A dark green van came
driving up the one road in and out of Nybyen. I was already standing outside
with a rucksack on and ready for the day to come when I saw the UNIS logo
stamped on the side of the vehicle as it continued driving up the hill. A group
of equally prepared colleagues stood ready and zealously greeted me with a nod
or a smile accompanied with a “good morning are you ready?” It was the first
day of our snow processes fieldwork; we would be travelling to a nearby glacier
for a week to gather data about its geophysical characteristics. What makes it
move, where is it moving to now and in the future. More importantly we would be physically out in
the landscape that we are attempting to gain a deeper understanding about,
instead of it all just being theory.
That’s the good thing about UNIS, be you a visual learning a
kinaesthetic learning or an auditory learner, for any case UNIS caters for you.
Although pursuing academia likely means you are good at all three, if you want
me to read about how a glacier moves then sit me on one. Let me measure it
moving and tell me why this is so. UNIS does this, and I believe it’s what
makes this place special and effective at training new scientists. This place
aims to put students out in the field and to give us the skills and tools to be
able to work in a harsh environment.
The weather was cold. Twenty
below and feeling colder when a wind blew. Arriving at the logistics garage to
be outfitted in scooter gear; boots, suit, goggles, helmet, mittens and an avalanche
beacon. By the end it felt as if beyond the garage doors laid the surface of
the moon. Student snowmobiles parked ready for us to take into the field. We drove
them up and attached sledges to the back of them. Securing a series of
scientific instruments that continued this extra-terrestrial impression of the
surrounding landscape. Ground penetrating radar and Global navigational
satellite system and automatic weather stations.
Not only that but UNIS also provides the professionals that
use this equipment, that have written papers thanks to this equipment, that now
pass on the knowledge in the hope that some here continue it.
We dig holes in the snow. Some metres deep. The
snow pack can be removed like bricks, which makes life easier; but not much. Sweat
becomes your worst enemy, for when it cools it freezes. The hair on my face and
head froze in seconds. It’s always hard to thaw out frozen extremities so the
trick is keeping warm. This is not easy work it can be exhausting and
frustrating when technology fails to work; batteries die much quicker in the
cold. We tag team the digging work and when someone doesn’t come out the hole
you grab him out. When you are asked to dig you reply with gratitude, “thanks
for allowing me to warm up.” We all share in a laugh and take the measurements before
we heartbreakingly fill the same hole back in with all the snow we just
removed. 
Leave nothing but footprints. If you were to disturb the
snow then measurements may be jeopardised; such as with radiation sensors. If we
were to dig up most of the glacier and leave it like that it would destroy much
of the natural beauty and would present a danger for scooter drivers. Science
would start to be less effective at getting its messages across.
Jump on the scooters
for a quick leg up the hill to where the sun has managed to emerge over the
mountain ridge. Some food and stories from the professors help to warm up
spirits whilst the hot drinks and a few more layers help to warm your body.
Before you know it the
day has ended and just as quickly so has the fieldwork. The sights the work and
the people make this a memorable experience worth a few stories.
You can learn all there is to know about UNIS and its goals
for future scientists by spending one day out in the field.
-Allan
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