Arctic Winter School

University of Lulea, 3 - 7 March 2025

Welcome to a week of space, culture, workshops, and new friends. In Kiruna 3-7 March, 2025.

Kiruna is situated 200 kilometers above the Arctic Circle, known for its wilderness, pristine landscapes, polar nights, and midnight sun. While small in population, 22 500 people currently live here, Kiruna is a vibrant place.

History and culture

The city is multi-cultural. Sápmi, the region traditionally inhabited by the Sámi people, stretches through the municipality and reindeer husbandry is thriving in the region. Kiruna has three native languages: Swedish, Sámi and Meänkieli (Tornedalen Finnish).

Kiruna is one of the largest municipalities in the world, half the size of the Netherlands. Kiruna was founded in 1900 due to the iron ore mine which is now the largest underground iron ore mine in the world. A large amount of iron ore is found underneath the centre of Kiruna and therefore the town must be relocated. The new townhall opened in 2018 and in 2022 the new centre of Kiruna was officially opened.

Sweden's Space City

Kiruna is also Sweden's space city. Besides Luleå University of Technology and our space research and education, Kiruna hosts the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, the ESA Salmijärvi Satellite Station, EISCAT (European Incoherent Scatter Radar) Scientific Association, and the ESRANGE Space Center.

What to do in Kiruna

Ice Hotel - enjoy the ice sculptures and the hotel made of ice harvested from the Torne River.

LKAB iron-ore mine - the world's largest underground iron-ore mine. The iron-ore is mined 1 365 meters below the surface, the Visitor Centre is 540 meters down.

Nutti Sámi Siida - Sámi open-air museum

Northern Lights - for free, turn your head upwards!

Dog sledding - there are many dog sledding entrepreneurs in Kiruna, google and find the dogs that can give you a thrilling ride!

Downhill skiing - you will find excellent downhill skiing with magnificent views in Björkliden, Riksgränsen, and Abisko.

Sweden's highest mountain, Kebnekaise - you can actually see Kebnekaise from Kiruna city center. All you need is a clear sky and to turn your head to the far west.

Kiruna church - once voted Sweden's most beautiful building. You find it at Finngatan 1, in the central part of the city center.

Jukkasjärvi church - in the small village of Jukkasjärvi just outside Kiruna, you find this beautiful wooden church with a spectacular altarpiece, painted by artist Bror Hjort. The church was built in the 1800th century, its organ is decorated by the Sámi artist Lars-Levi Sunna.

Swedish Language Course

The course is open to all students officially enrolled in the Arctic Winter School, which is to be held in February 2025 in Kiruna, Sweden. The course is an online course.

The focus of this course are basic interpersonal communication skills.

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• Introduce yourself and greet other people.
• Tell about yourself and what you do an ordinary day.
• Be able to ask and answer simple everyday questions.

More information about the Swedish Language Course will be announced later.

Programme Arctic Winter School, 3 ECTS

The programme will be announced later.

Content:

• Environment and society in the changing Arctic. The Arctic Five collaboration.
• Polar atmosphere and its significance for solar-terrestrial interactions, space weather.
• Auroral physics and observations.
• Optical phenomena in the polar regions.
• Snow and ice in different perspectives.
• Arctic climate systems and climate change.
• Nano satellites, rockets and balloons for polar research.
• Survival in the cold environment.
• Space product innovation.
• Language studies: terminology for New Space and polar research.
• Linguistic aspect of intercultural communication.

Practical Information

How to get from the airport to your hostel Malmfältens Folkhögskola and Hotel E10

Kiruna Airport is located approximately nine kilometres from central Kiruna. From Kiruna Airport: Flygtaxi Tel: +46 8-120 920 00 Taxi in Kiruna: Sverigetaxi Tel: +46 980-12020. Information about taxi from the airport, can be found hereExternal link, opens in new window.. Click on Parking and transport

Aiport coach

If you take the airport coach, you jump of at the bus station and then you walk for 20 min to Malmfältens Folkhögskola. If you stay at Hotel E10 you jump off at Industrivägen, app 20 minutes walking distance to the hotel. Information about the airport coach, time tables etc. External link, opens in new window.

Money

The use of cash in Sweden is mostly limited to making small payments. In shops and cafés, it is common to find the sign 'Card only' or 'Cash free'. If you travel by bus or taxi, you can pay by credit card.

Accommodation In Kiruna

Accommodation is reserved for you at Malmfältens Folkhögskola and at Hotel E10. The closest store to buy food is ICA Nära Östlunds, app a 10 minutes walk from Malmfältens Folkhögskola. The hostel is a 10-15 walk from the "old" city center.

If you stay at Hotel E10, you can buy food at Coop, just across the road.

Breakfast, bedlinen and towels are included at both housing alternatives.

How to get to LTU- campus every day?

A reserved bus will transport you from the hostels to LTU campus and back every day. Free of charge.

Insurance

EU/EEA citizens and citizens from certain countries, which have a mutual health insurance agreement with Sweden, do have the right to the same medical benefits, even though they are non residents in Sweden. If you come from an EU/EEA country you are entitled to use the public medical services on the same basis as Swedish citizens for medical care that is of immediate necessity. In order to be eligible you must be registered at a social insurance office in your home country and have the European health insurance card (EU-card). If you are not entitled to an EU-card, please arrange with a private medical insurance.

Dress warm - winter in Kiruna

The average temperature in Kiruna in February is between -20 and - 6 degrees. In the middle of February there is about 8 hours of daylight in Kiruna, hence it will dawn early in the afternoon.

Remember to bring warm shoes, gloves, and something to cover your head. If you have ski trousers or snow pants, we recommend you to bring them. Think layer by layer when dressing, it will keep you warm. It could be wise to bring some indoor shoes that you can use during meetings. Forecast here! External link, opens in new window.

Kiruna, a city in transformation

Around 6,000 people will need to move, as it is necessary for the mining company LKAB to claim more land. Roads and railways have already been redirected. Buildings have been demolished and others are being built in the new center, which is located three kilometres east of "old Kiruna". Click hereExternal link, opens in new window., to read more about the exiting transformation in Kiruna.