CHESS/UiB IceFinse – Arctic climate research and fieldwork 2022

When: organized hybrid teaching/learning activities: 2 hours per week in week 10, 11 & 12, followed by 8 days of field work (20-28 April 2022). Students must prepare to also spend time working on their project work in the weeks after the field work. Physical presence is only mandatory for the 8 days of field work
Where: UiB, Department of Earth Science & Finse Alpine Research Center
Credits: 5 ECTS
Course responsible: Kerim Hestnes Nisancioglu / UiB & Anne-Katrine Faber / UiB
Application deadline: 27 February 2022

Registration

** Travel and accommodation costs will be covered for CHESS PhD members **


Objectives:

The course gives an introduction to Arctic climate research methods and safety. The main purpose is to give the students insight into all parts of the research process, from planning to data collection, analysis and communication of results.

Content:

The course consists of several components: Planning, data collection & analysis and communication of results.

Planning

Through scientific seminars and group work the students will prepare for the field work.  Students are divided into groups, and each group prepares a 20 min presentation of 1-2 scientific papers related to the course content and the planned field work. The presentations will be given in plenum at the beginning of stay at the research station.

Fieldwork – Data collection & Analysis

This is the practical field-based part of the course and will take place at Finse Alpine Research Center.  The students will work on research projects in groups.

Based on current climate research, students will learn to design and work with relevant research questions. The students will gain insight into modern research methods by collecting data and analyzing these and comparing them with existing data & models. The students will give a presentation of their project work with a special focus on research methods and data collection at the end of the field work.

The training and practical field work will include a focus on safety in cold weather, camp setup, crevasse rescue and glacier travel.

Communication of results

The course concludes with peer-reviewed research reports. Each participant will deliver a 10-page project report from the field work. Each draft project report will be peer-reviewed by two participants, before revisions and submission of a final report for evaluation.

Learning outcomes:

On completion of the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student should be able to:

  • Understand the different steps of a research process, from planning to communication of results.
  • Describe the concepts of glacier dynamics on modern and paleo timescales.
  • Understand how climate archives such as ice cores provide unique knowledge of past and present climate change.
  • Describe how research-based field work can provide new knowledge on glaciers and climate change.

Skills

The student should be able to:

  • Formulate and execute a plan for data collection of snow and ice in cold climate conditions.
  • Contrast data and models and assess strengths and weaknesses.
  • Interpret research data and discuss their application to study climate processes.
  • Identify safety issues when conducting fieldwork in the Arctic.