The field school was held within ongoing “Cold Lands” seminar of the NEFU Department of Northern Studies. NEFU conducted the University of the Arctic Field School for the first time ever.

The school aimed to study the mainstay of permafrost and the participants had an opportunity to visit faraway regions. Thus the study had practice-oriented character.

As Mr. Yoshikawa said, this time the geography of the participants was broadened – there were students from Asia and Eurasia – Mongolia, China, Japan, India and Russia.

Nicholas Hasson, one of the participants from Norway mentioned that the field school gave an insight into the permafrost in Yakutia, which was accompanied with the different methods of permafrost observation. Along with the international participants there were lecturers from different countries and with different backgrounds – specialists on gas distribution, researchers in the field of climate change and etc. Mr. Hasson recommends students interested in permafrost to take part in this school, because maybe you will help to preserve the planet.

During the school the students learned how to monitor and analyze changes in permafrost with the special device cryopedometer. Besides, they expand their knowledge on climatic changes and factors.

Lectures were conducted by professors and scientists from the University of Alaska, Hokkaido University, the University of Texas, Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone Siberian Branch of RAS and NEFU.

 

Dmitriy Osipov