Kim Holmén, one of the most renowned polar explorers and current advisor to the Norwegian Polar Institute, will give a presentation on climate change in Svalbard in Estonia this week. The respective meetings will take place on 28 April in Tallinn and on 29 April in Tartu in co-operation with the Estonian Maritime Museum and the Norwegian Embassy.
Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, halfway between the North Pole and the Norwegian mainland. Svalbard is especially known for the climate research conducted there, and many Estonian scientists have also contributed to this.
‘The upcoming meetings will take the co-operation of Estonian and Norwegian polar researchers to a new level. The visit and presentations of a renowned and well-known Arctic expert such as Kim Holmén is a sign that our co-operation can be even more substantial and broader. Added to this is the fact that the Norwegian Embassy in Estonia helps to organise the meetings,’ pointed out Katrin Savomägi, CEO of the Estonian Polar Club at the Estonian Maritime Museum, who organises the meetings.
Kim Holmén, one of the most renowned Arctic researchers and current advisor to the Norwegian Polar Institute, will discuss the research and its results related to the climate change in Svalbard. Magne Helgesen, a former priest of the Svalbard Church, opens up the ethical challenges posed by such changes.
The Norwegian presentations will be preceded by presentations by the Estonian Polar Club researchers, in which they will highlight the contribution of Estonians to the study of climate change in the Arctic. Martin Liira, a senior geologist at the Estonian Environment Services and analyst at the Department of Geology of the University of Tartu, will speak at a meeting in Tallinn. Polar explorer and adventurer Timo Palo will speak at the meeting in Tartu. Both meetings will be opened by Norwegian Ambassador to Estonia Else Berit Eikeland. Urmas Dresen, the head of the Estonian Maritime Museum, will join her in Tallinn.
The meeting in Tallinn will take place on Thursday, 28 April, starting at 6 p.m. in the Fat Margaret artillery tower. The meeting in Tartu will start on Friday, 29 April at 12 p.m. in the White hall of the Museum of the University of Tartu. If you wish to participate, feel free to contact Katrin Savomägi (email: katrin.savomagi@meremuuseum.ee).
