By David Graff, AAU Communikation and Public Affairs
Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communikation and Public Affairs
Photo: Ilisimatusarfik – University of Greenland

In Greenland, nature is the basis for nearly everything including the economy, culture and mental health. This is the assessment of Aviâja Lyberth Hauptmann, Associate Professor and Head of Department who helped develop the SILA Bachelor in Biology programme:

- In Greenland, we have a special relationship with nature - that is, the biology around us. We hope that the students in this, our very first, science programme will feel that we have created the programme with respect for our culture, with a focus on mental health, and with an exciting and motivating study environment, she says.

Reindeer hunting, seal stomachs and the labour market

The students at SILA will go reindeer hunting, they will have their hands in seal stomachs, and they will learn about the importance of nature for the Greenlandic labour market. But the programme also offers perspectives on issues relevant outside Greenland – for example, people's relationship to the environment, climate change and mental and physical health.

Ilisimatusarfik has therefore just begun a partnership with Aalborg University to exchange students in biology and give graduates of the Bachelor’s programme SILA access to the Master's degree programme in biology at Aalborg University.

- Through this cooperation, we can offer Greenlandic and Danish biology students something very special, explains Aviâja Lyberth Hauptmann, and emphasizes that the students at SILA will also learn a great deal from the biology programme at Aalborg University which is not tailored to Greenland. 

Enthusiasm in Aalborg

Expectations are also high at Aalborg University where Simon Bahrndorff, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, is looking forward to welcoming Greenlandic students to the Master's degree programme in Biology. He is also working to ensure that Aalborg University's biology students will be able to take the courses in SILA as electives once the programme gets off the ground.

- We are excited about this cooperation that can give both Greenlandic and Danish biology students a unique opportunity to focus on Arctic biology with a focus on Greenlandic nature and culture, he says.

For further information, contact:

• Ilisimatusarfik - University of Greenland, Aviâja Lyberth Hauptmann, Associate Professor and Head of Department, aviaja.lyberth@sund.ku.dk
• Aalborg University, Simon Bahrndorff, Associate Professor, sba@bio.aau.dk
• Press: Jeannette Bylov, AAU Kommunikation and Public Affairs. Tlf. +45 24 23 05 66, jmb@adm.aau.dk