Arctic Centre at the University of Groningen

Interdisciplinary research institute in polar science with a strong educational profile 

This Arctic Centre is a interdisciplinary polar research centre, with proigrams in the Arctic and the Antarctic. We offer truly interdisciplinary courses both in content and in the discipline from which the students originate. Cooperation with Dutch and international partners lies in the heart of the work of the Arctic Centre.

The mission of the Artic Centre, University of Groningen, is to:

• Conduct primary research into: the functioning of Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems; undertake inter-disciplinary investigation of long-term human-environment relations in these regions, using archaeological, anthropological, historical, biological and geographic approaches; monitor human impacts on polar environments and explore the growing geopolitical significance of these areas for transport, tourism and mineral extraction.
• Provide education, training and career development opportunities to new generations of polar researchers through provision of specialist undergraduate courses, PhD research programmes and an internship/visiting scholars programme.
• Undertake public outreach work to inform society about the ecology, environments, cultural and linguistic diversity, archaeology and history of the polar regions, as well as highlight some of the challenges these regions now face due to rapid climate change and other environmental and sociopolitical transformations that are currently underway.
• Participate actively in national bodies (IPO, CPO, WBPI); represent The Netherlands and Dutch polar researchers on the major international scientific committees, including active research collaborations with the Arctic Council (CAFF, AMAP, SDWG), International Arctic Science Committee and European polar programmes (EU-PolarNet, SIOS, INTERACT II); manage the Netherlands Arctic Station in Spitsbergen; undertake consultancy activities.    

Each year during the first semester, we organise a minor Arctic and Antarctic Studies for bachelor students from all disciplines. Every other year, we organise a winterschool for PhDs and professionals.

See our website oir email Annette Scheepstra or Maarten Loonen