By Betty Trummel, Polar Educators International
“What could happen if a whole class of students engaged in a real polar expedition?”
This question popped into my head and that of my Italian colleague, Matteo Cattadori, ten years into
our educational collaboration to bring climate change education to young people all over the world.
The opportunity came with RESEt (Research and Education Svalbard Experience), a 3-year project aimed
at planning, organizing and funding a polar expedition for high school students, with a
scientific-educational focus.
The stage was set with a class of 21 Italian high school students, and was originally focused on
strengthening the initiative and independence of female students in order to better prepare them for
academic and science careers based on personal initiative and passion, rather than on social and cultural
conditioning.
Two years were entirely devoted to fundraising activities: crowdfunding, partnership and sponsorship
research, small activities (think bake sales and babysitting) and communication on local and national
levels. The determination and dedication of the students made the project come alive, especially with an
inspirational teacher like Matteo to guide them. He helped them set fundraising goals and learn the life,
communication, and economic skills that would be necessary for a trip like this, and he provided a rich
foundation of climate change science that the students would employ for data collection and learning
while in Svalbard.
In July of 2016, we set out from Bologna, Italy to Oslo, Norway and continued north to the archipelago
which is Svalbard…to Longyearbyen, a town of about 2,000 residents. This remote outpost is a hub for
scientists who study the effects of climate change and its impact on the plants, animals, glaciers, and
land of the Arctic region. It is the highest latitude permanent outpost in the world.
This was no ordinary field trip!
During our week in Svalbard, our students took part in a 3-day, 23-mile backpacking trip to explore the
flora and fauna, glaciers, fjords, climate and landscape of the Longyearbyen area. Students deployed
instruments for scientific measurement, and diligently recorded sights, sounds, impressions, and
knowledge for use after the expedition. Many had never donned a large backpack before, but for 3 days
over difficult terrain–with no trail– they remained enthusiastic and never lost track of their goals. They
were eager to learn at every moment! Other activities included a hike on the edge of Longyearbyen, on
which we crossed braided rivers using long ladders laid horizontally over the rushing waters, almost
white with glacial silt. The students also hiked up the side of the Larsbreen Glacier and across a plateau
separating it from another glacier that we hiked down on our way back to town. How many high school
students can say they’ve hiked ON a glacier with their science teacher?
We met the Governor of Svalbard and the students presented Italian gifts. Two students were
interviewed and broadcast live back home to Italy. We visited the polar museums of Longyearbyen, and
our final day was an all-day field trip to the former Russian coal mining town of Pyramiden. Beyond the
natural history of Svalbard, we learned about the cultural history of this region, which has had an
enormous impact on the natural resources here.
Matteo’s RESEt Project is a shining example of an educator providing a unique and incredible experience
for students, going beyond the walls of a classroom and impacting them for life. Watching him in action
with his students…encouraging them, teaching them, leading them and turning them into leaders…that
was truly a gift for me. The story of the RESEt experience was made into a movie that was presented in
April 2017, at the 65th Trento Film Festival of Mountain. The trailer can be seen online here .
I have never been so proud as I was to be a small part of this adventure in learning by assisting on the
trip to Arctic Svalbard, working with Matteo and with his students in Rovereto, bridging cultures and
geographic distance with science through young minds. I kept thinking, this would make the most
amazing Summit site!
