On August 4 the SOI Arctic Expedition started in Ottawa, Ontario. Among the 79 exciting youth participants were two Norwegian High School Students, Eirik Stein-Andersen and Ingrid Skjoldvær. They won the Student on Ice Scholarship and are therefore spending the following fifteen days on board an ice-class expedition vessel sailing in the Canadian Arctic.
Their itinerary is packed with exciting destinations and various activities from the beginning to the very end. They started in Ottawa on August 4 and headed to Kuujjuaq in Nunavik the following day. In Kuujjuaq they boarded the ship “The Polar Ambassador” which is currently their home while sailing in the Canadian Arctic. If weather, ice and other conditions allows it they will be starting off by sailing in the Hudson Strait, make a stop at the Walrus Island and Coats Island in Hudson Bay before they make several stops in the Davis Strait. The students will be surrounded by the natural beauty of the region. Animals such as whales and polar bears, animals that are commonly seen on Animal Planet, are a normal sight in this area.
The participants are not only staying on board the ship, but are doing other activities such as shore landings, zodiac cruising, interpretive hikes, group discussions, research activities and community visits. In between these activities Eirik and Ingrid are keeping their blogs updated with their latest reflections on their experiences, pictures and videos.
Students on Ice is a Canadian organization that organizes ship-based educational adventures. Their mandate is to educate and inspire the next generation of polar scientists, researchers and environmental leaders. According to Students on Ice, the Polar Regions are “the world’s greatest classrooms [because] they are the cornerstones of the global ecosystem and a tremendous platform for education.”
The beautiful scenery is one part of the experience, but the exposure to the impacts of climate change is by far the most important component of the expedition. In the very Northern parts of the world, such as the Canadian Arctic, these changes are particularly visible. Hopefully, Ingrid and Eirik will gain experience and knowledge about these issues and learn how we better can protect our environment.
For more information:
Ingrid Skjoldvær’s blog “Fra Svolvær til Arktis” (in Norwegian)
Eirik Stein-Andersen’s blog ”Artic-Eirik” (in English)
Follow the Expedition on the Students on Ice homepage.