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Participation in UNIS courses AGF-211 and AGF-212 2024

Lay summary

Description of the programme

The two courses can only be taken in combination and therefore the schedules are well coordinated. Both feature around two months of lectures with several guest lecturers that are specialists in their respective fieldafter which both courses go on multi-day scientific fieldwork.

During the field excursion of course AGF-211 “Snow and Ice” we visited glaciers and conducted various glaciological and meteorological measurements. The field excursion of course AGF-212 “Air-Ice-Sea-Interaction” was am absolutely unique experience: a six-day scientific cruise where the research vessel moored within the sea ice.

The rest of the semester was busy with writing a scientific report about the fieldwork.

How did you benefit from the programme?

I was able to greatly expand my fieldwork experience in a very unique environment. The report writing in a small group was a great training for future academic work. Overall, the courses really gave an impression of what scientific work feels like. Furthermore, the various top-notch guest lecturers provided very good future contacts in the scientific world.

Personally, participation in the two courses has focused my interest on snow processes and made me discover my passion for working with data. Thus, this exchange has been crucial for my choice of a MSc programme.

What were the highlights of the training?

The field work on the sea ice of a frozen fjord was an unforgettable, almost surreal experience. Also, the small group size in the lectures (20 people) allows for a very direct exchange with the lecturers. Next to the academic content, enjoying Svalbard’s nature on snowmobile and skis is also unforgettable. My great highlight in this way was a week-long self-supported ski trip where we did not see any other person.

Would you recommend the programme to other students?

I would greatly recommend the programme to anyone interested in these topics. The close contact to the lecturers and the fieldwork are great for advancing many of your skills. It is however important to note that the course programmes do not expect much prior specific knowledge in the respective topics. Therefore, if you are already very much into one of the topics, this course might be too easy for you.

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