Headquarters
Université Laval, Quebec, Québec/University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario

Scientific Directors

Philippe Archambault


Jackie Dawson

Executive Director

Christine Barnard

Board chair

Donna Kirkwood

Working towards a sustainable and prosperous North

The opportunity

The circumpolar North is in the midst of an era of transformation. For Canada, climate change, industrialization and modernization are changing the North, affecting people, the natural environment, resources and ecosystems in new and challenging ways. In the next few years, governments will face policy decisions in the Arctic. These decisions will have an immense impact on the lives and livelihoods of northern communities, the health and survival of plants and animals, the development and use of natural resources, and the protection of Canada’s land and water. To make evidence-informed decisions, Canada needs robust research, strong connections with northern knowledge-holders, and effective collaboration between communities, researchers, governments and industry.

How ArcticNet is seizing the opportunity

ArcticNet represents Canada’s largest commitment to date to explore the social, economic and environmental impacts of climate change and modernization on the Canadian North. Since 2004, ArcticNet has established the research, connections and experience to understand the challenges the North faces. Through a network of partnerships, ArcticNet is transforming how research is conducted in the North with inclusive research conducted with and by northerners. With its refreshed science program, the Network offers services and initiatives that include:

• Enabling northern communities to lead their own research through the new ground-breaking NORTH BY NORTH Program;
• Combining multi-disciplinary scientific knowledge and local expertise to generate assessments and recommend how to adapt to change through the Integrated Regional Impact Studies (IRIS) and its new portal for knowledge mobilization;
• Promoting Canadian Arctic science excellence around the world with the SATELLITE Program.

Among the results:

• Since 2004, ArcticNet has trained 3,928 Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) including 1,936 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows (more than 61% women). ArcticNet is cultivating diverse skillsets, from innovative field equipment to safety in remote areas to Indigenous awareness and ethical conduct training, and nurturing professional development for the 661+ HQP currently training with the Network.
• ArcticNet is funding over 228 researchers (46% women) on 87 projects led by senior academic researchers, early career scientists, and Inuit researchers at more than 50 universities, colleges and Inuit organizations Canada-wide. The Network is pursuing new and exciting research partnerships with northern industry, in particular with the emerging Arctic Blue Economy based on fisheries, shipping and tourism.
• The Network has completed 144 projects, and published more than 15,500 papers on Arctic and Northern issues. ArcticNet is developing the Arctic Knowledge Transfer (Arctic KT) Portal, ground-breaking new online technologies to facilitate the mobilization and transfer of the vast volume of science and northern expertise acquired by ArcticNet and its partners.
• ArcticNet is funding the Inuit Nunangat Research Program (INRP), which in fiscal year 2021-2022 changed its name to Inuit Qaujisarnirmut Pilirijjutit (IQP). This program, led by the Inuit regional organizations across Inuit Nunangat, is the first Inuit-led, directed, and governed research funding program in the world. This program aligns with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s (ITK) National Inuit Strategy on Research (NISR) to advance Inuit self-determination and research co-development.
• As part of its ongoing engagement with decision-makers and leaders, ArcticNet is informing government on the management and preservation of key harvested species such as the Arctic charr and caribou, as well as on the management of drinking water supplies, among the most acute emerging issues in the North.
• The Network is engaging 60 Indigenous partners in 48 communities in all provinces and territories. As part of the ongoing work with, by and for northern communities, a fifth Integrated Regional Impact Study (IRIS) covering western subarctic continental Canada and its northern First Nations and Metis communities is being written.
• Every year, ArcticNet hosts the world’s largest Arctic science meeting. The 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) was held December 6-10 virtually, with 1,166 attendees tuning in online from across Canada and around the world. This year included 363 Northern participants, representing 31% of total participants, the highest Northern participation thus far. The resounding success of this annual meeting sets a new standard for networking, scientific excellence, inclusion, diversity, representation and accessibility.

Connect with ArcticNet

•  Website
•  Twitter
•  Facebook
•  Videos