Dialogue Café: Communication between science and Longyearbyen local community
3 December 2018
On Thursday 6 December we invite the public to an open dialogue café where scientists and local actors discuss societal challenges and possibilities in the ongoing climate change. The dialogue café will take place in “Møysalen” at UNIS 15:30–18:00.
Holocene glacier history of Svalbard: Retracing the style of (de-)glaciation
27 November 2018
UNIS PhD candidate Wesley Farnsworth has studied the Holocene glacial history of Svalbard through detailed mapping and compiling a mosaic of data from terrestrial, marine and lacustrine sedimentary archives. Farnsworth will defend his doctoral thesis on 6 December at the University Centre in Svalbard, UNIS.
Understanding better fundamental mechanisms of rock fracture by blasting
14 November 2018
UNIS PhD candidate Liyuan Chi has investigated the shock compression of rock in the vicinity of an exploding charge and rock fracturing on a free surface parallel to the blast hole. Chi will defend his PhD thesis at NTNU on Wednesday 21 November at 13:15.
Stories from Rijpfjorden 5: On the way in (and out) of Rijpfjorden
5 November 2018
When Captain Albertsen from Tromsø slowly sailed into Rijpfjorden on 3 September 1945 to pick up the last of armed German soldiers in Europe, he had no idea of what was expecting him. Perhaps the fjord was full of fissured and half-melted drift ice as he headed south to the inner part of Rijpfjorden. That was the sight I met the first time I was in Rijpfjorden in September 2004. At that time I did not know how important Rijpfjorden would turn out to be for me, both as a researcher and as an individual.
Stories from Rijpfjorden 4: On mine kibbles, sea ice and food chains
2 November 2018
Sea ice and snow reflect and absorb effectively up to 99% of all light, which in turn helps regulate the start and length of the algal bloom in the ocean below. This usually results in short and intense blooms when the sea ice melts. Arctic species show adaptations to such a production regime, usually because they are able to eat and put on a lot of weight in the short periods where there is food access, and then live on stored fat in meager times. But what’s that got to do with the kibble used for coal transportation in Longyearbyen in the past?
Stories from Rijpfjorden 3: Monster!
30 October 2018
Fortunately, it is no bigger than 5–6 cm; otherwise it would have been a really scary sight. It is found mostly throughout the whole Arctic, and is a species we count as an indicator of cold water masses. And for all the smaller organisms, such as Calanus finmarchicus and Calanus glacialis, it is a ferocious monster!
Celebrating 25 years
24 October 2018
UNIS celebrated its 25th anniversary over two days with students, staff and distinguished guests. Minister of education and integration, Jan Tore Sanner, said UNIS the last 25 years has laid a solid foundation for further development of world-class research and education.
Anniversary Photo Competition
24 October 2018
This spring, we announced a photo competition for our students as part of the celebration of UNIS’ 25th anniversary. We got an impressive 180 entries in total, spread in the three categories fieldwork, nature and social life.
Stories from Rijpfjorden 2: A time witness from a bygone era
18 September 2018
Rijpfjorden not only holds a very special place in the story of how the weather station Haudegen housed the last armed German soldiers towards the end of World War II. It is also home to a much older and equally important story – a story that stretches several thousand years back in time and has not yet been really told. This is a story told by the “cod lake” (Torskevatnet).