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 for 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 scale. The changes also pose a challenge to students who wish to work for sustainable development in their careers. The course is organized by KTH and Stockholm University.

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 two parts. The first part takes place between June 4 - 22 at KTH in Stockholm and consists of a series of lectures, museum visits and movies on the topic of Arctic environmental and societal change. In the second part,we conduct field work in Norrbotten – Sápmi (Arctic Sweden) between June 24 - July 4. The field work includes visits to some of the largest open-pit and deepest underground mines in 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 fulfil the 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 via a separate form which can be downloaded here. The deadline for application is MARCH 15 2018. OBS: The number of places 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.