In 2019-2020 Sunniva Sorby and Hilde Fålun Strøm became the first women in history to overwinter in the Arctic without men. They have spent the last winter isolated at the 78th parallel in the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, in a small uninsulated trapper’s hut called “Bamsebu”, with no running water or electricity, and subjected to one of the harshest climates on earth, surrounded by polar bears and total darkness.

Their self-imposed isolation has had tremendous outreach: together with Exploring By The Seat Of Your Pants, a global network for teaching across continents, they engaged with students worldwide in areas of science, exploration and education on topics that ranged from the aurora to our ocean to global weather patterns. They also collected valuable data as citizen scientists on northern lights, marine plastics, cloud formations, ice, ocean water, phytoplankton, and wildlife.

“We jumped in with our hearts in the ice last year to self-isolate, immerse in the cycles of change in the Arctic for 12 months, to observe, record and share stories.” says Strøm

But after a long, dark, polar night came the pandemic, which gave a new meaning to their expedition, and forced them to recalibrate the compass. Thus their decision to extend their engagement for another winter.

   Life at Bamsebu, from October 2020 to May 2021, will be broadcast via Iridium provided by their satellite connectivity partner Marlink and published in social media to scientists, school children and interested citizens around the world.

Hosted video chats will connect schools globally. Hilde and Sunniva will engage students and teachers from around the world with twice monthly live video hangouts. Teachers: Want to involve your class? (school year Nov 2020-Jun 2021).  Join Us!

Hilde and Sunniva will continue to serve as citizen scientists to build on their 2nd year of data collection for the Norwegian Polar Institute, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UNIS, NASA and BCIT

Due to their combined 46 years of observations and experience in the Arctic and Antarctic, Hilde and Sunniva are uniquely qualified to be of service in this way.

They will continue to test cutting edge technologies, including solar and wind equipment from Power Controlls, infrared drones from Indro Robotics, and remote satellite communication, including a Telemed Kit from Marlink.

Taking Ice Core Samples 

   Provide measurements, observations and data to The Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) on PolarBears, wildlife, and snow samples.

   Provide samples and data to the University Centre of Svalbard (UNIS) on icecore samples, salt water samples and insect collection.

   Analyze the influence that the Gulf Stream has on the west coast of Spitsbergen with The Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Fjordphyto project by collecting phytoplankton and salt water samples.

   Take observations for NASA that will help their satellites better understand how clouds assist in the overall changes in our planet’s climate.Take time-lapse photography through the 3 month long polar night for Nasa’s Aurorasaurus project.

   Collect as much plastic trash as possible from the area and neighboring beaches in addition to dissecting the stomach lining of dead Fulmars to collect ingested plastic.

   Fly pre-progammed drone flights to measure surface temperature changes through the seasons for BCIT/Indrorobotics.

   Field test cutting edge technology in one of the world’s most extreme environments. From solar and wind energy, satellite communication, to an infrared drone.

   With their Bamsebu Blueprint- Discover how it is possible to minimize their carbon footprint in hopes of inspiring others to do the same – one action at a time.