Incoming transmission from the land of ice and eternal sun…     

Maggie Coblentz, Ziv Epstein, Ganit Goldstein, Patrick Chwalek, Eve Meltzer

Talented and fearless explorers from a far off land have brought bright orange gadgets to this isolated and wild world to better understand the rocks and winds, as well as themselves. 

Armed with their wits and courage, they depart a cozy cabin on the fringes of civilization into a sprawling glacial valley to test technologies that will passively sense the environment. 

In this precarious and rapidly-changing environment, imagination is the most powerful tool for finding even footing. For those with eyes to see, the eternal sun illuminates hidden realities.                                                       

Svalbard, known for research, tourism, and mining, is an archipelago—a remote land of wind, ice, and beauty. Laying at 78 degrees North latitude, Svalbard is halfway between the northern tip of Norway and the North Pole. The team stayed at Satellite Station in Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world. 

Maggie Coblentz, a research affiliate at the MIT Media Lab, lives on Svalbard where she co-founded Satellite Institute, an Arctic research station dedicated to collaborative projects in science, art, and technology exploration. Here Maggie helps adapt and translate projects so that they’re well-suited, impactful, and sensitive within Svalbard’s unique Arctic setting. As expedition leader, her day-to-day role encompasses a wide range of items, from strategizing suitable sites and routes, to keeping watch for polar bears and prioritizing other safety measures, while also assuming the roles of host and chef, taking care of the station, and preparing meals for everyone. 

At the core of the research station, Maggie’s aim is to foster ideas and discussions around the art and practice of fieldwork—the experience of which is both embodied and collective, uncovering how kinship intertwines with the spirit of exploration.​

Ganit Goldstein is a computational designer and graduate from MIT's Master of Science in Architecture Studies. Ganit's research explores the concept of "digital twin" in both a human body and an environmental context, aiming to enhance future environmental-conscious designs, considering the unique challenges posed by constantly evolving environments.

While in Svalbard, Ganit combined photogrammetry along with a 360-degree panoramic view to build a design workflow for multi-sensory representations of multiple landscapes, allowing users to immerse themselves in the beauty and unique areas of Longyearbyen, taking into account special sites, textures, and views. 

Eve Meltzer is a PhD candidate in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at MIT, currently working in the field of geological engineering and geoscience. While in Svalbard, she worked to use photogrammetry to create 3D models of one of the local glaciers, Longyearbreen, to understand glacial mechanics and movement. In addition, she assisted various projects by taking field notes and measurements to create an understanding of the geologic history of the area.

Patrick Chwalek is a PhD candidate in the MIT Media Lab's Responsive Environments group, focused on designing deployable sensor-equipped systems. He created the SoundSHROOM device that is designed to capture outdoor spatial audio for use in both research and in the design of immersive experiences. During the trip, he deployed his system over multiple ecologically diverse locations, along with the lunar HexSense device developed by fellow Responsive Environments PhD candidate Fangzheng Liu.

Ziv Epstein is a postdoctoral researcher in the Media Lab's Human Dynamics group, where he just finished his PhD. During the trip, he was focused on photography, storytelling, and building collaborative linkages between the projects. He is excited to use the stories and data from the trip to educate students about climate change and AI.

Team: 
Maggie Coblentz
Ziv Epstein
Ganit Goldstein
Patrick Chwalek
Eve Meltzer  

This team of five explorers, each with unique perspectives and expertise, converged in Svalbard for a ten-day expedition to conceptualize new research and adapt their existing projects for the Arctic environment. Through their collaboration, they questioned and prototyped ways to broaden the scope of the term "field"—both the methods and practices of fieldwork, as well the contours and boundaries of academic “fields.” 

The team aimed to develop a mix of projects with a focus on climate education and accessibility. Their passion for sharing their experiences is directed towards inspiring other researchers to take their work outside of the lab and venture into the realm of real-world exploration.