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Alumni trip 2012: Chili and Easter Island
The second alumni trip will take its attendants to Chili and Easter Island in November. In 17 days the travellers will get to see everything ranging from the Atacama desert in the north of Chili to Easter Island and the vibrant city of Santiago. In Chili they will get to enjoy colourful rocky landscapes with wondrous forms, volcanos, salt lakes, the sand dunes of the Atacama desert, the impressive El Tatio geysers and the Chaxa Lagoon. Furthermore, a trip will be made to one of the world’s largest observatories (ESO) with enormous telescopes in an impressive moon landscape.Also, Easter Island will be explored as well as its mystical Moai’s and intriguing religious centres. All of this will take place under the guidance of Prof. dr. Jan Boersma, biologist and theologists, who will include you on the turbulent history of the island.
Alumni trip 2012: Greenland
The alumni trip to Greenland will take place from 5 to 22 September 2012 and costs 4800-5200 a person. RUG-professor on Arctic and Antarctic studies dr. Louwrens Hacquebord will guide the group on a journey along all of Greenland’s breath taking highlights. To name a few: the sailboat Rembrandt van Rijn will sail along the coast of Greenland towards Siorapaluk, the northernmost inhabited village of Greenland. A visit to Thule, the high arctic Tundra (with reindeer, snow geese, muskoxen). And calls at the spectacular ice-capped Crimson Cliffs, Cape York, enormous glaciers, beautiful lakes and a tour around Nuussauq peninsula.
Alumnitrip 2011 to Kenia and Tanzania (Dutch only)
HOW WAS SPITSBERGEN 2009?
This summer, for the first time in three years the University of Groningen Alumni Department organized an alumni trip. To mark the restart of what we hope to be a continuing annual event from now on, the University chose a destination that is both adventurous and fascinating, as well as rich in Dutch exploration history: the Arctic.
On August 24th, a group of 30 alumni set out from Schiphol Aiport to the island of Spitsbergen situated between the 78˚ and 81˚ longitudes to the North of Norway. In this region, the Arctic Centre of the University of Groningen has been conducting archeological, biological and climatological research since the late seventies, under the supervision of prof.dr. Louwrens Hacquebord. There are few areas in the world that rouse the spirit as much as the polar regions, rogued and spacious as they are, and steeped in history of perseverant explorers and entrepreneurs.
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Yellow Evening Light R. Schuling
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Under close guidance of prof.dr.Hacquebord and Arctic guide Frits Steenhuisen, the alumni were submerged in a world of glaciers, harsh winds, eternal light, cold rock and the most beautiful flora and fauna, among which polar willows as high as a thumb and seals, arctic birds, walrusses, polar bears and even a gorgeous minke whale.
Adding to the enjoyment of all, were all the awe-inspiring tales of how different nations tried to settle here, beit for whalehunting, coalmining or simply exploring the outer regions and the north pole. A few were succesful, but many failed.
Nowadays, the Arctic is the region on earth that first shows us the consequences of climatological change and air and water pollution. It is our first telltale sign for what is in store for the rest of the world, as mercury levels keep rising and more and more ice keeps melting. Through the accompaniment of our two experts, the alumni were able to get answers to all and any questions they had on these subjects, and were able to determine in the field for themselves how the Arctic is affected by human developments.
But most of all, we enjoyed the experience of being amazed. Amazed by little puffins diving in front of the boat, the sharp tips of the Westcoast mountains that inspired Barentsz to name the land Spitsbergen (‘pointy mountains’), the big white belly of the minke whale, flashing behind our ship, and all around us tundras and glaciers, air and space.
So when can we go again?
| Last modified: | January 19, 2012 16:01 |
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