My name is Maria Ravn Jürgensen, and I am a master student from Aarhus Universitet in Denmark. I had the unique opportunity to spend a semester in Nuuk, Greenland as part of the Arctic Science Study Programme (ASSP). Furthermore, I received the north2north grant, which made my semester in Nuuk possible. From my flight across Greenland, I was met with a unique and raw nature, as I flew across the Greenlandic ice sheet. When I reached Nuuk, I was met with a warm welcome.
My semester in Nuuk included lectures, where I gained insight into the theory behind Arctic ecosystems. During my trip I got a lot of experience in the field, both on land and sea. I investigated how climate change affects marine and terrestrial ecosystems in the Arctic, as climate change is a still growing concern, especially in Arctic regions which are more vulnerable to temperature increases. Many hours were spent on a boat collecting samples from the water column, to explore the difference in fjord ecosystems where marine- or land terminating glaciers were found. On land I gained knowledge about arctic insects and their adaptations to surviving in extreme conditions. Greenland offers a unique nature which I was lucky enough to experience on a day-to-day basis, during hikes and the daily walk to campus. I return home with new knowledge, academic motivation and a profound respect for Greenland’s unique nature and culture, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity.
Published in 2025.