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The University Centre in Svalbard

The northernmost institution for higher education and research in the world.

Gunnar Sand, Director of UNIS, August 2010

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Welcome to Svalbard

• The world’s

northernmost

settlements

• The gateway to

the Arctic Ocean

• An area of

increased

strategic

importance

• An ideal location

to monitor

climate change

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Exotic wildlife

• Some of the largest animals in the world live in the high Arctic

Thor Bjørn Arlov

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Traces of better

days in a

Southern climate

• An Iguanodon left its

tracks along the

shores of Isfjorden ...

• ... maybe it was

eaten by an

Allosaurus?

• Svalbard was an

island in the

Southern hemisphere

• Svalbard traveled for

700 mill. years to get

here

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0-60 mill.

60-150 mill.

150-250 mill.

250-350 mill.

350-400 mill.

400-1000 mill.

1000-2000 mill.

The geology is unique

There are samples

on Svalbard from

every geological

period.

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Another creature from the past

Paleontology of the

High Arctic.

Jørn Hurum is

adjunct professor

at UNIS.

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UNIS was a bold choice

• 1980s: Political goal to

develop alternative

activities to coal mining.

• 1989: Proposal of an

arctic college in

Longyearbyen.

• 1993: The University

Center in Svalbard

opens its doors.

• 2010: UNIS is known as

the Arctic extension of

the mainland universities

– they send their Arctic

oriented students to us.

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The big question in the 1990s

• Is it possible to establish

an institution for higher

education and research in

a coal mining community

at 78° North?

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UNIS 2010

• Dedicated staff of 50

people living and working

in Longyearbyen.

• 20 full time staff

representing 9 countries.

• 30 adjunct professors

representing 20

institutions.

• 30 PhDs and Post Docs

building a career here.

• 400 students from 29

countries – adding up to

150 student years.

• We do not charge tuition fees!

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• UNIS offers education and performs research based on Svalbard’s

location in the High Arctic and the advantages this represents.

• UNIS has an international profile – in line with the Svalbard Treaty.

• UNIS has a small scientific staff on campus cooperating with a network

of adjunct professors and guest researchers from all over the world.

Our mission

Our students

describe the UNIS

experience as

”AWESOME!”

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• It is the overall ambition of UNIS to establish itself

as a Leading International Centre for Arctic Studies.

Our ambition

Our students

describe the UNIS

experience as

”AWESOME!”

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Areas of research: Biology

• The vulnerable plants of Svalbard.

• The food chain of the Arctic Ocean.

• Marin biology during the Polar Night

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Areas of research:

Geophysics

• The Aurora Borealis.

• Sea currents and deep water formation.

• Black carbon in an Arctic environment.

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Areas of research:

Technology

• Development of ice mechanics.

• Oil spills in Arctic waters.

• Transportation of pollutants.

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Deep

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w m

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r

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allo

w m

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Deep

mo

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Fault zone

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Areas of research:

Geology • The dynamics of glaciers.

• The changing permafrost.

• Carbon Storage in sub-surface aquifers.

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Arctic science for global challenges

Thank you for your kind attention!