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 more and faster in the Arctic than in other parts of the world, with environmental impacts such as melting glaciers and changing vegetation. Increasing prices 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 scales. The changes also pose a challenge to students who wish to work for sustainable development in their careers.

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

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

The course is a unique opportunity for program students at KTH and The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign to study Arctic change at KTH and in the field the Arctic. It takes place from June 2 to July 4 2014.

For information, contact course leader Dag Avango at: avango@kth.se or 0733 788 579.

Objectives and learning outcomes The aim of this course is to give a thorough orientation about long-term changes in the Arctic region. Which environmental changes has the Arctic region experienced historically? How have humans used the Arctic region and why? How can we use past experiences when dealing with the present? After the course, students will be able to: 1) Recount historical climatic and environmental changes in the Arctic. 2) interpret climate change within the specific context of Nordic history and cultures, 3) describe and explain the main processes of societal change in the region (science and discovery, natural resource exploitation, geo-politics), 4) conduct basic field research through documentation of natural phenomena, cultural remains and interviews, 5) perform simple research tasks by using and combining the different sources, 6) critically analyze current events in the Arctic, in relation to the course contents

Organization and general outline The first part of the course will be held at KTH, Valhallavägen campus in Stockholm, from June 2 to June 19, and will consist of a series of lectures and museum visits on the topic Arctic environmental and societal change. The second part of the course will take place in Arctic Sweden from June 23 to July 4 and will consist of different field work exercises, focusing on different aspects of the changes taking place in the Arctic. The main locations for the field work will be the Tarfala valley and Kiruna with surroundings.

Applications Who can apply? The course is open to program students at KTH and students from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in USA (the course is taught by faculty members from both universities).

KTH 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.

How to apply: apply on separate form which can be downloaded using the link below, or acquired from the home page of the Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment at KTH. Submit your application in writing to KTH/Antagning, Drottning Kristinas väg 6, 100 44 Stockholm.

Deadline: February 21

Application form

Costs Students need to be ready to cover the expenses connected with the field component of the course. This cost can be up to 7000 SEK. It is possible that the cost will be lower however, through funding which KTH and UIUC have applied for. There will be possibilities for students to apply for stipends, more information will be posted on the course website.

Safety issues Applicants to the course should be aware that the field component of the course involves certain risks. Students must also be ready to invest in suitable outdoors clothing and hiking boots.