Researchers from ArcSolution were visiting Tromsø and Skjervøy last week to follow up with two schools involved in the project’s ongoing school collaborations.
Arja Rautio, Katrin Vorkamp, Paula Guedes and Lars-Otto Reiersen were meeting with teachers at high schools in Tromsø and Skjervøy to discuss current activities and develop new study ideas connected to Arctic environmental research.
In Tromsø, Kongsbakken VGS will run a study on indoor air quality, supported by ArcSolution scientists. Students will measure air quality using a range of sampling methods, sensors and analytical approaches. They will generate real-time data and prepare samples for chemical analysis in the laboratories of Aarhus University and later data interpretation at the school. The work will give students hands-on experience with environmental monitoring and scientific data collection, as well as insights into the potential exposure to indoor air pollutants.
The Tromsø collaboration is also exploring a second minor study related to marine biota sampling. ArcSolution will follow up on this initiative and support the school according to the school’s interests.
In Skjervøy, Nord-Troms VGS has a strong interest in marine pollution and has already outlined a study focusing on litter on the sea floor, including how different types of litter can be identified and categorized. The school also plans to use the ArcSolution iNaturalist citizen science initiative in its teaching, giving students the opportunity to contribute observations to a larger citizen science monitoring initiative.
Together, the visits highlight the important role of school partnerships in ArcSolution, connecting students with real-world research methods and locally relevant environmental questions.
