Polar Knowledge Canada is delighted to announce funding for five post-doctoral candidates with fellowships of $50,000 each to conduct research at Northern colleges and universities in Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
The Polar Knowledge Canada Fellowship Program supports projects that work across disciplines and connect multiple knowledge holders and knowledge systems, and that contribute to Northern scientific and Indigenous community priorities. Being in residence at Aurora College, Nunavut Arctic College and Yukon University will also help to build additional expertise and research capacity in Northern Canada, which is an important outcome of Polar Knowledge Canada's investments in students and early career researchers.
The funded researchers will conduct the work over fiscal year 2024-25 in support of Polar Knowledge Canada's research areas of:
- Improving knowledge of dynamic northern terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems in the context of rapid change;
- Increasing understanding of the connections between northern community wellness and environmental health; and
- Advancing sustainable energy, technology and infrastructure solutions for the unique environmental, social and cultural conditions in the North.
This year's Polar Knowledge Canada Fellowship Awardees are:
Fellow: Kevin Erratt
Host Institution: Aurora College: Aurora Research Institute
Project Title: Permafrost thaw as a potential driver of unforeseen cyanobacteria blooms in Canada's North.
Fellow: Carla Johnston
Host Institution: Yukon University: Yukon Research Centre
Project Title: Sharing Knowledge and building relationships for fuel break food forests.
Fellow: Rebecca Lee
Host Institution: Aurora College: Aurora Research Institute
Project Title: Geohazard mapping for the future of Arctic communities.
Fellow: Jean Holloway
Host Institution: Nunavut Arctic College
Project Title: Inuit Qaujisarnirmut Pilirijjutit on Arctic shipping risks in Inuit Nunangat.
Fellow: Tara Howatt
Host Institution: Aurora College - Aurora Research Institute - Western Arctic Research Centre
Project Title: Utilizing autonomous underwater vehicles to understand and address oceanographic and ship noise impacts on whale distribution in the Canadian Arctic.
Quotes
"Polar Knowledge Canada is making an investment in the future of the North, by supporting early career researchers to understand and develop research priorities with Northern regions and Indigenous organizations and governments."
- Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor
"We are very proud of the calibre of early career Northern researchers and their commitment to advancing knowledge that contributes to the health and prosperity of Northern communities."
- Suzanne Kerr, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer
"Circumpolar regions are more acutely experiencing the impacts of climate change compared with other parts of the planet. We are committed to enabling early career researchers with a passion for the Arctic to contribute to an improved understanding of the North."
- David Hik, Chief Scientist and Vice-President, Research
Quick facts
- Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) is a Government of Canada agency responsible for strengthening Canadian leadership in polar science and technology created by the Canadian High Arctic Research Station Act of 2014. It is headquartered at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS), which it operates, in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.
- POLAR undertakes and supports a wide variety of research across Canada's Arctic, including at CHARS, much of it in collaboration with Indigenous knowledge holders and international partners.
- POLAR's Board of Directors is responsible for the organization's strategic direction. They are selected through a Governor-in-Council process and appointed by the Prime Minister based on their experience and knowledge and how it best supports POLAR's mandate.
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