Interview: "I want to look far back in time to understand how sea ice behaved during past warm periods"

Could you start by briefly describing yourself and your research?

My name is Lena Anders, I'm from southern Germany and I have just started my PhD within the i2B Into the Blue project which is one of the many projects affiliated with iC3.

I have a paleoclimate background, focusing on understanding past climate conditions, particularly in the Arctic. For my PhD, I’ll focus on interglacial periods - warm periods in the past - in the Arctic Ocean. Previously, I studied terrestrial systems, but now I’ve shifted to marine sciences, which is exciting.

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Which interglacial are you looking at?

I can’t say a specific one yet, but it’ll be older than the last interglacial about 120,000 years ago. We already know quite a bit about that period, so I want to look further back.

There’s limited data for the middle and early Pleistocene, and we don’t fully understand how the Arctic Ocean looked during those warm periods.

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Why is it important to know how it was in the past?

It’s simple: understanding the past helps us predict the future. The Arctic is warming, and we might soon see a seasonally ice-free Arctic Ocean. By studying past warm periods, we can improve future climate predictions.

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How are you doing that exactly?

I’ll analyse sediment cores, focusing on foraminifera, which are single-celled organisms. The species present can tell us about past water conditions. I’ll also use proxies from their shells, like stable isotopes and trace elements.

Additionally, I’ll study biomarkers to reconstruct sea ice presence and sea surface temperatures, determining whether the ice was seasonal or perennial.

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Do you focus region on a specific region?

The sediment cores I’ll study were collected during the 2025 i2B expedition. I’ll start with a core from station five, located on the northern margin of the Barents Sea, northeast of Svalbard. It’s a long core and might be enough for my entire PhD.

If not, I’d like to extend my research to the central Arctic Ocean along the Lomonosov Ridge.

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How is your research related to what iC3 is doing?

One of iC3’s topics is the links between the cryosphere and the climate. My work aligns with that.

I aim to improve our understanding of how the cryosphere, particularly sea ice, behaved during past warm periods. Ideally, I’d like to collaborate with modelers to integrate my findings into future climate predictions.

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Could you tell us a bit more about your master’s research, as well as your previous research assistant position?

I was a research assistant for the Greenland Caves Project, which uses cave deposits to study past climates. These caves, located in northern Greenland, date back to the Miocene. I started with lab work, such as drilling and sample polishing, and later learned to use a mass spectrometer.

For my master’s thesis, I conducted paleothermometry using stable isotopes to reconstruct cave temperatures from 8–12 million years ago. It was exciting to be the first to create temperature estimates for the Miocene Arctic in Greenland.

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Did you do fieldwork in Greenland?

I didn’t do fieldwork in the caves because it’s logistically challenging. However, I participated in an outreach project in Greenland, setting up an exhibition in the town Ilulissat to teach locals about paleoclimate research. We gave workshops for kids and presentations for adults, which was a rewarding experience.

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What technologies or methodologies are you most excited about in your field?

I’m new to marine sciences, so much of the lab work will be a learning experience. But I’ve always enjoyed working with stable isotopes—they’re a versatile proxy that allows comparisons across different climate archives, like sediment cores, cave deposits, and tree rings. It’s like opening a history book and looking into the past.

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Do you have a memorable moment from your previous research?

During my master’s, I reconstructed cave temperatures from the Miocene using stable isotopes. It was challenging because there are no calibration curves for low temperatures in the Arctic.

But when my supervisor and I saw the results—temperatures between 0°C and 8°C—it was a breakthrough. We were the first to estimate Miocene air-temperatures in the Arctic.

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If you could change one thing in science, what would it be?

I’d address gender inequality in academia. I’ve had great female role models, but I’ve also seen them struggle. Supporting women in science is something I’m passionate about, and I’ve tried to encourage young girls to pursue science, especially during outreach projects.

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What does an ideal day off look like for you?

If possible, I would have a nice breakfast in the sun outside. After that, I would head out — skiing in winter and most likely hiking in summer. I'm not the kind of person who needs to go and collect peaks. I just enjoy being outdoors in the sun. If it’s warm enough, I might even find a place to swim, or I'll find a spot for a bonfire with friends.

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What’s one thing you’re looking forward to in the next year, personally or professionally?

I’m looking forward to the upcoming i2B cruise this September. I’ve never been on a research cruise and think this will be a great experience and adventure.

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Do you have a motto?

Stay curious.

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Lena Anders is a PhD student at the Department of Geosciences at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Interested in collaborating with her? Check out her publications and connect with her on LinkedIn.