From June 7 to 17, 2024, 28 gr
aduate students from over 10 countries gathered in the small Alaskan village of McCarthy to take part in the University of Alaska Fairbanks's (UAF) seventh 11-day International Summer School in Glaciology. The event took place against the backdrop of highly glacierized mountains, offering an ideal setting to equip early-career PhD students with the skills needed to tackle the growing challenges of quantifying and modeling the rapid changes in glaciers and ice sheets driven by global warming. It also aimed to foster collaboration among students and established scientists in the field of glaciology.
Five instructors from the UAF glaciology group, along with one instructor from another U.S. institution and two from Canadian universities, stayed for the entire duration of the program. This arrangement provided ample opportunities for interaction between instructors and students, both during and outside of formal instruction sessions.
Students took part in glaciology lectures, exercises, and computer projects with a focus on the Arctic, and presented their own research in a poster session with posters pinned to the outdoor walls of the Wrangell Mountain Center or to laundry lines. Excursions to nearby glaciers provided hands-on experience in a high-latitude glacier environment, which was a memorable adventure, especially for the eight students who, though studying glaciers, had never actually set foot on a glacier. The program was rounded off by a series of evening activities, including a public lecture that drew over 50 local residents, tour guides, and tourists. On the last day, the students presented results from their projects and impressed everyone with the amount of work that had been accomplished in the course of just a few days.
Overall, the course received highly positive evaluations. The graduate students left with not only a stronger foundation in glaciology but also a network of professional contacts from around the world. As in previous years, the course relied heavily on contributions from international organizations, and IASC was among one of several professional organizations providing financial support.
Highlights
- Students significantly enhanced their literacy in glaciology, gaining a broader foundation that extended beyond their specific thesis topics.
- The combination of complementary instructional methods, including lectures, exercises, research projects, and student presentations, contributed to an effective learning experience.
- Students developed a personal and professional network with glaciologists from various countries and at all career stages, creating opportunities for future collaboration and interactions
Left: Group photo during the glacier excursion on the Root Glacier. Photo courtesy of the organisers
Date and Location:
June 7 to 17, 2024 | McCarthy, Alaska, USA
IASC Working Group / Committees funding the Project:
- Cryosphere WG
Project Lead
Regine Hock, University of Oslo, Norway) and University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA
Martin Truffer, University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA
Year funded by IASC
2024