Grants and Contributions

The funding received will be distributed to eligible students to help offset the high costs of conducting research in the north.

The funding received will be distributed to eligible students to help offset the high costs of conducting research in the north. This year a successful candidate for an additional award has been granted and so $2,500 from the grant will be allocated to the successful invidividual.

The funding received will be distributed to eligible students to help offset the high costs of conducting research in the north.

The primary goal of this project is to conduct a quantitative analysis of shoreline evolution and future trends while examining the processes driving changes along the coast of southern Victoria Island. This includes a particular focus on hydrodynamic factors such as waves, water levels, and storms, as well as the influence of local coastal permafrost conditions. This project also aims to build local capacity for coastal monitoring in the Arctic, providing communities with the necessary tools and knowledge to address the challenges posed by a changing coastline.

The Arctic is warming rapidly, leading to longer ice-free seasons and increased shipping traffic, which raises the risk of oil-based pollution, particularly from harmful polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs). Ongoing research, in collaboration with Northern communities, focuses on monitoring PACs in wildlife and integrating this data with shipping risk maps to identify pollution trends and inform environmental response efforts.

The Kutz Research Group’s long-standing community-based wildlife health surveillance program, now supported by post-doctoral researcher Dr.

As climate change thaws Arctic permafrost, stored mercury may be released into northern ecosystems, posing risks to wildlife and food security due to its toxic effects. This research at Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory will study how mercury moves between air and ground, focusing on the formation of methylmercury, while engaging with local communities and students to share knowledge and ensure the research supports northern health and sustainability.

Through mentorship, cultural practices, and citizen science, youth build skills, confidence, and environmental awareness while also creating educational media to amplify their voices. The program aims to strengthen community ties, support cultural identity, and serve as a model for similar initiatives across Canada.

This project supports the co-creation and finalization of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ)-based ice travel safety tools—such as seasonal sea ice maps and terminology books—for Arctic Bay, Nunavut, in collaboration with SmartICE and the Tuvaliriji Community Management Committee.

The Sivuniksattinnik ilinniaqtitsiniq (Teaching the Next Generation) Sapujiyiit Junior Guardians Program is an Inuit-led initiative in Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour, and Naujaat that trains youth to become future Arctic researchers and environmental stewards. Through land-based learning, mentorship from Elders, and use of tools like the SIKU app, youth gain skills in both Inuit knowledge and Western science while contributing to climate research and community-led monitoring. The program strengthens intergenerational knowledge-sharing, supports self-determination, and ensures Northern voices shape Arctic research priorities.