The students aboard the Statsraad Lehmkuhl have mixed feelings about the ship having to turn back and not being able to sail through the Northwest Passage.
– This was a dream for me. I was looking forward to experiencing the Arctic and seeing the wildlife there. But nature decides. It’s a reminder that we can’t control everything, says Delphine Gilliard from Switzerland, who is pursuing a PhD in marine geochemistry at the University of Lausanne.
She stands on deck with the others from the blue watch team. It’s just past eight in the evening, and the team has just started their shift. Everyone on board is divided into three different watch teams, working four-hour shifts around the clock. During their shifts, they hoist sails, perform fire watch, stand lookout, steer the ship, or handle other tasks.
No going through the Northwest Passage
Earlier today, the students received the news that they would not be sailing through the Northwest Passage. Naturally, this has caused some disappointment.
– We were super excited about the whole package. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the Arctic and Indigenous communities and to gain an interdisciplinary perspective. It’s disappointing that we can’t complete this part of the journey, says Hannah Thommessen, who is pursuing a master’s degree in Arctic animal physiology.
She highlights, however, that the intense experience of being together on a ship—sharing meals, attending classes, sleeping in hammocks next to each other, and being seasick together—creates strong and valuable bonds.
– We have seen each other at our worst – seasick, tired, and hungry. It has really brought us together. Now that we’re starting to get to know each other, it feels like we can truly begin to share and learn from one another, says Thommessen.
Learning and reflecting together
And that is precisely the idea behind the course: that being aboard a sailing ship in Arctic surroundings will give the students an even greater opportunity to learn and reflect together.
– Through a physical and practical approach, the students have the chance to learn about the Arctic’s history, nature, and societies directly from local knowledge holders, including representatives from both Sámi and Inuit communities, says course leader Melania Borit.
Every day, the students have two hours of lectures covering topics ranging from politics, biology, health, and law to logistics, safety, and Arctic ice conditions. The course also focuses on long-term thinking, challenging students to imagine what the Arctic might look like in 25 years. The idea is that through teaching, exercises, and collaboration, they will develop solutions for a desired future for the region.
– Sleeping closely together in hammocks, collaborating with knowledge holders, and reflecting on the future of the Arctic provides a unique experience that cannot be replicated in a classroom, says Borit.
They also learn from each other in other ways. For instance, a sheet is hung up in the mess hall where those who want to can write the "word of the day" in their own language. Today, the word is "sailboat," or "Segelboot" in German, "purjelaev" in Estonian, and "borjjasfanas" in Northern Sami. And in several of the sessions, it's about sharing one's own experiences and reflections and listening to others'.
– Nature decides
The fact that the planned journey through the Northwest Passage will not happen has also led to other reflections among the students:
– Ultimately, nature decides what we can do, and that’s how it should be. It reminds us to be humble and that we cannot conquer everything, says Laurien de Korte, who is pursuing a PhD at UiT on adapting to climate change.
Hannah Thommessen also emphasizes that she finds it very positive that several lectures include topics such as Indigenous storytelling and its significance as a flexible and artistic form of expression.
– I found it very interesting to learn about how storytelling is used as a way of expression and how it’s not set in stone. It’s a completely different way of thinking, says Thommessen.
– The content is relevant
Even though the Northwest Passage will not be part of the journey, the students still see the value in the course.
– The content of the course is just as relevant, no matter where it’s taught. Being in the Arctic would have been a bonus, but the learning can still happen, de Korte points out.
And the camaraderie on board remains a significant part of the journey. Clément Masse, who is pursuing a PhD at the University of Oulu, looks forward to delving deeper into the course content and learning more from each other:
– We’ve just started to get to know each other in a more trust-based way, and I really hope we have time to let this flourish, says Masse.