Henning Thing

Henning is a native of Denmark and has a Ph.D. in Arctic wildlife ecology. Since 1968 he has been involved in natural science activities in the Arctic, primarily Greenland. His research has focused on Arctic terrestrial herbivores and the vegetation. He has worked year-round in the Arctic wilderness and enjoys the cold, long winters just as much as the cool, hectic summers. Henning now resides in Copenhagen. He was for many years the national science coordinator for polar research and has been instrumental in the management of the Greenland National Park as well as the renewable resources in Greenland.

In 1995, Henning founded the High Arctic Ecosystem Research station at Zackenberg in Northeast Greenland (74°30’N). This long-term ecosystem research facility remains at the forefront of climate-related ecosystem research in high latitudes. He has been involved in creating a number of new research opportunities for scientists in and around Greenland and was the national organizer of the International Polar Year (2007-2009) in Greenland with over 300 scientists engaged.

He now has a split job as a project manager at the Center for Ice and Climate at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, as well as a consultant for the Danish Ministry for Climate and Energy. Furthermore, Henning is a faculty member at Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS) teaching U.S. college students about Greenland and guiding DIS tours in Greenland.