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Description
The project is based on mutual cooperation and knowledge sharing between Masaryk University and Agricultural University of Iceland. Cooperative fieldwork in various fields of polar science will be organized in Iceland while the results will be presented at conferences in the Czech Republic. This will enable the students to participate actively in ongoing research activities of both university teams. Experience gained within such course help students to carry out their own research projects (e.g. as a part of their MSc or PhD studies). They might collect samples or do measurements for their further research during the course itself. Two conferences, where participants present their work, will be organised in Brno to supplement and enhance the fieldwork. Bringing together students from both universities can also deepen the possibilities of recent or future cooperation and enhance the chance of success in their future scientific carriers. The project will be beneficiary not only for students, but importantly also for the lecturers. Common fieldwork and meeting at the conferences can significantly improve the cooperation on various scientific topics as well as enriching the teaching approaches of both teams.
Summary of project results
The project was carried out to enable the students and lecturers of both partner institutions Masaryk University and Agricultural University of Iceland to cooperate on a field-based research project with a special emphasis on the specific research topics of the polar environment. This was done through organising a joint field course in Iceland, organising two conferences again with participation of students and lecturers from both institutions, and continuous cooperative work on research projects established during the field course.
The main constraint during the project implementation was the COVID-19 pandemic which literally changed all our plans. On one hand, we were forced to postpone the joint field course and also organise the conferences partly (2020) and fully online (2021) due to the travel restrictions. On the other hand, we tried to turn such difficult situation into an advantage – this was true mainly for the conferences. The online form of the conference enabled large audience to participate with people joining the conference from more than 15 different countries. We were also able to record the presentation and upload them on our website, so that these can be shared with the public even after the conferences were over. Postponement of the joint field course enabled us to undergo more precise and detailed preparation, therefore the field work was more effective.
Despite the difficulties described above, we were able to fulfil all the planned activities together with the respective outcomes. The two conference proceedings were delivered and published online as well as the reports from the joint field course.
The common project activities have enhanced the knowledge and experience of the project participants. Some of the students participating in the field course proved their abilities and will participate in the Antarctic expedition later this year. We had a chance to test equipment and methods that will be used there as well. Research papers that are now being prepared will constitute an important part of PhD theses of the student participants as well.
Summary of bilateral results
Both partner institutions cooperated in implementation of all the activities. Team members from Agricultural University of Iceland participated in the conferences (both in person and later online) and we all met in Iceland during the joint field course. Sharing such experience was greatly acknowledged from both sides as the two partners have different research backgrounds which is however complementary. The Icelandic partner has long-term experience in soil science and erosion, whereas the Czech team members of Masaryk University have long experience in glaciology, geomorphology or climatology. In that way, students from both institutions had a chance to see different approaches to studying specific aspects of the polar environment. It is obvious, that the cooperation will not only continue, but we are sure it is just the beginning of further closer cooperation within some common research projects.