In 2025, UiT The Arctic University of Norway launched a sustainability stipend for master students who want to write their master's thesis related to sustainability. UiT offers 3 stipends of Nok 20 000 (ca. € 1 700). Applicants were asked to provide a project summary with a description of the research design, as well as a milestone plan and a budget. The students were asked to include reflections about:
- How does the project contribute to critical thinking around sustainability issues?
- What makes the project original and innovative?
- Is the project close to the field and carried out in Northern Norway?
- Describe if the project has an interdisciplinary character.
- Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in the Tana River: Impacts and Management Seen Through the Opinions of Local People and Other Stakeholders by Solvår Tørres Berntsen,
- From Visitor to Steward: Exploring Learning Outcomes and Behavioural Intentions Following Citizen Science And Northern Lights Tourism by Maren Helgø Tveit,
- The Herøysund Bridge - knowledge acquisition during demolition (original title in Norwegian: Herøysund bru – kunnskapsinnhenting ved riving) by Emilie Bye Kjøglum og Regine Frantzen Solhaug.
In addition, the master's projects need to include an associated communication effort, preferably written together with a collaboration partner.
In 2025, we had 9 applicants, thereof were two student groups. The three winning topics were:
The feedback about the stipend was very positive and UiT aims to offer the grant annually.
Below, you can read a summary of the winning projects in 2025.
Maren Helgø Tveit: From Visitor to Steward: Exploring Learning Outcomes and Behavioural Intentions Following Citizen Science And Northern Lights Tourism
Over the last years, northern light tourism has exploded in Tromsø. This also means that the number of campfires at popular viewing spots in the nature has increased. Such campfires can leave the environment with lasting marks on landscape, damaged fragile habitats and growing frustrations among locals.
To address this, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and Rissa Citizen Science are teaming up to promote traceless outdoor practices, inspired by the Leave No Trace movement. During the summer 2025 and the northern light season 2025-26, Maren will explore how involving volunteers and tourists in citizen science activities – such as mapping and restoring campfires – during guided nature experiences may impact these participants. The main aim of her thesis is to assess the impact of such involvement on participants’ learning outcomes and behavioral intentions both in the specific context of campfire habits but also in broader contexts.
Up until now, there has been little research on hands-on citizen science within land-based tourism contexts. Ultimately, the project contributes to the growing field of exploring how such engagement can foster learning, environmental awareness and action among nature visitors, while also offering insight into how participatory activities may support more sustainable and meaningful forms of nature-based tourism.
Maren is a student at the Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics at UiT in Tromsø. Read more about her project here: Helping nature heal its burns.
Solvår Tørres Berntsen: Impacts of Pink Salmon on the Social-Ecological System: The Tana River Community Survey
In recent years, the invasive fish species Pacific pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) has invaded Norwegian rivers in large numbers, appearing as a competitor to the Atlantic salmon. This causes growing concerns about changes in river ecosystems, natural biodiversity, and potential impacts on the social-ecological system.
Exploring insights from the local community is essential for understanding this development. Solvår`s study, based on an online survey in the Tana River community in Northern Norway, has collected knowledge and opinions of people in the community regarding impacts of pink salmon in the Tana River and ecosystem management.
The survey reveals concerns related to how the Atlantic salmon may be negatively affected by the invasion of the Pacific pink salmon, for example by competition for resources and spawning grounds. This may cause cascading effect on the human systems; considering the importance of the Atlantic salmon for cultures and human well-being along the Tana River. The results also show how the respondents think of pink salmon as a possible food source.
Solvår`s work showcases nuanced concerns related to how pink salmon and their management may impact both ecosystems and human systems in the Tana River social-ecological system. Her study demonstrates how the involvement of communities and system thinking can create a more holistic understanding of the complexity of invasive species and their impact on social-ecological systems. Future studies and ecosystem management are therefore encouraged to engage the local communities when addressing the impacts of pink salmon and pink salmon management in the Tana River and Norway in general.
Solvår is a student at the Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics at UiT in Tromsø. Her public communication contribution is in preparation.
Emilie Bye Kjøglum and Regine Frantzen Solhaug: The Herøysund Bridge - knowledge acquisition during demolition (original title in Norwegian: Herøysund bru – kunnskapsinnhenting ved riving)
The third grant is shared between Emilie Bye Kjøglum and Regine Frantzen Solhaug. They are both students at the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at UiT in Narvik. Their project is described as follows: Herøysund bridge – knowledge acquisition during demolition. The aim is to investigate how knowledge acquisition during the demolition of a Herøysund bridge can contribute to a better decision-making basis for future infrastructure maintenance and management strategies in demanding cold climatic conditions.