Education

The online course "Extreme environments" is a pioneering educational initiative designed at UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, in collaboration with other Universities and International institutions.

This online course is tailored for bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. level students across various disciplines such as geology, biology, environmental science, and governance, as well as for people eager to explore the study of extreme environments. With a focus on interdisciplinary, research-based active learning, the course offers insights and tools to prepare students for advanced studies or careers in environmental and planetary sciences.

This course is available online and on an open platform and leverages digital technology to provide an immersive learning experience beyond geographical and logistical barriers. 

Internationalization and multidisciplinary approaches as keys to scientific innovation.

The development of the " Extreme environments" course emphasised the significance of an international network and diverse expertise. This initiative, originally planned among partnerships with UiT The Arctic University of Norway, the University of Bergen, and UNIS, was then enriched with participants from diverse research institutes and universities (REV Ocean, Ocean Census, Southampton University, UK, British Antarctic Survey, UK, British Antarctic Survey, UK, British Antarctic Survey, UK, Norwegian Offshore Directorate, Kiel University, Germany) and supported by diverse projects (in addition to i-Earth, the EU Erasmus Plus Bridget Project and The Deep Network Erasmus, prohect supported by HKDIR like ECOCARE:  HKDIR, UArctic, and also funds from other Internationalization funds by Kiel University).

These collaborations shared a very strong knowledge and resources crucial for developing this multidisciplinary curriculum.

Lectures from geology, biology, environmental science, and governance contributed with their knowledge, ensuring the course was not only interdisciplinary but also at the forefront of scientific innovations. Moreover, we hope that promoting the course across various institutions will help reach a broader audience in terms of students.

Course structure

The course is structured into five distinct modules: Hydrothermal Vents, Cold Seeps, Glaciers, Planets, Governance, and Case Studies. To foster an engaging learning experience, each module is subdivided into several sections, which include instructional videos, knowledge assessments following each video, practical exercises, and a comprehensive reference list of recommended literature. This structure allows students to deepen their understanding of the subject matter.

Each lecture was recorded in high-quality studios at UiT's Resource Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology to ensure clear audio and visuals. Additionally, some lectures were filmed aboard the RV Kronprins Haakon during the EXTREME24 expedition, which took place from May 3rd to June 4th, 2024. This approach provides authentic insights into exploring extreme environments. A key component of the course is the virtual cruise, which was developed based on a previous project but was implemented by a master's student specifically for this course.