Welcome to Bio On The Rocks, the place where I document my “travels” into the fascinating worlds of the Arctic and nature. In this first blog post, I would like to tell you why Svalbard is more than just an exciting travel destination for me.

My passion for animals dates back to my early childhood. I crawled behind every cat under cars, chased cows and goats in the pasture, and spent countless hours in the chicken and rabbit coop. But it wasn’t just domesticated animals that attracted me. I wasn’t disgusted by slimy toads or long-legged spiders, while majestic moose and reindeer piqued my curiosity. Especially after my first stay in Iceland, my fascination with wild birds increased.

The love of ice and snow runs deep in my family. My grandfather taught us to ski, so we regularly spent winter days in the Alps. The “Was Ist Was” books about polar bears, penguins, and whales that we read during these stays perfected my amazement with the cold regions. My dream of becoming a veterinarian and working for the animals of the polar regions was born.

After my first solo hitchhiking tour around Iceland, I started studying veterinary medicine in Leipzig. I discovered a new fascination: the world of the smallest living things, from bacteria to fungi to viruses (it is debatable whether they are considered living things).

However, halfway through my veterinary studies, it became clear to me that the goal I had set for myself could not be achieved with this course of study alone. For working towards the holistic protection of nature and wildlife in the polar regions, I lacked knowledge and experience in the interdisciplinary area. I then learned about further study programs and opportunities to deepen my expertise.

During my research, I came across various courses in the biological and geological fields that piqued my interest. I found the courses at UNIS in Svalbard particularly appealing. The descriptions of the Arctic Biology courses hit me like a lightning bolt. After reading the first report from a student, it was clear to me: I MUST go there! That’s what I wanted – to use my knowledge and research for the Arctic and discover new and remarkable things along the way.

It turned out that my veterinary degree did not qualify me to take courses at UNIS. Therefore, my decision was clear: I would complete my veterinary studies and then do postgraduate studies to expand my knowledge and skills. I completed my veterinary degree during the first year of the pandemic, putting me at a crucial point where choosing my next course of study would shape my future journey. In my research, I found biogeosciences in Jena, a city in Thuringia, central Germany.

I was fascinated by the selection of modules in the curriculum of this interdisciplinary course. It quickly became clear to me that this could be the right path and would complement my previous veterinary studies perfectly. My new adventure began in October of 2021. After a short period of getting used to it, I became increasingly interested in biogeosciences thanks to the varied lectures and especially the excursions.

My plan to apply for an Erasmus semester at UNIS remained firmly in place. In spring of 2022, I started taking Norwegian courses at the FSU Language Center and deepened my knowledge of Norwegian culture.

After a few obligatory complications, which are probably inherent in every project, my dream came true. On the evening of November 9th, 2023, I received confirmation from UNIS that I could study at the university for half a year. The countdown began – my Arctic trip was supposed to start on January 8th, 2024. I only had two months left to organise the last vital things, gather all my warm clothes, and receive the excellent 1989 expedition sleeping bag from my father.

And now I am here, in Longyearbyen, in my beautiful and cozy room. Tomorrow it will start. After a week of “Survival Camp”, my courses start on January 15th: “Marine Arctic Biology”, “Arctic Environmental Management”, “The History of Svalbard” and “The Stormy Sun and the Northern Lights”.

I have many people to thank for making this opportunity a reality, especially those who have inspired me in recent years. I am incredibly grateful for that. I aim to draw more attention to the highly sensitive and worth-protecting polar regions and their unique creatures. I want to talk about my experiences here in Longyearbyen, about my life as a scientist and environmentally relevant topics and hopefully inspire other people as well.

In order to capture this big journey and document my experiences both in writing and in pictures, I created this website and its blog. Bio On The Rocks is the little place on the internet where Ice, Soil, and Life meet.