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Program Academics Logistics

Explore the drivers and impacts of Arctic climate change through academic seminars, field experiences, and research methods in Iceland and Greenland. Develop an Independent Study Project (ISP) with guidance from international academics and experts.

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Program Academics Logistics

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  1. Program Academics Logistics

  2. SIT’s Educational Model • Knowledge production acquired through academic scholarship… • Thematic seminars led by international & in-country academics and experts in their field • …and field experience • Homestays, excursions, field study, ISP

  3. SIT’s Educational Model • Seminar lectures • Guest lecturers from local research, governmental, and non-governmental institutions to provide local context, form connections between students and local research opportunities • Excursions and site-visits • Weekly debriefings to process and discuss content

  4. February 20-March 12, Ísafjörður • Week 1: Orientation, culture and history, Iceland natural environment • Week 2: Drivers of Arctic climate change, ecosystem impacts (terrestrial, freshwater & marine) • Week 3: Research methods in the natural and social sciences, ISP one-on-one

  5. March 13-19, Akureyri • Assessing climate change through history with Iceland as case study (Astrid Ogilvie) • Sagas and Science: Reconstructing the Past Climate of Iceland Using Documentary Sources • Using Water Wisely: The Thousand-Year Settlement Around Lake Mývatn, Iceland • Arctic Linkages: Climate, Environmental Change, and Human Eco-Dynamics • Iceland’s Arctic policies • Arctic Council (CAFF), Arctic biodiversity index • ISP development

  6. March 20-29, Reykjavík • Climate modeling (HalldórBjörnsson, Iceland Met Office) • Carbon and renewable energy technologies (ÞrösturÞórsteinsson--ThrosturThorsteinsson—University of Iceland • Iceland Geology, Glacial morphology (Oddur Sigurdsson, Met Office) • Communicating climate change (GuðniElísson, University of Iceland) • ISP development

  7. March 30-April 12, Nuuk • Geology of Greenland, Climate change impacts to GL’s marine environment, climate monitoring • Geological Survey of Denmark & Greenland, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Greenland Survey (Asiaq) • Greenlandic culture and climate impacts • Impacts observed by hunters and fishers • Crash courses in Greenlandic and Danish languages • ISP development, proposal writing

  8. April 13-20, Ísafjörður • ISP proposals turned in, feedback & one-on-one, mini-presentations • Final preparations for ISP

  9. April 21-May 25 ISP

  10. May 26-30, Reykjavik • Presentations • Program evaluation • Farewell & departure

  11. Guest professors & lecturers • Come from a variety of cultural and institutional backgrounds • Academics, researchers, practitioners • Iceland, United States • Some are comfortable w/ US educational philosophy (i.e., more discussion, less lecture); others are not • Not necessarily following schedule of a US university • “Roving classroom” helps us to go to where the experts are… • BUT experts generally have other jobs, busy schedules

  12. Research methods and ethics • Instruction in methodologies for natural and social sciences • Application of research methods • Assigned field work • Field journals (scientific observation, informal interview transcription, personal reflection) • Final output is the ISP proposal

  13. Day Excursions • Haukadalur, Grettir’s Saga (February 22) • North Iceland • Sólheimajökull glacier, south coast • Golden Circle (Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss) • Boat trip to Kapisillit settlement, Greenland

  14. Assignments • Article analysis • Reflection papers on excursions • Summary of what you did, likes and dislikes, and how it intersects with academics • Observation/field journals (minimum 1 entry every day), paragraph minimum • Counts toward participation in each seminar (10%) • I will check (every other week in debriefing discussions) to ensure entries are present but not read content

  15. ISP • Weeks 1 & 2: Consider possible topics of interest; one-on-ones with AD • Week 3: Research methods and ethics; collect relevant literature on possible topics; one-on-ones with academic coordinator and AD; hypothesis/research question development • Weeks 4, 5: Hypothesis/research question development, development of research methods, literature collection, advisor engagement

  16. The role of the ISP ”advisor” • A limited role in the ISP process (~4 hrs contact time, via email, phone, in-person) • Direct student to relevant literature, if necessary • Provide feedback on methodology developed by student in consultation w/AD & AC • Read and comment on final paper • Some advisors more active than others

  17. The advisor search • Not required to have particular academic title or degree, but to be knowledgeable in field • Those just getting started in the field are often willing to take more time than those more established • As you identify possible ISP topics, collect list of possible advisors for each topic • AD & AC will assist in search process

  18. Advisor engagement • Provide names & contact info of possible advisors to AD (as many as possible) • As soon as an ISP AD will make initial contact • You can then take over communication

  19. ISP sites/bases • Ísafjörður, Reykjavík (and vicinity), and Akureyri are pre-approved sites • For any other proposed sites, we will assess feasibility (accessible by public transport, local amenities), safety, etc.; decided case-by-case • Proposed field research in areas outside of city/village will be decided case-by-case; will require minimum of 2 traveling together

  20. ISP logistics • ISP stipend is 9,000 ISK per day room and board • Housing (hostels, air bnbs, shared apartments) • This is increasingly difficult, will require patience on all our parts • We will help you secure adequate lodging • Transportation • Flights between major population centres • Public buses (not to/from Ísafjörður) • Ride sharing

  21. ISP process • ISP is process of learning to be an independent researcher • Rarely a smooth process from points A to B • You are learning to be a researcher even when (or especially when) you feel stuck • Þettareddast!

  22. Grading Structure • AD is the final authority on grades • Final grades seen by AD, student, & registrar • Academic coordinator & seminar lecturers may advise a certain grade

  23. Grading philosophy & expectations • Minimize stress over grades • You are here to accumulate a variety of experiences, in classroom & in field • Intellectual growth, reflection on & critical engagement with material, & in independence as researchers • Effort, participation, curiosity

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