"Student Research Workshop: the Watching and the Watched" "Geophysical and Glaciological Workshop on Spitsbergen for Students of University of Sile-sia Organized by the Centre for Polar Studies KNOW" MARTA KONDRACKA1, JACEK JANIA2 1University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Departament of Applied Geology ul. Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec e-mail: marta.kondracka@us.edu.pl 2University of Silesia in Katowice, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Department of Geomorphology ul. Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec e-mail: jacek.jania@us.edu.pl Thick-billed murre In turns

Description popularizing the research project

Safaris and survival schools are proposals for those who do not fear dangers and discomfort. The worse, the better. Sometimes they have to cross a treacherous swamp dry-shod, find the right bearing in a forest at night, climb a tree, descend into a precipice, make or extinguish a fire, find food and water, and do it all with a smile. When the night falls after such a tiring day and they manage to rest in a bed they made themselves in a makeshift shelter, listening to the sounds of nature and fighting the feeling they are observed. If, in spite of all, they manage to get some sleep, the morning brings new adventures, dangers and challenges. The only extremities missing are ice, freezing weather and snow.
People participating in polar workshops do not lack the extremities. What is more, ice, low temperature and snow are indispensible for the training. How to make glaciological measurements without a glacier to be measured? The participants were not abandoned without a map in the middle of the vast white wilderness with a task of returning to their base, yet the stay in a polar base in Spitsbergen is sure to become no.1 travel experience of a lifetime, for many good reasons. Firstly, it is the end of the world or very close to it. Secondly, undoubtedly, for learning the research methods which in other parts of the world are not so useful. The third reason, equally important and tempting, is an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and, while measuring the ice cover, observe polar fauna and flora. Such beyond-the-polar-circle observations are a privilege of few. Meanwhile, participants of the workshops can leisurely stroll tundra where the highest tree grows just several inches of the ground. They can face reindeers straight from a fairy tale, snow foxes or arctic birds; full of doubts who are the actual beholders and who are the beholdees. Polar bears, following the rules of safaris, are supposed to be only the latter ones.

Abstract

The aim of the workshop was to familiarize students and PhD students of the University of Silesia with geophysical and glaciological measurements in the area of Spitsbergen. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) measurements were per-formed on two talus slopes near the Hans Glacier. The workshops allowed to determine the internal structure of the slopes and their evolution on the basis of geophysical surveys and analyzes of physical parameters such as: exposure of the slope, elevation above the sea level, slope length), the distance from the glacier and meteorological data. The participants were also familiarized with the methodology of glaciological measurements especially with: mass balance and dynamics of glaciers on the example of the Hans and Werenskiold Glacier. Meas-urements of the mass balance were conducted with the use of the fixed network ablation stakes and automatic meteorological stations. During the workshop, the participants also got an opportunity to observe the local tundra, flora and fauna, which are presented in the photos.

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