\u201cWhat could happen if a whole class of students engaged in a real polar expedition?\u201d<\/h3>\n

This question popped into my head and that of my Italian colleague, Matteo Cattadori, ten years into
\nour educational collaboration to bring climate change education to young people all over the world.
\nThe opportunity came with RESEt (Research and Education Svalbard Experience), a 3-year project aimed
\nat planning, organizing and funding a polar expedition for high school students, with a
\nscientific-educational focus.<\/p>\n

The stage was set with a class of 21 Italian high school students, and was originally focused on
\nstrengthening the initiative and independence of female students in order to better prepare them for
\nacademic and science careers based on personal initiative and passion, rather than on social and cultural
\nconditioning.<\/p>\n

Two years were entirely devoted to fundraising activities: crowdfunding, partnership and sponsorship
\nresearch, small activities (think bake sales and babysitting) and communication on local and national
\nlevels. The determination and dedication of the students made the project come alive, especially with an
\ninspirational teacher like Matteo to guide them. He helped them set fundraising goals and learn the life,
\ncommunication, and economic skills that would be necessary for a trip like this, and he provided a rich
\nfoundation of climate change science that the students would employ for data collection and learning
\nwhile in Svalbard.<\/p>\n

In July of 2016, we set out from Bologna, Italy to Oslo, Norway and continued north to the archipelago
\nwhich is Svalbard\u2026to Longyearbyen, a town of about 2,000 residents. This remote outpost is a hub for
\nscientists who study the effects of climate change and its impact on the plants, animals, glaciers, and
\nland of the Arctic region. It is the highest latitude permanent outpost in the world.<\/p>\n

This was no ordinary field trip!<\/h3>\n

During our week in Svalbard, our students took part in a 3-day, 23-mile backpacking trip to explore the
\nflora and fauna, glaciers, fjords, climate and landscape of the Longyearbyen area. Students deployed
\ninstruments for scientific measurement, and diligently recorded sights, sounds, impressions, and
\nknowledge for use after the expedition. Many had never donned a large backpack before, but for 3 days
\nover difficult terrain–with no trail– they remained enthusiastic and never lost track of their goals. They
\nwere eager to learn at every moment! Other activities included a hike on the edge of Longyearbyen, on
\nwhich we crossed braided rivers using long ladders laid horizontally over the rushing waters, almost
\nwhite with glacial silt. The students also hiked up the side of the Larsbreen Glacier and across a plateau
\nseparating it from another glacier that we hiked down on our way back to town. How many high school
\nstudents can say they\u2019ve hiked ON a glacier with their science teacher?<\/b><\/p>\n

We met the Governor of Svalbard and the students presented Italian gifts. Two students were
\ninterviewed and broadcast live back home to Italy. We visited the polar museums of Longyearbyen, and
\nour final day was an all-day field trip to the former Russian coal mining town of Pyramiden. Beyond the
\nnatural history of Svalbard, we learned about the cultural history of this region, which has had an
\nenormous impact on the natural resources here.<\/p>\n

Matteo\u2019s RESEt Project is a shining example of an educator providing a unique and incredible experience
\nfor students, going beyond the walls of a classroom and impacting them for life. Watching him in action
\nwith his students\u2026encouraging them, teaching them, leading them and turning them into leaders\u2026that
\nwas truly a gift for me. The story of the RESEt experience was made into a movie that was presented in
\nApril 2017, at the 65^{th<\/sup> Trento Film Festival of Mountain. The trailer can be seen online here<\/a> .<\/p>\n}

I have never been so proud as I was to be a small part of this adventure in learning by assisting on the
\ntrip to Arctic Svalbard, working with Matteo and with his students in Rovereto, bridging cultures and
\ngeographic distance with science through young minds. I kept thinking, this would make the most
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