Svalbard is strategically placed at the entrance to the Arctic Ocean where major ocean currents pass. These play crucial roles for global climate. The seas around the archipelago are biologically rich and important both for life on land and for fisheries farther south. Geological formations dating from Precambrium and up to the present day lie easily accessible, and the many glaciers have provided fundamental knowledge about ice ages. Svalbard’s location directly under the ‘polar cleft’ makes it a particularly good place to observe phenomena related to aurora borealis. There are many reasons why Svalbard is called a living laboratory.
Compared with other polar regions, Svalbard offers many practical advantages for research. Despite the high latitude, its climate is favourable. Its waters are generally ice-free, and winter temperatures are not as frigid as in other parts of the Arctic. This means it has always been relatively easy and cheap to come here to do research. Since the early 20th century, the mining industry has built up infrastructure that scientists can also benefit from: transportation, docks, energy supply, radio communications, and so on. At present, Svalbard’s communications are top class. Longyearbyen offers all the services one expects in a modern town. So researchers can concentrate entirely on their main task: science.
But the advantages work both ways. Research activity has meant much for the development of society in Svalbard. When the mines in Ny-Ålesund were shut down in 1963, the place was gradually transformed into a ‘research village’. Today it is a modern, international research environment. Eight countries have research teams there year-round, and many other projects are carried out. When Norwegian authorities wanted to restructure Longyearbyen and establish alternatives to mining jobs, they focused mainly on research and tourism. Now research and higher education have become pillars of the local economy. Many new jobs have been created, both directly and indirectly. Researchers and students are also customers and consumers – like everyone else in Longyearbyen – and contribute to the community in various ways. The University Centre in Svalbard alone has 250 students from many nations who are here for a period of time. Little Longyearbyen also has scientific activity to thank for its broadband connection with the rest of the world via a fibre-optic cable on the seabed.