Interdisciplinary introduction to Arctic studies. Spring 2017

This course is an introduction to the fields of research within REXSAC, multidisciplinary across and between the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. It will also introduce ways of integrating these disciplines in research concerning sustainability in the Arctic. The course will take place at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark March 14-21, 2017.

Learning goals

Interdisciplinary introduction to Arctic studies is the first out of four PhD student courses given within the framework of REXSAC and as an introduction course, it will deal with a wide but yet interconnected variety of research problems and disciplines. After the course the students will:

1. have a basic knowledge about the Arctic region in terms of its natural environments, communities, cultures, economies, institutions, and its history

2. have basic knowledge about social science research on the Arctic, with a focus on the fields of economy and international relations

3. have basic knowledge about research on the Arctic within the natural sciences, with a focus on climate change and environment

4. have basic knowledge about research on the Arctic within the humanities, with a focus on  history (multiple strands), representations and heritage

The course content in terms of literature and learning activities is designed to meet these learning goals, as is our choice of main teachers:

– Kirsten Thisted, literary science, cultural studies, representations, heritage, qualitative methods

– Joan Nymand Larsen, economics, institutions, indicators, quantitative methods

– Ninis Rosqvist, natural science, impacts of climate change

– Sverker Sörlin, history, humanities, institutions, and social science in Arctic research in general

Additional teachers from the REXSAC center of excellence will contribute with lectures.

Scope

The learning activities in the course include lectures, seminars, individual reading of course literature and other text materials, and written assignments. The total work amounts to five weeks of full time work. Eight (8) days will be based in class from March 14 through 21 in at Copenhagen University, in connection with a Coordination Board meeting and a program wide workshop of REXSAC. The overarching course plan is the following:

Week 1 and 2: On February 8, 10-13, students in the course will meet online for a short introduction to the course. After this meeting students read and prepare assignments for the week in class in Copenhagen.

Week 3: March 14-21. Seminars and lectures at Copenhagen University + participation in program wide workshop.

Week 4 and 5: Preparation of final written assignment, followed by a seminar where these written assignments are discussed. This seminar should take place in the beginning of May, 2017.

The course gives 7,5 ECTS credits.

General schedule

The course will take place in connection with the first program wide meeting of REXSAC, which will take place between March 13 and 15. PhD students within the REXSAC PhD School are required to take part in the plenary sessions of March 14 and 15.

Tuesday March 14:

Before lunch: REXSAC coordination board meeting.

After lunch: Plenary session with presentations of ongoing research within REXSAC (PhD students participate).

Wednesday March 15:

Before lunch: plenary session with presentations of ongoing research (PhD students participate).

After lunch: concluding meeting of the coordination board.

Thursday March 16:

Before lunch: Before lunch: series of short lectures/classes by lecturers staying on from the coordination board meeting.

After lunch: Lectures discussing the big picture on human interaction with Arctic environments, divided into three components: 1) the physical geography of the Arctic, from bedrock, general geography to climate (Ninis Rosqvist). 2) The history of the Arctic, with a focus on changing uses of resources in the Fennoscandian Arctic and beyond (Sverker Sörlin). 3) The history of Arctic policy, from promoting resource extraction to controlling it and mitigating its consequences (Sverker Sörlin).

Friday March 17:

Before lunch: lectures on environmental change in the Arctic with natural science focus. Lecturers: Ninis Rosqvist, Arvid Bring and Jerker Jarsjö.

After lunch: Seminar discussion on readings and lectures (Ninis Rosqvist, Arvid Bring and Jerker Jarsjö).

Saturday March 18:

Before lunch: Lecture on ways of knowing about the Arctic: History of research and exploration, research policy and research institutions and seminar discussion on literature (Sverker Sörlin).

After lunch: continued seminar discussion, ending at 14. Afternoon free.

Sunday March 19:

Excursion to the National Museum of Denmark.

Monday March 20:

Lectures and literature discussions pertaining to Arctic economy and social indicators, led by Joan Nymand Larsen and Annika Nilsson.

Tuesday March 21:

Lectures and literature discussions on affective economies, representations of the Arctic and heritage, led by Kirsten Thisted in cooperation with Lill Rastad-Bjørst and Dag Avango.

A more detailed schedule will be posted here when available.

Admission

The amount of participants in the course is limited. Apply for admission to the course by downloading this form and filling it in. The deadline for applications is on February 1, 2017. We will start to review applications on February 2. Send your application to Dag Avango: avango@kth.se

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