Polar Knowledge Canada Update on POLAR and it s Arctic Marine Monitoring and Research Maritime & Arctic Safety & Security Conference October 13-15, 2015 St. John s, NL
Presentation Overview Introduction to Polar Knowledge Canada History & Governance Research Station in Cambridge Bay Science & Technology Program Knowledge Mobilization Arctic Marine Science and Monitoring 2
Governance & History October 2007, a new Arctic Research Station in Canada s North announced in the Speech from the Throne, a deliverable of the Northern Strategy On August 23 2012, the PM announced : $142.4 million for the construction, equipment, and fit-up of CHARS $46.2 million over six years for the phase-in of the CHARS S&T Program Starting in 2018-19, $26.5 million per year on-going S&T program and operation of the station 2013 Cambridge Bay, Nunavut announced as the location of the Research Station December 2014, the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) Act was passes to establish a new Departmental Corporation to merge the Canadian Polar Commission and CHARS June 1, 2015, coming into force of Polar Knowledge Canada. July 2015, Mr. Richard Boudreault is appointed Chair of the Board; and Dr. David Scott appointed first President of POLAR. 3
POLAR s Board of Directors Approves the organization s annual work plans and budget. Is accountable to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development All positions are appointed by an Order-in-Council to hold office for terms not exceeding five years, and are eligible for re-appointment for a second term of office Nine-member Board of Directors, Current Board members include: Richard Boudreault (Chair), Nellie J. Cournoyea (Vice-Chair), Robert A. Gannicott, Dr. David Hik, Dr. Rob Huebert, Maxim Jean-Louis, Dr. Janet King, Dr. John Nightingale There is currently one Board vacancy 4
Polar Knowledge Canada Governance Structure External ADM Committee on Arctic S&T Minister (AANDC) External Inuit Advisory Committee Northern Federal Council Board of Directors S & T Advisory Committee Small Agency Administrators Network Office of the President President David J. Scott S&T Expert Groups Corporate Services Knowledge Management Vice President Science & Technology Vice President Martin Raillard 5
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut 6 Headquarters for Polar Knowledge Canada and location of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS). Central location and regional hub along the Northwest Passage with significant research potential. CHARS will anchor the existing pan-northern network of research infrastructure across the North. Once the facility is operational, 50 full-time scientists and support staff will be based in Cambridge Bay.
Canadian High Arctic Research Station Triplex Nov 2015 Field & Maintenance Building Nov 2016 Main Research Building July-Nov 2017 Construction of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) will be completed by 2017 AANDC is leading the construction project of the CHARS facility, which will be transferred to POLAR upon completion in 2017 7
Triplexes and Housing in Cambridge Bay Architectural Drawing of Triplexes Triplexes under construction Near Completion for Nov 2015 8
Field and Maintenance Building September 30, 2015 9
10 Main Research Building
A Pan-Northern Science and Technology Program Current priorities for first 5-year plan (2014 2019): 1. Alternative and renewable energy for the North 2. Predicting the impacts of changing ice, permafrost, and snow on shipping, infrastructure, and communities 3. Baseline information for preparedness 4. Infrastructure for development 5. Underwater situational awareness 11
Cross-Cutting Activities Monitoring and reporting Traditional Knowledge 12 Capacity building and outreach Polar Continental Shelf Program Logistics support Cross-cutting activities are the foundation of the Station and will support the delivery of S&T activities Technology development and transfer
Knowledge Management and Mobilization Objective is to foster the cross-discipline exchange of knowledge by: Enhancing and brokering relationships and networks; Coordinating collaborative opportunities to share research and knowledge. Leading activities which include: science outreach camps, youth internship opportunities, employment, training, etc. Ensure citizens, including Northerners, benefit from publicly funded research by following standard data practices and open sharing of data and knowledge. 13
Enhancing Collaboration POLAR facilitates coordination and brokers partnerships across: Canadian science-based departments and agencies Territorial governments and northern organizations Industry and private sector Aboriginal organizations Academia: universities, colleges, research networks International organizations and research networks 14
Opportunities for Northern Communities POLAR is committed to Improve the economic opportunities, environmental stewardship and quality of life of Northerners and all other Canadians Provide Northerners with skills and experience to better participate in the labour force, from mining and energy through natural resource and wildlife management, to health and life sciences Support Employee training and development as well as career development programs to build capacity, enhance northern leaders and ensure Northerners are an integral part of the organization from the beginning Support the participation of northern youth in science, technology or TK activities (science camps, scholarships, mentoring) Facilitate the communication of science and results back to the community 15
