The social programme will include a visit to the SvalSat ground station, which is a short drive from Longyearbyen. The visit will take place on Wednesday March 1; we will depart UNIS at 14:00. If possible, on the way to SvalSat we will have a short stop at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.
The workshop dinner will be on Wednesday at Huset restaurant, which is a half hour walk from the hotel. With appropriate clothing this is a nice walk. We will provide a bus from the hotel to the restaurant for those wishing that option. For returning to the hotel after the dinner, you can walk or order a taxi (use number +47 7902 1375 to order a taxi).
Svalbard is a tourist destination and there are many things to do. The main attractions are the Arctic nature, fauna, and northern lights. There are several national parks, many glaciers (about 70% of Svalbard's area), and hundreds of polar bears. Make sure you read the Svalbard guidelines before coming. Longyearbyen is generally safe, but independent travel outside the settlements is discouraged. Polar bears are a top predator, extremely fast, and can attack humans without warning. When travelling outside settlements you (or someone in your group) are required to carry a rifle, for which you need to apply for a permit in advance.
The official tourism website is a good resource for organised tours in Svalbard. Wikivoyage also provides more information.
