Arctic literature, oceans, and perspectives – a research journey with personal depth

Earlier this spring, PhD student Lena Leimgruber was selected to participate in the course Arctic Future Pathfinders, a two-week program taking place in Cambridge Bay, Canada, and Anchorage, Alaska. During the course, Lena will also give a lecture on her own research in English literary studies. For her, this is a unique opportunity to both teach and deepen her understanding of how people imagine the Arctic.

“For me, it’s about giving and gaining perspectives, and trying to understand the Arctic as a place. I also want to contribute new ways of thinking—and maybe acting,” Lena says.

From a port city in Germany to language studies in Umeå

Now 27 years old, Lena Leimgruber originally comes from a port city in Germany but has lived in Sweden for nearly five years. She first moved to Gothenburg for love, and later her dream of pursuing a PhD took her further north to Umeå. The idea of doctoral studies took root early in her academic journey.

“I’ve always loved writing and researching, and already during my undergraduate studies in English, people told me I should become a future academic colleague—not just a teacher,” she explains.

Lena began her PhD at Umeå University in September 2024. Her research explores how the Arctic is represented in English fiction, focusing on how authors choose to describe and imagine this region. A key part of her work involves analyzing these representations through postcolonial and decolonial lenses.

The ocean has always been important to me. It gives me a sense of calm—but that calm is now being taken away from us because of climate change.

The course is part of the One Ocean Expedition – which had to change route

The course Lena is participating in is called "Arctic Future Pathfinders – A Journey Through the Northwest Passage" and is worth 10 university credits. Together with about sixty other participants from around the world, Lena will spend one week in Cambridge Bay, Canada and another in Anchorage, Alaska. Both locations lie along the historical route of the Northwest Passage.

The course is part of the One Ocean Expedition, a year-long global research and education voyage aboard the sailing ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl. Originally, the course was meant to take place at sea, with participants boarding the ship to travel through the Northwest Passage. However, due to excessive sea ice, the route had to be altered, and the course will now be held on land.

“It’s unfortunate that we won’t be sailing as planned, but I’m still excited. We’re the same group of people, with the same passion for the Arctic and the same goals. And the fact that we can’t travel through the Northwest Passage as intended—well, that says a lot. It’s climate change that’s stopping us,” Lena reflects.

Will present her own research

In addition to taking part in the course, Lena has also been invited to give a lecture and present her own research project. She has prepared a selection of literature, including a short story about Arctic climate activists, which participants will read and discuss together.

“I hope the reading will make people reflect on what the text does to them. What happens when you read the words of someone who writes about a place they care deeply about?”

Although her academic background is in the humanities, Lena feels her participation in the project is both relevant and necessary.

“The ocean has always been important to me. It gives me a sense of calm—but that calm is now being taken away from us because of climate change. To me, One Ocean means that we share the same goals and speak about the sea in a common language. Everyone is doing what they can—whether you're a natural scientist, a literary scholar, or something else entirely. You do what you can to make this a better place,” she says.

New perspectives and new connections

Lena hopes that the journey will offer more than just academic insights. She’s looking forward to building connections, making new friends, exchanging perspectives, and drawing inspiration from the other participants.

“I hope that everyone comes with a similar mindset—that they’re also looking for those things.”

Even though the travel plans have changed, the goal of the course remains: to explore the future of the Arctic from multiple perspectives. Through literature, Lena continues to aim for deeper understanding, clearer explanations, and new ways of thinking about the Arctic.