arctic living
Mina (10) Can Become the Youngest to Ever Cross Svalbard From South to North
This month, Mina Floriana Read (10) sets out on an expedition to cross Svalbard from south to north together with her father, Alexander Read. She could become the world's youngest to do so.
Published
“I’m really looking forward to going on another expedition with daddy. I’ve been preparing for a long time with training, extra schoolwork and by learning more about Svalbard. The most important thing is being together with daddy, but I really hope I get to see polar bears along the way,” says Mina.
At just 5 years old, she crossed the Finnmark Plateau, a 400-kilometer-long ski expedition. In her now ten years of life, Mina has spent over 700 nights in a tent and travelled over 4,500 kilometres on skis and on foot in nature with her father.
“This is the biggest expedition we have undertaken together as father and daughter. We’re not doing it for records, but because a ten-year-old wants to go on a long journey with her dad," says Alexander Read and continues:
"This is a world we have built together since Mina was born. We’re not doing it because it’s easy, but because we want to experience smiles and tears, good moments and challenging ones. The most important thing is that we do it together and create memories. That’s how the magic of the journey happens."
Research along the way
At the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) in Longyearbyen, Mina will meet researchers from the CLEAN research project. There, she will receive small sample bottles that she will use to collect snow along the route she walks in Svalbard. The snow samples will later be analyzed in a laboratory to determine whether they contain so-called “forever chemicals” (PFAS).
Forever chemicals are man-made substances that do not break down in nature. They can accumulate in animals and humans and pose a risk to both health and the environment.
While the samples will not be part of the CLEAN project's research results, Mina's contribution will primarily revolve around science communication, says Professor Raul Primicerio at UiT the Arctic University of Norway, leader of the research project CLEAN, to High North News.
"We think this is a great opportunity to reach a young target audience to communicate about research and human impact on nature."
"By becoming more familiar with Svalbard, children can learn about its unique ecosystem and why it must be protected.”
CLEAN is an interdisciplinary research project organised by the Fram Centre and led by UiT. In total, 94 researchers from 13 institutions are participating.
Several other societal actors are also contributing to the project with knowledge and insight within climate, environment and childhood development. Among the partners are Miljøagentene (The Environmental Agents), CICERO Centre for International Climate Research, Hold Norge Rent (Keep Norway Clean), the network Smartphone-Free Childhood, and Nature and Youth in Svalbard.
