Field Courses

Swiss Glacier Field Course（Special Course on Antarctic Science I）

This field course is designed to deepen participants’ understanding of glaciers and glacial landforms through hands-on study in the Swiss Alps. In addition to conducting field observations directly on glaciers, participants will visit several representative Swiss glaciers to learn about a wide range of glacial processes.
Participants will analyse the field data collected during the course, and present and discuss their results, gaining first-hand experience of the entire process of field-based scientific research. The course also includes lectures on glaciology and climatology by researchers from the ETH Zurich, as well as visits to observation facilities to learn about cutting-edge research. Another major objective of the course is to promote interaction and exchange with local researchers and students.

For details, please refer to reports from previous field courses:

Sea Ice Field Course at Lake Saroma（Special Course on Antarctic Science II）

Sea Ice Field Course at Lake Saroma/Okhotsk Sea, conducted in collaboration with the University of Tasmania, focuses on sea ice observations at Saroma-ko Lagoon. Through fieldwork at the Lagoon and the Shiretoko Peninsula, participants gain hands-on experience in sea ice and oceanographic observations while developing a deeper understanding of the physical and biological characteristics of sea ice and its interactions with the ocean. (This course is offered biennially.)

For details, please refer to reports from previous field courses:

Course for field skills (Special Course on Antarctic Science III)

Field observations are essential to polar research, but conducting research in such harsh environments is challenging and can involve significant risks. This course provides practical training in skills and techniques required for fieldwork in polar environments, including glaciers, sea ice, and mountainous regions.
The course is led by Kazuo Higuchi of the National Institute of Polar Research, a field specialist with extensive expedition experience in the Himalayas and Antarctica. Participants learn practical knowledge and skills related to cold-region fieldwork, including appropriate equipment, avalanche and crevasse rescue, altitude sickness, hypothermia, and emergency response.
The program also features instructors from Hokkaido University. Combining classroom lectures, practical exercises, and an overnight field training session on Mt. Teine in Sapporo, the course offers a unique field safety program unlike any other in Japan.

For details, please refer to reports from previous field courses:

Snow and ice course in Moshiri (Field studies in Cryosphere)

Located in Moshiri, Horokanai, Hokkaido, the Hokkaido University Uryu Experimental Forest is one of Japan’s coldest and snowiest regions. This field course is based at the Experimental Forest and provides training in observations of snow cover, the atmosphere and meteorology, and hydrology.
Participants will conduct field observations and data analysis during the peak of winter, investigating snowpack structure, atmospheric conditions, and river discharge. With snow depths approaching two metres and temperatures dropping below −20°C, the course offers a unique opportunity to experience the severe winter environment of northern Hokkaido while learning about the natural processes that characterise cold, snowy regions.

For details, please refer to reports from previous field courses: