International Research Training Group ArcTrain draws an excellent balance after ten years

Mar 15, 2024

The two speakers of the graduate school Michal Kucera (MARUM, University of Bremen) and Anne de Vernal (Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada) show their highlights of the ArcTrain program. Photo: MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen; Simon Wett

For ten years, young researchers have been researching the processes and effects of climate change in the North Atlantic and the Canadian Arctic as part of the ArcTrain International Research Training Group. After a decade, the project is now coming to an end with a closing event and the graduation ceremony for the class of 2023. ArcTrain was jointly funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) from 2013 to 2022.

Graduates from all cohorts since 2013 came together in Bremen's Haus der Wissenschaft to look back on expeditions, excursions and graduations, shared memories, scientific successes and a lasting international network. Of course, the spokespersons of the research group, Michal Kucera from MARUM at the University of Bremen and Anne de Vernal from the Université du Québec à Montréal (Canada), were also present. Both have been involved in the project from the outset.

ArcTrain ends after ten years of funding from the DFG and NSERC. However, Mandy Böhnke, Vice-Rector for Internationality, Academic Qualification and Diversity, emphasized that polar research and cooperation with Canadian partner institutions will continue at the University of Bremen with valuable impulses from ArcTrain.
Since 2013, over 100 PhD and Master's students and postdocs in Bremen and at eight universities in Canada have taken part in ArcTrain. In Bremen alone, 37 PhDs have been completed in geosciences, environmental physics and geography.
ArcTrain has organized ten annual meetings, three Floating Universities, two Arctic field courses, countless joint expeditions, annual retreats, virtual seminars, EGU splinter meetings and training courses.
ArcTrain members have contributed to more than 200 publications

More information: https://www.marum.de/en/education-career/ArcTrain-2.html

The ArcTrain blog received a special award in the "Science Blog of the Year 2022" competition. The jury thus recognized the commitment of the doctoral students in the project. The four-language, international blog serves as an exchange platform for young Arctic researchers from Germany and Canada, but also presents research results and adventures in the polar region to the general public.

Mandy Böhnke welcomes during the closing event. Photo: MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen; Simon Wett

Speaker of the graduate training group Michal Kuchera. Photo: MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen; Simon Wett

Michal Kuchera and Anne de Vernal. Photo: MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen; Simon Wett

Alumni give an insight into where their journey took them after graduating from ArcTrain. Photo: MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen; Simon Wett

The graduates of 2023 present their research. Photo: MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen; Simon Wett