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Information webinar on UNIS spring courses 2027

Join our webinar to learn more about the various courses offered at UNIS and what it is like to study in the High Arctic.

UNIS marine biologists join the first Arctic Ocean 2050 expedition 

Four marine biologists from UNIS are joining the very first expedition of the Arctic Ocean 2050 research programme. Before departure, we met Associate Professor Arunima Sen and PhD candidate Carla López Mateo to learn what they will be searching for nearly 4,000 metres below the surface, and why this expedition marks an important milestone for both UNIS and Norwegian polar research. 

Extended application deadline for autumn 2026 courses

Our education is research-based and utilizes the natural environment as a laboratory. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your education and expand your horizons this autumn. First come first serve principle!

Trial lecture and PhD defense for Malin Andersson Stavridis

Malin has been following the PhD programme at The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and is defending her doctoral thesis at UNIS 18 March 2026.

Trial lecture and PhD defense for Robynne Calypso Nowicki

Robynne has been following the PhD programme at The University of Oslo, and is defending her doctoral thesis at UNIS 17 March 2026.

Studies in the Arctic – Webinar

In this webinar, you will learn more about the various courses offered by UNIS, and hear from both staff and students about what it is like to study in the High Arctic. We will also be sharing more information about our newest pilot project, "Minor in Polar Science".

Trial lecture and PhD defense for MSc Rafael Kenji Horota

Rafael has been following the PhD programme at the University of Bergen, and is defending his doctoral thesis at UNIS 8 December 2025:

Trial lecture and PhD defense for MSc Lukas Frank

Lucas Frank has been following the PhD programme at the University of Bergen, and is defending his doctoral thesis at UNIS 23 October 2025

Trial lecture and PhD defense MSc Stig Andreas Johannessen

Stig Andreas Johannessen will defend the PhD degree at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management

Trial lecture and PhD defense MSc in Bioscience Victor Gonzalez Triginer

MSc in Bioscience Victor Gonzalez Triginer at the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB) will Tuesday 16 September 2025 hold his trial lecture and defend his thesis for the PhD degree in Natural Science at UNIS.

Disputation: Samantha Paige Huset Dwinnell

Dwinnell will defend her doctoral thesis from the Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, NMBU, at UNIS on 29 August 2025. Her research explores how climate change affects the food supply and foraging strategies of Svalbard reindeer, shedding light on the adaptive capacity of large Arctic herbivores in a rapidly warming environment.

Disputation: Cheshtaa Chitkara

Cheshtaa Chitkara will defend her PhD thesis "Arctic marine microbial eukaryotes–Spatiotemporal drivers of community structure and ecological impacts of Atlantification" at UNIS 28 May 2025.

Trial lecture and disputation: Snorre Flo

Follow MSc in Biology Snorre Flo's trial lecture and disputation at UNIS 26 May 2025

Student involvement contributes to enhanced learning experience

Students as partners is a buzzword in academia, and for many years UNIS has been working on the topic, but what does the term mean, and how can one practically facilitate student involvement and partnerships in everyday study life? We had a talk with both staff and students to learn more about the initiatives UNISbreakfast and UNISprout.

Fostering Academic Excellence: An Interview with Merle Scheiner in SCOPE

We had the privilege of speaking with Merle Scheiner, one of the organizers behind a student-led conference. SCOPE has grown over the years and provides a platform for students to showcase their research and presentation skills while fostering a strong sense of community and support. 

With love for Svalbard

Cecilie H. von Quillfeldt's love for the archipelago started in the mid-80s when she came as a student in marine biology. She has been hooked ever since. Almost forty years later, she still gets euphoric talking about Svalbard.

“Just one more sample!”

Janne Søreide is known for her constant search for innovative data collection methods and tireless work ethic. She effortlessly transitions from fieldwork to winning at Trappers trail to conducting lab experiments. As Janne turns fifty, we want to take this opportunity to honor our esteemed colleague.

New podcast episode: Arctic Safety Centre

In this episode we are joined by Holt Hancock, Siiri Wickström and Stig Andreas Johannessen from the Arctic Safety Centre.

Larissa Beumer and Samantha P. Dwinnell secured funds for their projects

Tuesday was a good day for the Arctic Biology department at Unis when Larissa Beumer and Samantha P Dwinnell received grants from Svalbard's Environmental Protection Fund.

New podcast episode: Gijsbert Breedveld

In this episode we talk to doctor Gijsbert Breedveld about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS as it's also called.

New podcast episode: Arunima Sen

A new episode of The ColdCast is out! We are going deep into the ocean, into the bottom sediments, where Arunima is doing benthos research as a part of the Nansen Legacy project.

New episode of The ColdCast

A new episode of The ColdCast is out! Join our chat with Pernille B. Eidesen about FieldPass, a project testing alternative assessment methods for practical skills.

Melt down of the Arctic Ocean: Dead end or new opportunities?

The Arctic Ocean is changing towards a warmer and ice-free state in summer. Warm Atlantic water continuously carries plankton organisms from south to north. Boreal species usually perish in the cold, dark Arctic Ocean but that may change as climate warms, sea ice shrinks, and the primary production season lengthens.

Another species named after Professor Coulson

UNIS professor Steve Coulson has yet another mite species named after him. The Platynothrus coulsoni is the fifth (!) species named in his honour.

Observing Arctic marine life — from the seabed to space

NTNU researchers from AMOS, the Centre for Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems, with help from UNIS students, used small satellites and subsea robots — and everything in between — to study marine life in Svalbard’s Kongsfjorden in a first-ever experiment in May.

Science communication with a view

A cooperation between the tourist vessel MS Bard and UNIS gives students a unique opportunity to practice their science communication skills. For the guests onboard it is a fantastic way to learn more about the research in the pristine location they visit during their holiday.

Robotic mapping of Svalbard’s marine forest

With the novel use of unmanned surface vehicles (USV), it has become safer and easier to collect data from glacier fronts. Master student Milan Beck is one of the first who utilised this sustainable way of monitoring the pristine and vulnerable Arctic nature for his thesis.

“UNIS is a fantastic innovation”

Morten Wedege had dreamed of studying and working in the tropics, when a small advertisement on a student board made him aware of Svalbard. It became the start of the career path, that would bring him to every corner of Spitsbergen over two decades.

Kongsfjorden’s Wingman

Student in the 90’s: Career-changing studies

With only 35 fellow students at the entire university centre, Katrine Borgå attended the first biology course at UNIS in 1994-95. She tells of a camaraderie that’s still strong after nearly three decades, and an introduction to a career path that she excels at today.

New FRAM initiative: Research in the Arctic, for those who live there

The Fram Centre has launched five new research programs with a total budget of 250 million NOK over five years. UNIS is involved in three of the new research programs.

Fieldwork without getting cold feet

From your home to the lab: household items in the life of a marine scientist

Dramatic temperature rises in the Arctic hits vital sea ice algae

Major biological changes on the shoreline of Svalbard

Aliens in the Arctic? The outer-worldly life that resides within sea ice

Drone-based reindeer counting in Svalbard

Fjord ice in Svalbard – an important kindergarten for seafloor animal babies

Digital learning arena for Arctic biology

Let’s talk dirty

Arunima Sen is a postdoc in the Benthic Ecology group at Nord University and soon-to-be associate professor at UNIS. She has two primary research agendas : sub-Arctic fjord ecology, and carbon and nutrient cycling in the high Arctic. She is also a part of the Nansen Legacy research project, and this blog is from a cruise in spring 2021.

UNIS Annual Report 2020

Teamwork makes dream work 

Hidden biodiversity inside of Svalbard’s sea ice

Climate change “squeezing” Arctic animals and plants: new circumpolar report

Polar bear conflicts in Svalbard – how dangerous are our Arctic icons?  

Nansen Legacy project blog: Tiny Arctic wildlife matters

Nansen Legacy project blog: The hunt for the hidden life in water

Where is the sea ice?

Found traces of antidepressants and painkillers in crustaceans on Svalbard

The tiny rulers of Arctic Seas

Understanding the roles of microbial eukaryotes in the High Arctic ecosystems

Warm Atlantic water wants in, but is prevented from entering Isfjorden