APECS.
