Svalbard is a truly inspiring place to learn and presents endless outdoor opportunities says Graham Simpkins. Image credit: Graham Simpkins and Melinda Webster.

Advancing a degree from pole to pole

11 Augist 2011

In just six months, Graham Simpkins’ PhD has taken him to the ends of the earth. In January this year he travelled to Antarctica onboard the Aurora Australis, and last month he returned from a summer school organised by the Norwegian Research School in Climate Dynamics in the Arctic Circle.

The summer school at the University Centre in Svalbard was in the world’s most northerly town, Longyearbyen. Here he joined 48 international students to spend two weeks studying the relationship between sea ice and the climate system .

Set in the Arctic wilderness, UNIS offers a unique opportunity to delve into all aspects of polar science,” Graham said.

“When coupled with the surrounding stunning landscape of mountain peaks, glaciers and fjords, as well as the distinct coal mining presence, Svalbard is a truly inspiring place to learn and presents endless outdoor opportunities,” Graham said.

During his time at UNIS, Graham attended more than 50 lectures and presentations by international polar experts that covered sea ice thermodynamics, remote sensing, polar oceanography, the optical properties of sea ice and much more.

Slideshow of images from Svalbard. Photo credits: Graham Simpkins and Melinda Webster.

He also presented a poster on his recently submitted paper, Observed relationships between large-scale climate variability and Antarctic sea ice concentration.

After these lectures, the students often went on treks in the wilderness around the town. .

These included hiking up some of the nearby peaks armed with rifles to protect them from polar bears. There was also an organised day boat trip to visit the Nordenskiöldbreen glacier and the abandoned Russian mining settlement of Pyrammiden.

According to Graham, one of the great things about Svalbard is being able to get into the field and experience the polar environment first-hand.

“During my two weeks, I managed to hike through knee-deep snow fields, scramble across precarious scree slopes, run through freezing cold glacial streams, wade through endless bogs, and all to conquer two of the local peaks surrounding Longyearbyen; I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Graham said.

“The wildlife was also spectacular with viewings of seals, Arctic fox, puffins and many other Arctic bird species - including the Arctic terns which seemed to have an affinity for attacking me.”

Other highlights included enjoying Svalbard cognac served over ancient glacial ice whilst cruising in Billefjorden, surrounded by staggering views of the endless Nordenskiöldbreen, jagged snow-capped peaks and the eerie abandoned mining settlement of Pyrammiden.

“I left the astounding beauty of Svalbard full of knowledge of the sea ice system, loaded with future research ideas and even more (if possible) passionate and inspired to continue my studies of the fragile polar environments.”

Links:

Antarctic fieldwork for CCRC research students
24 March 2011
CCRC research students Emily Shaw and Graham Simpkins have returned from scientific research expeditions to Antarctica.

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