This blogpost was authored by Professor Elisabeth Cooper. Prof. Cooper is based at UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, in Tromsø and is an ecologist with expertise in arctic plants and ecosystems and their response to herbivory and climate change. She visited the University of Bristol in December 2023-January 2024 as a Next Generation Visiting Researcher to collaborate with Dr Christopher Williamson in the School of Geography.
I am grateful for support from the International Research Development Team as a Next Generation Visiting Researcher and to my host, Dr Chris Williamson from the Glaciology Group in the School of Geography to enable me to visit the University of Bristol in December 2023 – January 2024. The theme for this visit was ‘Arctic snow-microbial-plant interactions in a changing climate’, which describes the overlap of Chris’ and my research interests.
I used this opportunity to develop contacts in several parts of the University, notably within the Schools of Geography, Earth Sciences, and Biological Sciences as well as the Bristol University Botanic Garden, with the aim of developing some joint projects and enabling student exchange.
I presented a research seminar to post-graduate students and staff in the Geography Department on 19 Jan 2024, to show how long-term increases in snow depth can induce physical changes in the tundra including ice-lens collapse, and the knock-on effect that has for hydrology, carbon and nutrient loss from the system.
Together with my host Chris Williamson, and also Casey Bryce from the School of Earth Sciences Department, we outlined a Master’s project to be placed within the Cabot Institute, with a named student due to start in Bristol in September 2024, to examine the Biogeochemical consequences of enhanced high-arctic permafrost thaw. Our student will be eligible to apply for fieldwork funding from Norway and will carry out fieldwork in my experiment on Svalbard in Summer 2025. Other projects were discussed with grant applications to be developed later.
I visited the gardens several times throughout my stay in Bristol with productive conversations with the curators and other staff about the living collection of plants, and the use of the gardens (especially the Evolutionary Dell) for teaching Botany and Ecology. I also gave an open lecture to the general public in the Bristol Botanic Garden in conjunction with the Cabot Institute on 17 Jan 2024, entitled ‘Challenges facing Arctic plant and ecosystems’. This was well attended by the public, friends of the Botanic Garden, UoB students and staff, with a lively discussion afterwards.
I lived in in Principal’s House for six weeks. It was very comfortable accommodation, close to the University and the centre of town, with several parks and gardens nearby for short walks and fresh air. It was also interesting to meet several other visiting researchers from a variety of cultures and academic backgrounds staying there at the same time.
In summary, this stay in Bristol was very valuable and has already led to increased collaboration between myself and my host, and we hope to develop further projects and student exchange between Bristol and Tromsø in the future.