Introduction Arctic Corner provides a forum for news of particular arctic
interest, replacing the Biological Survey's newsletter Arctic Insect News
(1990-2000). Contributions to Arctic Corner are always welcomed by
the Editor (see general information).
Symposium on Biology
of the Canadian Arctic
In January 2003 the Canadian Society of Zoologists organized a symposium on
Biology of the Canadian Arctic, with a focus on environmental change, which was
held in conjunction with the 2003 annual meeting of the Society for Integrative
and Comparative Biology. A variety of biologists presented a total of 15 papers,
including one by Hugh Danks on Seasonal adaptations in arctic insects.
At that meeting a letter signed by 42 geographers,
zoologists, botanists and climatologists was drafted and sent to Jean Chrétien
and other members of parliament. The letter urged the federal government to
recognize the diminished capacity of Canadian scientists to conduct research in
the arctic and to take action to recognize Canada’s renewed commitment to
northern research, specifically:
"-by highlighting the need to reinforce Canadian arctic
science in Minister Manley's upcoming budget speech;
-by providing new resources to the national funding research
bodies (NSERC and SSHRC) so that all of recommendations of the 2000 Report of
the Task Force on Northern Research "From Crisis to Opportunity",
can be fully implemented;
-by committing additional funding to the Polar Continental
Shelf Project to rebuild research infrastructure and logistic support in the
Canadian Arctic;
-by expanding training opportunities for university and
northern students through programs, such as the Northern Scientific Training
Program;
-by further coordinating and supporting federal research
activities in the north, as outlined in the 2000 Northern Science and
Technology Framework and Research Plan."
This letter attracted coverage in the media following the
meeting.
Northern Regional
Impacts and Sensitivity to Climate Change
Northern Regional Impacts and Sensitivity to Climate Change (N-RiSCC) is a
multi-agency network incorporating university and government researchers with a
goal to elucidate the complex linkages and feedbacks among terrestrial, fresh
water and coastal ecosystems in the face of global warming. N-RiSCC is proposing
a Canadian research expedition on an icebreaker up the east coast of Hudson Bay
to northern Ellesmere Island studying the sensitivity of coastal and terrestrial
ecosystems to climate change. Canadian Foundation for Innovation funds to refit
the icebreaker Franklin for polar science were recently awarded. Planning
for the structure and support for N-RisCC (2005–2010) is now underway. For
further information see http://www.geog.ubc.ca/~ghenry/N-RiSCC/home.htm
ArcticNet
Some funding towards the operation of the icebreaker for N-RisCC could come from
a proposed Networks of Centres of Excellence Program initiative called ArcticNet.
ArcticNet is planned to be a network for the cross-sectorial study of the
changing Canadian arctic. An ArcticNet Workshop was held in Montreal on January
16, 17, 2003. For further information contact Louis Fortier, Université Laval, louis.fortier@bio.ulaval.ca
Circumpolar student
conference
The Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS) is
planning an international circumpolar student conference at the University of
Alberta, 24–26 October 2003. For more information on the ACUNS 2003 Northern
Students Conference contact David Malcolm (david.malcolm@ualberta.ca)
at the Circumpolar Institute (www.ualberta.ca/~ccinst/).
ARCTIC
CORNER