University at sea: A unique opportunity to experience the Arctic despite the dramatic turn

Viljo Vuorimäki, a master’s student of Arctic World Politics at the university of Lapland, participated in the Arctic Future Pathfinders course in Canada and Alaska.

The Arctic Six nominated master’s and doctoral students from the Arctic Six universities to join a voyage across the North-West Passage. The hosting university, UiT – the Arctic University of Norway, selected 27 participants – two of them from the University of Lapland: Viljo Vuorimäki and Heikki Tiilikka.

However, the journey through the North-West Passage was cancelled due to conditions along the route. The course took place in Canada and Alaska, USA.

Viljo Vuorimäki, why did you decide to join the Arctic Future Pathfinders course? What was your motivation?

While the course format changed from what it was supposed to be, taking part in the course was still a valuable experience and something meaningful to look back on in the future, as it helped lower the threshold for many other opportunities in my life. It was a unique opportunity to see and experience the Arctic from a different perspective, from the other side of the world, as it definitely deepened my desire to protect it.

What were the main benefits of participating in the course, from your point of view?

There were several benefits to participating in the course, but if I had to list a few, they would be: meeting new people and hearing their experiences on the Arctic, its challenges, opportunities and worries. Learning more about the Arctic from experts, not only from the perspective of political science and international relations, but also from the perspective of natural sciences. And stepping out of my comfort zone and experiencing something brand new.

Did you receive any training to prepare you for the expedition?

Given that the course took a dramatic turn, no specific training was needed other than the reading material preparing us for the course itself.

Did you expect the course to give you an opportunity to do first-hand research or make important observations which would offer you new insights or knowledge?

I am a master’s student of Arctic World Politics and not a PhD student, so I did not expect to do first-hand research, but more importantly, to make observations which would offer new insights and knowledge of the Arctic. I used the opportunity to meet new people and learn new ways to tackle issues related to the Arctic and develop my critical thinking skills for the future.