Student story: Theis Rosendahl Erdland's semester in Nuuk, Greenland

I had the pleasure of attending the Arctic Science Study Programme (ASSP) in Nuuk, Greenland from February to June 2025. During the semester, my existing knowledge of marine and microbial ecology was expanded in the context of the Arctic environment and its unique ecosystems. The fieldwork made the experience especially rewarding, as we collected and worked with samples and data from an ecosystem I had never encountered before. Through this, I gained skills and knowledge that I would not have been able to acquire without attending. My attendance was made possible, in part, by the north2north scholarship I was granted by 
UArctic. The financial support allowed me to focus on my studies and engage deeply in the programme.

 
In the 5 months I was in Nuuk, I experienced the lovely atmosphere of the Greenlandic capital. I made sure to be outside when the weather was good, and many of my days off of university were spent in the hinterland of Nuuk. I furthermore tried to engage in the public life in the city, attending pub quizzes, watching Greenlandic films in the library and eating out once in a while. The Greenlandic way of life is very inspiring, coming from a relatively busy city life in Denmark. In Greenland, I learned not to stay as busy as I usually do but instead be more present in the nature experiences, I was fortunate enough to have. We took part in a range of interesting courses, including, sea Ice Ecology, Arctic microbial ecology, Arctic marine ecology in a changing climate, and the impacts of climate change on Arctic ecosystems. Through these courses I gained insight into both the terrestrial and marine ecosystems in the arctic, as well as the ecosystems inhabited by the microbial life.