Environment and Society in a Changing Arctic (AK1214)

Unique opportunity for students at KTH and UIUC to study the Arctic This summer course focuses on the changes taking place in the Arctic region in the context of climate change and globalization. The climate is warming faster in the Arctic than in other parts of the world, with environmental impacts such as melting glaciers and changing vegetation. Increasing demand minerals on the world market results in rising interest in exploration and mining in the far north. Together these changes pose a challenge to all stakeholders in the region, from indigenous peoples, local residents and municipalities, to policy makers and economic actors on the regional, national and global scales. The changes also pose a challenge to students who wish to work for sustainable development in their careers. The course is organized by KTH, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and Stockholm University.

Tarfala valley - one of the field locations for 2014. Photo: Ninis Rosqvist

Organization and general outline

The objective of this course is to explore causes and consequences of the changes in the Arctic for society and the natural environment, and discuss possibilities to handle them in the future.

The course is divided into, 1) Lectures at KTH June 3-187-23 and 2) field work in LaplandNorrbotten – Sápmi (Arctic Sweden) June 22 –6 - July 47. The first part of the course consists of a series of lectures, museum visits and movies on the topic Arctic environmental and societal change. The field work includes a visits to onsome of the largest open-pit and deepest underground mines in the world,Europe, Aitik and Kirunavaara. We will hike in one of the most beautiful mountain areas in Sweden, walk on Sweden’s largest glacier and stay at a research station, Tarfala, with a view over Sweden’s highest summit, Kebnekaise.

For a full course schedule and description, please visit: KTH Arctic course 2016

How to apply:

Students need to have general entry requirements and 120 hp in one of the following fields: technology, natural science, architecture, history, environmental history, history of ideas, economic history, political science, anthropology, sociology, ethnology, literature, archaeology or human geography.

Students can apply on a separate form which can be acquired by sending an e-mail tochangingarctic@abe.kth.se or downloaded from here. Deadline extended to MARCH 10 2016. OBS: The number of placements in this course is limited and the interest is very high, so please send an e-mail to changingarctic@abe.kth.se as soon as possible notifying your interest. For more information about course content, e-mail:

changingarctic@abe.kth.se or call Dag Avango at +46 733 788 579

Costs:

Students must be prepared to cover the expenses connected with the field component of the course. The cost can be as high as 11 500 sek. There are possibilities for students to apply for stipends.