Saroma Sea ice School 2026

SAROMA SEA ICE SCHOOL 2026

Saroma-ko Lagoon, Hokkaido, Japan

From 28 Feb. to 9 Mar. 2026 

By BEPSII, CIce2Clouds, CATCH, and Hokkaido University

DESCRIPTION 

Saroma Sea Ice School 2026 is designed for early-career scientists interested in exploring the complex interactions between sea ice, snow, clouds, and aerosols in polar regions. 

Participants will engage in hands-on data collection such as sea ice coring, snow, seawater, atmospheric samplings, field experiments, and workshops led by experts, focusing on processes critical to the Arctic and Antarctic climate systems. Key topics include aerosol-cloud interactions, ice-atmosphere linkages, and cutting-edge observational techniques. 

The program combines classroom lectures, practical fieldwork, and data analysis, comprehensively understanding these vital Earth system processes and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Saroma Sea Ice School 2026 is preparation for next generation scientists for the International Polar Year. The BEPSII, CIce2Clouds, and CATCH working groups are organizing this winter field school. 

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

Frontal lectures, daily field and lab work on topics such as:

·        Sea ice and snow physics and biogeochemical processes

·        Sea ice biogeochemical modelling

·        Gas fluxes at the ocean–ice–atmosphere interfaces

·        Primary and secondary aerosols in the sea ice environment 

·        Atmospheric observation and modelling 

·        Clouds formation in polar marine boundary layer 

·        Interactions with underlying water

·        Communication/outreach 

·        Indigenous traditional knowledge

·        Safety training on ice

·        Sea ice one day cruise with ice breaker Aurora in Abashiri

TARGET

About 30 international Early Career Scientists (preferably Ph.D students, but master students and early post-docs are also eligible to apply).

LECTURERS 

·        Daiki Nomura (Hokkaido University, Japan) 

·        Naoya Kanna (University of Tokyo, Japan) 

·        Takenobu Toyota (Hokkaido University, Japan) 

·        Jessie Creamean (Colorado State University, USA)

·        Rémy Lapere (LATMOS, France) 

·        Lisa Miller (Institute of Ocean Sciences, Canada)

·        Emelia Chamberlain (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA) 

·        Nadja Steiner (Institute of Ocean Sciences, Canada)

·        Letizia Tedesco (Finnish Environment Institute, Finland) 

·        Yannick Ilunga (Digital Communication and Marketing Expert, Finland) 

·        Bruno Delille (University of Liège, Belgium) 

·        Emiliano Cimoli (Hokkaido University, Japan)

·        Odile Crabeck (University of Liège, Belgium)

·        Pat Wongpan (University of Tasmania, Australia)

·        Karley Campbel (UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway)

·        Megan Willis (Colorado State University, USA)

·        Eeva Eronen-Rasumus (Finnish Environment Institute, Finland)

·        Paul Zieger (Stockholm University, Sweeden)

·        Sakiko Ishino (Kanazawa University, Japan) 

·        Hakase Hayashida (JAMSTEC, Japan) 

·        Keiichiro Hara (Fukuoka University, Japan)

·        Matt Corkill (Hokkaido University, Japan)

·        Liyang Zhan (Third Institute of Oceanography, China)

·        Anoop Mahajan (Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, India) (Online)

·        Markus Frey (British Antarctic Survey, UK) (Online)

SCHEDULE

ACCOMODATION

Napal Kitami (accommodation during sea ice school) in Saroma: 

Address: 365-1, Sakaeura, Tokoro-cho, Kitami-shi, Hokkaido 093-0216, Hokkaido, Japan

Public accommodation (no towel)

Meal: Vegetarian/vegan menu will be prepared. 

Room/bathroom: You will share.

Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel (accommodation in Shiretoko after ice cruise in Abashiri/only final day):

Address: 306, Kagawa, Utoro, Shari-cho, Shari-gun, Hokkaido 099-4351, Japan

Nice hotel

Meal: Buffet stile (including vegetarian/vegan menu).

Room/bathroom: You will share (very Japanese style room).

TRAVEL INFO 

Click here!

FIELD GEAR and ACCOMMODATION DETAIL INFO 

Click here!

TEACHING and SAFETY DETAIL INFO

Click here!

DETAILED INFO FOR SAROMA RESERACH

Click here!

SCHOOL FEE

700 USD

This includes food (3 meals/coffee etc), accommodation during school period (11 nights), transport from Saroma to Shiretoko (not including before/after school transportation), ice cruise in Abashiri. 

FUNDING AVAILABLE

Applications for funding will be done in the school application form. The BEPSII/CATCH/CIce2Clous SSC will select the applicants based on best merits and will allocate funding, if requested by the applicant, and according to the organizations' guidelines and availability.

Funding for eligible Canadian students is offered through MEOPAR. This covers the cost of program fees and travel expenses to and from Memanbetsu Airport.

INPORTANT DATE

Middle of June 2025: Application open

30 September 2025: Application deadline

End of November 2025: Result notice

APPLICATION FORM (closed)

Click Here!

FLYER FOR SEA ICE SCHOOL 

Click Here!

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please get in touch with one of the school organizers:

Daiki Nomura (daiki.nomura@fish.hokudai.ac.jp)

Bruno Delille (bruno.delille@uliege.be) 

Odile Crabeck (ocrabeck@uliege.be) 

Letizia Tedesco (letizia.tedesco@environment.fi)

Jassie Creamean (Jessie.Creamean@colostate.edu)

SPSONSORS

Pictures from previous Sea Ice School in Cambridge Bay, Canada 2022.