north2north Student Story: Kasper Juhn Pedersen, Maja Eline Bak Pedersen and Nanna Kåstrup Müller

"We are three students from Aalborg University, located in the northern part of Denmark, and during our master’s program, we had the unique opportunity to travel to Greenland for research. Given the historic ties between Denmark and Greenland, it felt like a natural choice, especially since there is still relatively limited research conducted in the region. When the chance came to join a field expedition with our university, we didn’t hesitate to say yes.

From the get-go arriving in Narsarsuaq, everyone we met was very friendly, and we immediately felt welcome.

During our trip, we established a laboratory in Narsarsuaq on behalf of Aalborg University. We also assisted a PhD student in transporting her equipment up a mountain for sample collection, helping her navigate the logistical challenges of working in such a remote and rugged environment.

Our primary focus was studying the relationships between plants and insects and examining the effects of climate change on Greenland’s ecosystem. Additionally, we had the chance to collaborate with students from other universities, which broadened our perspective, exposed us to new techniques, and allowed us to work with different equipment.

One of the highlights of our research was the development of a new method for observing the feeding behavior of the seed bug Nysius groenlandicus. We are now in the process of writing an article based on the findings from our work in Greenland.

Another incredible upside of studying in Greenland is experiencing the incredible nature on a day-to-day basis. During our hikes, we got magnificent views of glaciers, mountain-peaks and the incredible animal and vegetation inhabiting the country.

It was an incredible experience to immerse ourselves in Greenland's breathtaking nature while conducting valuable research, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity."