Author: Jouke Gaastra
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Food and Drink I Miss About the Netherlands (And Always Bring Back to Norway)
Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of Norwegian products I like. But there are also quite a few things that I miss from the Netherlands. Here are the five things that I will try to stuff in my suitcase or carboot when travelling back. 1. Cheese 2. Dutch Pilsner and Craft Beer 4.…
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Preikestolen in Wintertime
Yes, October might seem a bit early to discuss winter trips, but this one is worth planning far ahead. Preikestolen is always a beautiful hike, but in wintertime, it might even be better than in summertime. The view looks even more magical with the snow-covered mountains, and you will likely be on the plateau all…
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Best Norwegian Credit Card for Flight Bonusess
Until recently, I relied on my American Express (Amex) for credit card travel bonuses. However, Avinor has cancelled lounge access to Amex cardholders whose cards are not connected to Norwegian banks. While I got some compensation for the missed benefit, it’s clear that my Amex card is no longer providing the value it once did,…
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The Best Ways to Get Around Stavanger
After living and travelling around Stavanger and its surroundings for about a year and a half, I thought it’d be a good time to share my thoughts on getting around in this part of Norway.
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Which Risk Visualisation to Use?
Introduction Risk can be visualised in different ways, each offering unique strengths depending on the decision-making context. Below are 8 risk visualisations and insights on when to use them. 1. Risk Matrix A risk matrix is one of the most common risk visualisation tools, plotting risks in a two-dimensional grid of probability vs. impact. Risks…
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How to make a Safety Bubble Diagram
In contemporary risk science, risk is seen from a broader perspective than just the likelihood and consequences of potential events. Aven 2013 introduces a new way of looking at risk that incorporates not just the probability and consequences, but also the uncertainties related to these consequences and probabilities.
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Beyond Expectations: Visualising Safety Risks in Arctic Environments
Introduction The Arctic environment presents significant challenges for risk management due to its extreme conditions and the accelerating effects of climate change. The Arctic is characterized by very low temperatures, long periods of darkness, rapidly changing weather, and unstable natural phenomena such as glaciers and avalanches (Rainville et al., 2020). Climate change in this region…
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Back in Stavanger and catching up on coursework
I’ve left the Arctic and returned to the ever-sunny-never-rainy place of Stavanger. While cycling to work I was surprised by the smell of rain and grass. I wouldn’t have thought I would ever be surprised by that. Svalbard doesn’t really have a smell. Sometimes you taste the dust or coal that is blown by the…
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Abstract and Presentation: Visualising Safety Risks in Arctic Environments
The Arctic environment is characterised by extreme conditions and high levels of uncertainty, creating significant safety risks for operations in the region. Risk awareness is critical for managing these safety risks, as decision-makers must be able to assess and respond to rapidly changing circumstances. In this context, effective risk visualization plays a crucial role in…
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Wrapping up AS-302 Arctic Safety on Svalbard
This will be my last week on Svalbard as for now. On Sunday I will be flying back to Stavanger via Oslo. It has been a great experience. It’s one of the few real wildernesses left on Earth. From a safety perspective, it has also been very interesting. With unpredictable weather, remoteness, extreme cold and…
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What I Packed and What I Wish I Had For My Stay On Svalbard
When I was prepping for Svalbard I made a packing list. All in my packing list was pretty accurate. But some things I could have prepared better. First on the list would be a pair of binoculars. I never bring them on my hikes on mainland Norway but here on Svalbard, they are a necessity.…
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Resources for Planning a Hike on Svalbard
Introduction The landscape on Svalbard is as stunning as it is hostile. Planning a hike here is different from planning a hike on the mainland. Knowledge is your most important tool. The Arctic is constantly changing, with unpredictable weather, unstable terrain, and the presence of polar bears. It’s therefore essential to have accurate, up-to-date information…
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Review AS-302 Safety Management In The Arctic
I’m now halfway through my Arctic Safety course here on Svalbard, and it’s been an interesting journey so far. A lot of what we’ve been covering overlaps with things I studied during my bachelor’s in Safety and Security Management and in sociology, but looking at these concepts in the context of the Arctic environment has…
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Safety training on Svalbard at UNIS
This week has been exciting as I participated in the mandatory safety training at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS). This training is essential for every student and researcher here, ensuring that we are well-prepared to handle the challenges of the Arctic environment. The training lasted a week and included various practical and theoretical sessions,…
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Four things I learned about Svalbard
This week I arrived in Svalbard. What a stunning landscape, the mountains are much higher and steeper than I imagined. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a window seat when flying in, but judging from the pictures the other passengers were taking, I highly recommend paying extra for the window seat. The plane comes in low between…
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Flashcards RIS505 Foundations of Risk Analysis and Risk Science
Below are 67 flashcards for the course Foundations of Risk Analysis and Risk Science (RIS505). Use these flashcards and an exam summary of the course for efficient and effective studying. Did you know that there is no Norwegian word for efficient? How would you say ”’The process is effective, but can be more efficient” in…
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Heat Acclimatisation Training
Now that I live in Norway, I don’t have to worry so much about the summer heatwaves anymore. But I am planning on walking the four-day marches next year. That got me thinking, how am I going to prepare for the heat? My group commander used to say ”You’re not hindered by the heat if…
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The biggest hiking event in the world: The Four Day Marches
Introduction The Four Day Marches, known as “Vierdaagse” in Dutch, is the largest hiking event in the world. It attracts tens of thousands of participants from all over the globe, who come together to challenge their endurance and celebrate at the parties (a.k.a ‘De vierdaagse feesten’ ) surrounding the event. My Personal Experience I have…
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How to Maximise SAS EuroBonus Points
How to determine the value of a point? There are two ways to use your points. You can pay completely with points (excluding the booking fee) or partially with points. The easiest way to determine the value of a point is by using the formula: (Price of the flight – Booking fee) / Amount of…