The course will provide a broad introduction to how terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the Arctic have developed, are structured and function in relation to environmental conditions. The course will also provide a deeper knowlegde and understanding of organisms (microbes, plants and animals), their life cycles, adaptations to arctic conditions and how they interact. Examples of how ecosystems respond to climate changes and to direct human activities (e.g., hunting, fishing, tourism and exploration of minerals) in Greenland will be demonstrated and debated.

The course addresses students and academics as well as non-academics from any disciplines but a prior understanding of basic life sciences at high-school levels will be an advantage. However, care will be taken to implement a good understanding of basic biological terminology and approaches to enable the students a profound understanding of the arctic ecological processes and paradigms at an academic level.

The course is structured with weekly lectures in combination with theoretical and hands-on exercises. Excursions and invited guest speakers will provide insight to management and monitoring aspects. The students will furthermore be challenged through own presentations (individually and in groups) of relevant arctic topics.