Advanced Field School on Arctic Sea Ice : Tracking Changes Across Scales

April 9-18, 2025, Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut, Canada

Under the leadership of the Sentinel North program of Université Laval (Quebec City, Canada) and the UAK international initiative, this advanced field school on arctic sea ice offers students a unique opportunity to engage with leading scientists and experienced professionals through a transdisciplinary, cutting-edge training program. Taking part in an actual ocean research program, participants will gain a better understanding of sea ice changes in the Canadian Arctic, from microstructures to icy landscapes, and explore their cascading impact on ecosystems, northern communities and global climates.

Hosted at the Qikiqtarjuaq Research Station (Nunavut, Canada) (67° 33′ N, 64° 01′ W), this field school provides an integrative learning experience across a wide range of disciplines including optics-photonics, Arctic marine biology and ecology, marine physics, biochemistry and remote sensing. Participants will also have the opportunity to interact with community members of Qikiqtarjuaq, gaining insight into the richness of Inuit knowledge and perspectives on sea ice and the challenges northern communities face in relation to climate variability and change.

Photos and testimonials

Attending this school was a very good experience. The mix of lectures, hands-on fieldwork, and group work made it easy to learn in different ways. I got to explore topics I hadn’t worked on before, and it made me consider new options for the future. I also really enjoyed being outdoors and doing practical tasks. One of the best parts was meeting people with different backgrounds and interests, both the mentors and the other participants. I hope to stay in touch with many of them.

Anna Haarsaker Olaussen, Master's student in Ocean Technology,
University of Bergen

The course was a great experience both intellectually and socially. Being able to talk with great scientists about their projects and learning more about their field was amazing. The discussion with the other students was really interesting and gave me another point of view on different topics and opened new windows for my research. In addition, everyone was super friendly and kind, I really enjoyed to have so many discussions and to learn more about what everyone was doing. The cherry on the cake was being able to go in the Arctic, meet the community (I am still impressed by the throat singing) and to go out on the field.

Mathilde Guillaume, Ph.D. student in Environment and Geography,
University of Manitoba

I was particularly amazed at the structure of the program; specifically how the coursework aligned with the fieldwork we later conducted. I really applaud the planning of this course as it was so smooth that we could really focus on the research.

Khashiff Miranda, Ph.D student in Biology,
Université Laval

Participating in the Arctic sea ice field course was a truly eye-opening experience. From hands-on scientific research in extreme conditions to meaningful cultural exchanges with the local Inuit community, the course offered deep insights into both nature and collaboration. It reshaped how I view science.

Sara Wergeland, Master's student in Ocean Technology,
University of Bergen

Program
The school favors a multifaceted approach that includes lectures, discussions, and a strong hands-on component supervised by experts from various disciplines. The program will address three primary topics, focusing on different scales to study sea ice changes, and will examine the interdependence between these scales.

Micro scale: Structure of sea ice and the life it supports
- Physical and biogeochemical characteristics that make sea ice a unique ecosystem
- Biodiversity sea ice supports within itself
Meso scale: Importance of sea ice for marine biodiversity, wildlife and coastal communities
- Arctic sea ice food web: from phytoplankton to marine mammals
- Role of sea ice in the livelihoods of northern communities (impact on socio-economic development, food security, and travel safety)
Macro scale: Links between polar ocean functioning and global change
- Interactions between sea ice, ocean and atmosphere
- Role of sea ice in shaping global climate change
Fieldwork operations
A considerable portion of the school activities will be dedicated to fieldwork, as part of a research project focusing on light and nutrients in sea ice and seawater, and microalgae.
Scientific operations will 1) generate data to provide a snapshot description of the marine system surrounding Broughton Island and of microalgal primary producers and 2) contribute to the baseline data necessary to better detect effects of changes in nutrient load, possible future emergence of invasive microalgal species, and modifications of water quality.
Here is an overview of the scientific operations that the participants will experience:
- Measurements of the optical and physical properties of sea ice
- Measurements of optical, physical and chemical properties of the water column
- Sampling of microalgal primary producers in sea ice and the water column
- Sampling of zooplankton
- Hydroacoustics measurements
Exchange with the Qikiqtarjuaq community
The school will also highlight the importance of Inuit knowledge and local initiatives, notably by showcasing sea ice monitoring initiatives. Participants will thus be able to learn more about the SmartIce program by engaging with the local program coordinator. The Qikiqtarjuaq research station team will organize an exchange activity with the youth in collaboration with the local school, as well as a cultural activity with elders from the community.
Université Laval's new research station in Qikiqtarjuaq.
Scientific Team
Rémi Amiraux, Researcher, Takuvik Joint International Research Unit, CNRS/ Université Laval, Canada
Marcel Babin, Researcher, Takuvik Joint International Research Unit, CNRS/ Université Laval, Canada
Jens Ehn, Associate Professor, Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba
Joannie Ferland, Research Assistant, Takuvik Joint International Research Unit, CNRS/ Université Laval, Canada
Marie-Hélène Forget, Coordinator, Takuvik Joint International Research Unit, CNRS/ Université Laval, Canada
Sophie Gallais, Training program coordinator, Sentinel North, Université Laval, Canada
Maxime Geoffroy, Research Scientist, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
Matthieu Huot, Research Assistant, Takuvik Joint International Research Unit, CNRS/ Université Laval, Canada
C.J. Mundy, Professor in biological oceanography, Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba

Organizing Committee
- Marcel Babin, Initiator and Scientific Director
- Marie-Hélène Forget, Coordinator, Takuvik and Qikiqtarjuaq Research Station
- Sophie Gallais, Training program coordinator, Sentinel North
- Marie-France Gévry, Program manager, Sentinel North
- Børge Hamre, Professor, University of Bergen, Useful Arctic Knowledge (UAK)
- Hanne Sagen, Research Leader, Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, Useful Arctic Knowledge (UAK)
- Stein Sandven, Senior Researcher, Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, Useful Arctic Knowledge (UAK)
Participants

Torbjørn wigum Arbo, Master's student in Ocean Technology, University of Bergen
Florence Beaudry, PhD student in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, McGill University
Rory Burke, Postdoctoral fellow, Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Grenoble
Elliott Chartrand, PhD student in Oceanography, Université Laval
Karl Arvid Fritze, Master's student in Ocean Technology, University of Bergen
Mathilde Guillaume, PhD student in Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba
Julie Landier, PhD student in Marine Biology, Université de Bretagne Occidentale
Linda Latuta, PhD student in Physical Oceanography, Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen
Khashiff Miranda, PhD student in Biology, Université Laval
Anjali Narayanan, PhD student in Oceanography (Ocean Optics), Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California-San Diego
Anna Haarsaker Olaussen, Master's student in Ocean Technology, University of Bergen
Torunn Sandven Sagen, PhD student in Physical Oceanography, Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen
Ana Stringer, PhD student in Earth & Climate Science, Duke University
Bryce Troncone, PhD student in Engineering Sciences, Dartmouth College
Sara Wergeland, Master's student in Ocean Technology, University of Bergen