--- title: "Students participate in field research in Hessdalen, Norway; undetermined physical mechanism of Hessdalen lights." sdDatePublished: "2026-06-17T13:28:00Z" source: "https://www.hiof.no/english/studies/courses/iio/ing/2026/autumn/bip0001.html" topics: - name: "education" identifier: "medtop:05000000" locations: - "Innlandet" --- Students participate in field research in Hessdalen, Norway; undetermined physical mechanism of Hessdalen lights. BIP0001 Field research in Hessdalen – Blended Intensive Program (Autumn 2026) – Østfold University of Applied Sciences BIP0001 Field research in Hessdalen – Blended Intensive Program (Autumn 2026) The course is affiliated to the following study programme The course is offered as an elective course for students staff enrolled in Bachelor and Master programmes at partner institutions participating in the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP). The course is also open to students enrolled at Østfold University of Applied Sciences, subject to available capacity. Elective course in all Bachelor programmes at the Department of Engineering: Admission to the course is regulated according to specific criteria – see Absolute requirements. The application for participation in the course must be submitted to the course coordinator: Bjørn Gitle Hauge bjorn.g.hauge@hiof.no The course is subject to Erasmus+ BIP participation requirements and may be cancelled if the minimum participation criteria are not met. Passed at least 60 ECTS on bachelor level. A written application outlining the student’s motivation and qualifications for enrolling in the course, followed by an interview. The written application for participation in the course must be submitted to the course coordinator: Bjørn Gitle Hauge bjorn.g.hauge@hiof.no In addition, the student should Be in good physical condition, capable of walking in mountain terrain with a backpack. Be healthy enough to stay in tents in mountains for minimum 5 days in late autumn. Participants should provide themselves with appropriate clothing for sub-arctic conditions. Snow may be expected in September Before arriving in Hessdalen Norway, the student will be given online lectures preparing them for the field research campaign, including mandatory safety training covering mountain travel, weather exposure, operation of scientific equipment, emergency procedures and risk management. After the campaign, online debriefing will be done. The students will actively participate in research regarding the Hessdalen phenomena. The aim of this research project is to investigate the physical mechanisms behind the light phenomena observed in Hessdalen. Similar phenomena are observed at other locations around the world and resembles ball lightning, which also is not explained. The underliying physical mechanism has not yet been determined, and is subject to ongoing investigation. The research project is of an interdisciplinary nature, and the students will work in interdisciplinary groups. The students will actively participate in field research, with mounting and operation of research equipment at bases in Hessdalen and the surrounding mountains. Students will be located at the Hessdalen observatory, which is located at the mountain Skarvan at 975m altitude. The observatory has sleeping and living accommodations for students. Instruments for doing spectral analysis and of monitoring the atmospheric electricity will be used. In addition, field excursions will be conducted to collect geological data. The field work includes spending the nights in tents at top of the mountains. Here the students will operate research instruments during the night under varying weather conditions. Also hiking in the mountains to collect various empirical data will be done. The students will, under supervision, analyse some of the data they have collected and write a report based on the results. In addition to the field work, the students will conduct a project related to this research project. The student's learning outcomes on passing the course has knowledge of field research methodology, instrumentation and operational challenges in remote research infrastructure can troubleshoot and solve problems with technical equipment can plan and carry out practical field research can apply selected methods for collection, documentation and preliminary analysis of scientific field data can read and discuss scientific papers regarding this field can assess and follow safety procedures relevant to field research in remote and challenging enviroments can communicate acquired research data in English with experts and the common public can work in interdisciplinary groups and teams can reflect on their own achievements and ability to cooperate Teaching and learning activities include online preparatory lectures, safety training, practical fieldwork, supervises use of scientific instrumentation, collaborative project work and online defriefing sessions. The virtual component will bring the students together online to work collectively and simultaneously on assignments that are integrated in the blended intensive programme and counts towards the overall learning outcomes. Active fieldwork in Hessdalen. Note that some of the tutorials will be at times outside normal working hours (holidays, weekends, evenings, and nights). Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam installation, operation and dismantling of research equipment assigned group activities during the field campaign Home assignment: Individual reflection notes, maximum 3 pages. The note should describe the student’s reflection regarding their own performance regarding organization and execution of the field work: c) how did the interdisciplinary and international cooperation function regarding problem solving and human interactions. d) what kind of scientific knowledge was gained The course is marked as passed Hauge, Bjørn Gitle: Investigation & analysis of transient luminous phenomena in the low atmosphere of Hessdalen valley, Norway. Acta Astronomica 2010 Contribution of VLF electromagnetic survey to the investigation of Hessdalen lights (Norway) G.N. Vargemezis, J. Zlotnicki, Bjørn Gitle Hauge, Anna-Lena Kjøniksen, Erling P. Strand Journal of Applied Geophysics 2024 Observation of the Optical and Spectral Characteristics of Ball Lightning Cen, J., Yuan, P., and Xue, S Physical Review Letters 2014 More information about relevant literature will be provided at the start of the semester. Faculty of Computer Sciences, Engineering and Economics > Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) June 17, 2026 3:20:05 PM