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

DESCRIPTION 

Saroma Sea Ice School 2026 is designed for early-career scientists (preferably Ph.D students, but master students and early post-docs are also eligible to apply) 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 (planning)

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

·        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 (planning)

·        Daiki Nomura (Hokkaido University, Japan) 

·        Naoya Kanna (University of Tokyo, Japan) 

·        Takenobu Toyota (Hokkaido University, Japan) 

·        Jessie Creamean (Colorado State University, USA) 

·        Jennie Thomas (Institut des Géosciences de l’Environnement, 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)

·        Brent Else (University of Calgary, Canada) 

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

·        Megan Willis (Colorado State University, USA)

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

·        Jacqueline Stefels (University of Groningen, Netherlands) 

·        Paul Zieger (Stockholm University, Sweeden)

·        Sakiko Ishino (Kanazawa University, Japan) 

·        Hakase Hayashida (JAMSTEC, Japan) 

·        Keiichiro Hara (Fukuoka University, Japan) 

SCHEDULE (planning)

ACCOMODATION INFO 

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

Public accommodation (no towel)

Meal: Vegetarian menu can prepare. 

Room/bathroom: You will share.

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

Nice hotel

Meal: Buffet stile (including vegetarian menu).

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

TRAVEL INFO 

Arrival at the Napal Kitami (Saroma) on 27 Feb.

Departure from Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel (Shiretoko) on 10 Mar. 

Nearest airport for Saroma and Shiretoko: Memanbestsu airport (many flights from/to Tokyo). 

Memanbestsu airport to Saroma: Taxi is easy and simple (one taxi price is about 100 USD). There is bus, but not good connection. 

Shiretoko to Memanbestsu airport: Taxi is easy and simple (one taxi price is about 200 USD). There is bus, but not good connection. 

Shiretoko to Sapporo: Bus is easy and simple (one way price is about 65 USD. About 7 hours). 

There are train/bus/taxi for transportation in Hokkaido. You can decide depending on your plan before and after the school. 

Transportation cost for before and after the school (to Saroma/from Shiretoko) will not include in school fee. School can provide advice for travel plan/booking etc for transportation.

SCHOOL FEE

About 700 USD (this price will be changed depending on funding situation)

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 (planning)

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 Memanbestsu Airport.

DETAILED INFO FOR SAROMA RESERACH

Click here!

INPORTANT DATE (planning)

Middle of June 2025: Application open

30 September 2025: Application deadline

End of November 2025: Result notice

APPLICATION FORM

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)

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