Grants and Contributions

This project seeks to deploy an automated phytoplankton imaging sensor, and a system to measure surface water concentrations of dimethylsulfide (DMS). In collaboration with the Chilean Antarctica21 Foundation (A21) and the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH), the University of British Columbia proposes to install automated oceanographic sensors on board the passenger vessel, Magellan Discoverer, for long-term observations of surface ocean properties along the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP).

This project will develop and optimize low-cost, scalable, and climate-adapted biofilters for wastewater treatment in Canada’s Arctic, while protecting native plant species and enhancing ecosystem services. Through laboratory and field experiments, the project will strategically select native Arctic plants and optimize engineered biofilter media to identify system designs that effectively remove pathogens, nutrients, and other contaminants from wastewater, while supporting ecosystem services and long-term system resilience.

The project will deliver an international webinar series aimed at mobilizing Arctic research and strengthening collaboration across the circumpolar Arctic. The webinar series will bring together early-career researchers, researchers, knowledge holders, and partners from across the Arctic to share research findings, discuss emerging issues, and explore approaches to knowledge co production. The initiative will broaden access to Arctic research, promote international collaboration and networking, and highlight Canadian leadership in mobilizing knowledge and bringing together scientific and Indigenous knowledge systems.

The project will establish Dr. Wayne Clark and Dr. Tamzin Blewett as POLAR Research Affiliates to lead complementary programs focused on the intersection of Arctic environmental health and community wellness. Through research on aquatic contaminants and Inuit-led healing practices, the initiative will utilize the Canadian High Arctic Research Station and direct community engagement to support sustainable development and northern resilience.

The project will maintain and expand long-term fish migration tracking near Cambridge Bay, further develop expertise in environmental DNA monitoring of fish species and leverage a genomic-derived tool developed in a previous POLAR funded project for a novel application in estimating Arctic Char abundance in lakes using Close Kin Mark Recapture.

The project will conduct laboratory experiments at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) to study how salinity, temperature, and pressure affect ice formation in frozen soils. Fieldwork in Grise Fiord will document local climate, landscape, and water conditions that influence ground-ice formation and help interpret the laboratory results.

The Multidisciplinary Observatory for Arctic Climate Change and Extreme Events Monitoring (MOACC) project seeks to establish a permanent, multidisciplinary scientific infrastructure at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. This initiative will play a critical role in advancing Arctic climate change research, fostering collaborations across Canadian and international networks.

The Multidisciplinary Observatory for Arctic Climate Change and Extreme Events Monitoring (MOACC) project seeks to establish a permanent, multidisciplinary scientific infrastructure at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. This initiative will play a critical role in advancing Arctic climate change research, fostering collaborations across Canadian and international networks.

The project directly supports the goal of advancing sustainable energy, technology, and infrastructure solutions that reflect the unique environmental, social, and cultural conditions in the North. By working collaboratively with Indigenous and local communities, the project will also provide practical tools and recommendations for policymakers to strengthen resilience and promote sustainable development in (sub)Arctic regions.

The project will test how microplastic exposure affects psychrophilic algae under long-term warming stress. The project will use AI-controlled photobioreactors to culture polar algae under simulated warming and microplastic exposure. They will integrate experimental data with machine learning and create predictive models of algal resilience under environmental change.