Tag: Svalbard
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Book Review: The Paradox of Svalbard
After spending seven weeks on Svalbard, I thought I had a good understanding of what life was like in Longyearbyen. I’d experienced the midnight sun, navigated the rules about polar bear safety, and observed the unique dynamics of this remote Arctic community. But it wasn’t until I read The Paradox of Svalbard by Zdenka Sokolíčková…
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Reflections on the Third Semester Risk Analysis UIS 2024
The third semester has ended, so it is time to look back and evaluate what was good, what was bad, and what was ugly about the third semester Risk Analysis, Governance track at UIS. AS-302 Arctic Safety at the UNIS It was a great experience, and I am very glad I went on this program.…
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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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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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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…