Natural and Social Environment in the Arctic

Form of study:
full-time

Duration of training:
2 years

Dobrolyubov Sergey A.

Head of education program

Head of the Department of Oceanology

Academician of the Russian

Academy of Sciences, Professor

Streletskaya Irina D.

Responsible executor of the program

Associate Professor of the Department of Cryolithology and Glaciology
PhD of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences

The interfaculty master's program «Natural and Social Environment of the Arctic» is implemented within the framework of the Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational School of Moscow State University «The Future of the Planet and Global Environmental Change» together with the faculties of soil science and biology.

Specialized competencies of the master's program

Possession of knowledge about the patterns of evolution of the Earth’s climate and cryosphere in time and space; understanding the various feedback mechanisms on land cover changes, greenhouse gas exchanges, aerosol and cloud formation, and radiative forcing at regional and global scales; ability to analyze and compare data obtained using various research methods for paleo-reconstructions; understanding how changing cryosphere conditions and associated ecosystem processes will influence the risk of natural disasters and hazardous events.
Knowledge of methods for studying permafrost and glacial processes; ability to analyze the reactions of cryospheric objects to climate change.
Ability to identify regions and processes that are particularly sensitive to climate change; summarize current case studies on pollution of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and biosphere in the Arctic; assess concentrations and exposures of heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants and their cycling; conduct qualified permafrost-ecological studies of northern territories; monitor geotechnical systems in the permafrost zone and mountains; assess environmental risks and understand what measures can be identified to mitigate climate change and improve people's ability to adapt.
Understanding of the geopolitical situation in the Arctic, the ability to comprehensively combine field observations, satellite remote sensing, Earth observations and multi-scale modeling to synthesize data; Conduct a quantitative assessment of emissions from resource extraction, develop an optimal management system for the use of natural resources at the local, regional and national levels, taking into account social, environmental and economic factors.
The ability to analyze and evaluate cryosphere ecology problems when solving professional problems at various stages of Arctic development; understand how permafrost melt will affect ecosystem processes, including hydrology and greenhouse gas fluxes; competently use environmental laws and regulations for rational environmental management in the Arctic regions.

Graduates of the program will be able to

Act as scientific experts in assessing current changes in the Arctic environment and identifying factors influencing these changes.
Assess the adverse environmental consequences of anthropogenic impact and (or) climate change in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, analyze the risks of emergencies of a natural and man-made nature, propose measures for adaptation and mitigation of the consequences of these impacts for the population and economy.
To develop, with the participation of specialists from other areas, scenarios for the development of industrial and transport infrastructure in the Arctic zone, including in places of traditional residence of small peoples and their traditional economic activities.
Assess the state and dynamics of bioproductivity and biodiversity of Arctic ecosystems in the context of climate change and increased production and transportation of hydrocarbons.
Based on the results of completing the master's program, the graduate can work in scientific and educational institutions, in organizations involved in assessing the current state of the climate and its possible future changes, its impact on the environment and economy, as well as in developing state development strategies taking into account environmental and climate change.

Basic academic disciplines

Climate change in the Arctic (Kislov A.V.)
Permafrost under conditions of climate change and anthropogenic impacts in the Arctic (Streletskaya I.D., Grebenets V.I.)
Ecology of the Arctic seas (Pantyulin A.N., Zhirkov I.A.)
Environmental problems of the development of the oil and gas complex in the Arctic (Streletskaya I.D., Grebenets V.I.)
Biological diversity and nature conservation in the Arctic (Romanov A.A., Stepanov A.L., Balandin S.A., Kozhin M.N.)
Medical and environmental factors of socio-economic development of the Arctic (Malkhazova S.M.)
Geopolitical and legal aspects of environmental management in the Arctic (Slipenchuk M.V., Kirillov S.N., Golubeva E.I., Pakina A.A.)
Engineering, environmental and social problems in the Arctic (Zamyatina N.Yu., Grebenets V.I.)