“Arctic Floating University” started an international voyage
A meeting took place on the quay of the Arkhangelsk sea-river station: people came here to send-off the third expedition of «Arctic Floating University — 2013». It is dedicated to the memory of Norwegian polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen.
The research vessel «Professor Molchanov» has once again become the base of the expedition. The voyage is organized by the University of Tromsø, the Norwegian Polar Institute, NArFU, the Siberian Federal University, the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring and the Barents Secretariat.
«Professor Molchanov» will travel from Arkhangelsk to Norilsk in 11 days. It is scheduled that the expedition will visit the Kolguev Island and the Dixon Island. The ship will return to Arkhangelsk on August 17.
«We are continuing a fine tradition — we are sending-off the expedition of „Arctic Floating University“ on the quay of the sea-river station. When we were discussing the idea of this expedition at the end of January 2013 in Tromsø, we did not know what we can do. But we did it thanks to the joint productive work. Today I want to wish all the participants good luck and exciting discoveries!» — said rector of NArFU Elena Kudryashova.
The rector handed letters of thanks to everyone who has supported the preparation of the third «Arctic Floating University — 2013». The expedition members will discuss the history of Arctic exploration, trends and alternatives of development of the Arctic geopolitics as well as future of the indigenous peoples and prospects of doing business in the North-Eastern Russia and in the Arctic.
During the expedition the participants will make reports and organize workshops on various aspects of Arctic exploration: historical, political, legal, economic questions. The participants will discuss the challenges faced by indigenous peoples, climate change issues and more.
