Scientists, students, and partners gather in Graz to chart the next decade of interdisciplinary research at Sermilik Station in Southeast Greenland — from glaciology and oceanography to biogeochemistry, monitoring infrastructure, and international collaboration.
Charting the next decade of Arctic field research
Sermilik Research Station, located in Southeast Greenland, is Austria's only Arctic research facility. This workshop brings together international keynote speakers, station partners, and early-career researchers to shape its future scientific agenda.
Over three days, participants will review the station's research priorities, map international networks and collaborations, and consolidate recommendations for an Advisory Board input document guiding the station's next decade.
The opening day is public and open to all registered participants. The second day combines closed working sessions with a public afternoon at the Botanical Garden. The third day is reserved as a dedicated event for PhD students and PostDocs.
Hard Facts
Programme
at the Meerscheinschlössl, University of Graz
08:30
Registration & welcome coffee
09:00 – 09:15
Official welcome and opening by the Rector of the University of Graz, Peter Riedler, and Wolfgang Schöner, University of Graz, Austria
09:15 – 09:45
An Austrian perspective on polar research
Birgit Sattler, Director of APRI, University of Innsbruck, Austria
09:45 – 10:10
Sermilik Research Station: Past, Present and Future
Andreas Trügler, University of Graz, Austria
10:15 – 11:00
A tale of ice, warm water, and the future Keynote 1
Fiamma Straneo, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
11:00 – 11:45
East Greenland marine coastal systems Keynote 2
Søren Rysgaard, Director of CIFAR, Aarhus University, Denmark
12:00–13:00
Lunch at the Meerscheinschlössl (catered)
13:00–13:45
Research at and around the Mittivakkat Glacier in SE Greenland – Keynote 3 (Online)
Sebastian Mernild, University of Southern Denmark & University of Bergen
13:45–14:00
Geomorphology and biogeochemistry at the Sermilik Station in a changing climate – Keynote 4
Jacob Yde et al., Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogndal, Norway
14:00–14:30 Coffee
break
14:30–15:15
Sermilik Station and the University of Copenhagen – Keynote 5
Anders Bjørk, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
15:15–16:00
Exploring Scientific and Outreach Connections through Glaciological Research at Helheim Glacier – Keynote 6 (Online)
Leigh Stearns, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
16:00–16:45
Snow4Flow: A new NASA airborne mission to measure and model the state and fate of Arctic glaciers – Keynote 7 (Online)
Lauren Andrews, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
17:00
End of the public programme
6.30 pm
Conference dinner (invited guests only)
Informal networking for invited scientists and organisers.
in the glasshouse of the University of Graz Botanical Garden.
Please note: The morning of the second day (09:30–12:30) consists of three closed working sessions for invited participants. The afternoon programme – i.e. the keynote talks – is open to all registered workshop participants.
09:00
Arrival & morning coffee in the greenhouse
09:30–10:30
Working session I – Monitoring & infrastructure priorities (closed)
Moderated discussion: Which monitoring measures should the Sermilik station prioritise over the next decade?
10:30–11:30 am
Working session II – International networks & collaboration (closed) Mapping
connections: GIOS, CIFAR, ESA/NASA, ARQUS, GEUS – What is missing?
11:30–12:30
Working session III – Student Training & Capacity Building (closed)
Infrastructure for the training of PhD/Master’s students, logistics for fieldwork, safety protocols, accessible facilities.
12.30–13.30
Lunch in the Botanical Garden (catered)
13:45 – 14:30
Guided tour – Lichen collection
Martin Grube, University of Graz
Introduction to the world of lichens and a visit to the lichen and moss collection at the Institute of Biology.
14:30–15:00
Keynote 1 – Cryptogam ecology in the Arctics
Martin Grube, University of Graz, Austria
15:00–15:30
Keynote 2 – Palaeoecological archives in the Sermilik region
Petra Heinz, University of Vienna, Austria
15:30–16:00 Coffee
break
16:00–16:30
Keynote 3 – Next-generation satellite communication for remote stations
Cornelia Tieber-Hubmann, Graz University of Technology
16:30–17:00
Keynote 4 – Social dimensions of Arctic research
Gertrude Saxinger, University of Graz, Austria
17:00
End of Day 2
6.30 pm
2nd conference dinner (invited guests only)
Informal networking for invited researchers and organisers.
in the seminar room, RESOWI, University of Graz
Note on participation: The morning of the third day (09:30–12:00) is reserved for early-career researchers. The drafting sessions in the afternoon (13:00–14:00) are closed and accessible only to invited participants.
09:00
Arrival & welcome coffee
09:30–09:45
Doctoral seminar – Welcome & Framing (doctoral students/postdocs)
Wolfgang Schöner
Opportunities in Sermilik; the role of field stations in a doctoral student’s career.
09:45–11:15
PhD session – Presentations by early-career researchers (PhD students/postdocs)
Selected presentations by PhD students and postdocs from the University of Graz.
11:15–12:00
PhD Student Event – Career Paths in Polar Research (PhD students/postdocs)
Open panel discussion: Keynote speakers discuss their career paths and offer advice to early-career researchers.
12:00–13:00
Lunch (catered)
13:00–13:15
Summary and synthesis – Key topics from Days 1 and 2 (closed session)
Summary by the rapporteurs: identification of consensus, open questions and priority recommendations.
13:15–14:00
Drafting session – Contribution document for the Advisory Board (closed)
Small working groups develop recommendations on five thematic areas: monitoring, networks, education, infrastructure and new science.
14:00
Conclusion and end of the workshop
Summary of the workshop results: Outlook on the Advisory Board process, acknowledgements.
Uni Vibes: Friday evening (from 6.00 pm) The University of Graz and the La Strada Graz Festival are hosting “Uni Vibes – The Festival that Breaks Down Barriers” and transforming the campus into an open space for encounters and exchange. Further information can be found on the website.
We would ask all participants to register so that we can plan catering, seating and materials.