Phasing in the POLAR S&T Program Highlights of the Marine Coastal Monitoring and Research Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Monitoring - CHARS Kitikmeot Region Establishment of the CHARS regional ecosystem as a worldclass research and monitoring area that underpins national and international monitoring. It is estimated that only 10% of the Kitikmeot marine system has been charted, and virtually nothing is known of its physical, biogeochemical and biological oceanographic systems. 17
Marine-Coastal Monitoring CHARS Experimental and Reference Area Conduct mapping, and baseline inventories of coastal/marine ecosystems Install research infrastructure (cabins, telecommunications, boats, safety systems) to support long term monitoring Establish instrumented monitoring experiments at marine sites Work with Kitikmeot Inuit organizations to develop Traditional Science and Community Based Monitoring for the area. Develop a network of coastal/marine monitoring across the North 18
Marine-Coastal Monitoring CHARS Experimental and Reference Area Two years of Marine Coastal monitoring completed utilizing the CCG Amundsen, the MV Martin Bergmann, skiffs and float planes MV Martin Bergmann CTD Rosette River Sampling from the Float Plane ROV Sponge Bob Drifters
Arctic Marine aspects of S&T Priorities Baseline Information Preparedness for Development OBJECTIVES Better baseline information to inform responsible development and to allow for monitoring, prediction & mitigation of project impacts and environmental change, leading to: Improved information to underpin environmental assessments, regulatory approvals & management of resource development; and, Increased certainty for industry investment, improved tracking of net benefits of a stronger economy, and better management tools for decisionmakers in the private and public sectors. Roger Asbury/Shutterstock.com 20
Arctic Marine aspects of S&T Priorities Cryosphere: Predicting the impacts of changing ice, permafrost, and snow on shipping, communities & infrastructure OBJECTIVES To understand how and why changes are happening in the Cryosphere across the Arctic and the impact of these changes on shipping, infrastructure (e.g. ice roads, buildings, and runways) and local ecosystems, as well as global processes. POLAR will focus its efforts to support decision making in two areas: safe shipping and the mitigation of impacts from shipping, supporting industry and communities in adapting to environmental changes through improved predictive capacity. 21
Arctic Marine aspects of S&T Priorities Underwater Situational Awareness (USA) OBJECTIVES Efficient and effective monitoring and surveillance of Canada s vast Arctic under changing conditions. Management and surveillance in the polar marine environment is particularly difficult given the extreme weather conditions and seasonality of light and the challenges of access and of reliable communications capability across the region. Improve the effectiveness, endurance, and reliability of both fixed underwater observing systems as well as unmanned underwater vehicles that do not require real-time input from an operator. 22
Phasing in the POLAR 5 Year S&T Plan (2014-2019) 2014-2015 Calls for Proposals Technology Announced Sept 2014 Alternative and Renewable Energy Science Announced December 2014 Monitoring and Research and Regions of Significant Resource Development Regions Slave Geological Province Baffin Bay Hudson Strait Regions of High Resource Potential. Basemap Source: Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, 23
Funded Marine Coastal Projects from 1 st Science Call for Proposals Development of community-based monitoring for aquatic invasive species in the Canadian Arctic - preparing for increased shipping related to resource development and climate change (Howland, DFO) Resource development, marine shipping and Arctic wildlife: a model of publicprivate partnership to address potential environmental impacts (Gilchrist, EC) Improved real-time information and regional models for local travel, search and rescue, aviation, sea-lift and shipping activities: Cambridge Bay/Dease Strait and Hudson Strait/Deception Bay regions of Cambridge Bay and Hudson Strait. (Dewy, Oceans Networks Canada). Pond Inlet/Baffin Island. (Bell, Memorial University). 24
Arctic Marine aspects of S&T Priorities Next Steps Planning for next round of funding is currently underway. Arctic Marine and coastal experts are being contacted from Aboriginal, Industry, Territorial and Federal governments along with scientific and technological authorities to assist POLAR to determine: What organizations are working on these priorities? What gaps that POLAR could fill to refine current approaches to move these research needs forward? How can Autonomous Intelligent Marine Systems (AIMS) be utilized to help deliver on these gaps? This information will be presented to POLAR s new Board of Directors to determine the next phase of the 5-year S&T Plan. 25
Contact Information Contact information for Polar Knowledge Canada is as follows: Website: http://www.canada.ca/en/polar-knowledge/ (English) http://www.canada.ca/fr/savoir-polaire/index.html (Français) Twitter: @POLARCanada (EN) @POLAIRECanada (FR) Facebook: Polar Knowledge Canada (EN) Savoir Polaire Canada (FR) Download the Polar Knowledge App: http://www.canada.ca/en/polar-knowledge/ advancingpolarknowledge/index.html#h2-4 Contact us! mail@polar-polaire.gc.ca 26