H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon participates in a dissemination expedition across the Greenland ice with UiT
This year it is 50 years since King Olav officially opened the University of Tromsø (UiT). On that occasion, UiT will organize a research expedition across Greenland in May. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon participates as one of the expedition members.
Press release from UiT Norway's Arctic University:
UiT Norway's Arctic University has a long tradition of Arctic research and dissemination. It is not only 50 years since the university was officially opened, it is also 150 years since Tromsø Museum was established to "provide and constantly increase a collection [...] from the Arctic" [1]. From the very beginning, northern issues have been central to the university's research and teaching.
The anniversaries will be marked, among other things, with a dissemination expedition across Greenland in May, led by polar historian Harald Dag Jølle. H.K.H. Crown Prince Haakon has agreed to join as an expedition member, and in addition Markus Landrø (UiT and NVE), Vegard Ulvang (UiT), Kunuk Lennert (UiT), and Ronny Finsås (expedition guide) and a bodyguard from the Royal Police Escort.
- We are grateful that H.K.H Crown Prince Haakon has agreed to participate in the expedition and help mark the university's anniversary, says Rector of UiT, Dag Rune Olsen.
[1] Taken from the museum's laws from 1874.
Purpose
The purpose of the expedition is to disseminate knowledge and insight about Arctic nature, research and polar history. In addition, the expedition will take regular snow samples to be delivered to climate scientists at the Eastgrip research station, which is located in the middle of the Greenland ice.
Participants will share their experiences from the expedition and their knowledge of the pioneers of polar history through text and images published on uit.no/uit-i-arktis and the university's platforms in social media.
- We hope many will follow the expedition and thus be able to join the ice to experience, see and understand more of Greenland's past and present, and what role the inland ice will play for our common future, says the expedition's leader Harald Dag Jølle.
UiT has also entered into an agreement with NRK, which will make a documentary based on recordings made along the way by the expedition participants. The press is free to pass on material from the expedition that is made available on UiT's website.
Expedition route
The expedition starts in Ilulissat on 19 May, and the Crown Prince will take part in the first part that crosses the inland ice with kite (sail) and skis as a means of transport. The expedition will visit the research station Eastgrip, where an international research team drills through the ice over 2500 meters thick. Knowledge from this research will be important for understanding how much ice will disappear from Greenland with a warmer climate.
The second part of the expedition is carried out without the Crown Prince, and will take place by kayak along parts of the east coast, in an area where a number of Norwegian hunters and researchers overwintered in the interwar years. Among these are well-known polar figures such as Helge Ingstad, Henry Rudi and John Giæver. Today, there are still many hunting grounds and cultural monuments along this coast.
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