Research at the ends of the Earth: what the Arctic and Antarctica tell us about global environmental change

Cele kursu

The objective of the course is to introduce participants to global environmental change using real examples from Arctic and Antarctic research. The course shows how scientists study climate change, pollution, and ecosystem transformations in polar regions and explains why these remote areas are crucial indicators of global processes. Interactive learning, critical thinking, and hands-on experiments are combined with real scientific case studies based on firsthand experience from seven polar expeditions.

Tematyka kursu

·         Polar regions as indicators of global environmental change

·         Pollution studies in the Arctic and Antarctic

·         Bioaccumulation and environmental monitoring in polar ecosystems

·         Key processes of climate change in polar regions

·         Practical insights from Arctic and Antarctic research expeditions

·         Hands-on experiments and real-world case studies from polar research

Efekty uczenia się

After completing the course, the participant will be able to:

• understand why polar regions are crucial for studying global environmental change,
• explain the basic physical and biological processes related to climate change and environmental pollution,
• describe how human activities affect environments located thousands of kilometers away,
• identify the main methods used in environmental research in the Arctic and Antarctic,
• interpret simple observations and experimental results related to environmental change,
• link scientific knowledge with everyday environmental challenges,
• critically evaluate information related to climate change and environmental protection.

Metody pracy

·         Short introductory lectures with elements of popular-science storytelling

·         Hands-on workshops and simple experiments using safe, everyday materials

·         Group work and problem-based tasks

·         Visual materials (maps, photographs, and videos from polar research)

·         Moderated discussions and participant questions