POLAR research and projects
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Polar research
Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) is Canada's lead federal agency to strengthen Canadian leadership in polar science and technology. POLAR fulfills a brokering role, strengthening connections between the Canadian research community and decision makers, and facilitates collaboration and partnerships to address key knowledge gaps in the polar regions. It is Canada's adhering body to the International Arctic Science Committee and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. POLAR also serves as a primary point of contact for the international polar research community to explore and to pursue research opportunities in Canada's Arctic and to collaborate with Canadian researchers in the Antarctic.
POLAR's pan-northern science and technology goals for 2020-2025
- Improving knowledge of dynamic northern terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems in the context of rapid change
- Increasing understanding of the connections between northern community wellness and environmental health
- Advancing sustainable energy, technology and infrastructure solutions for the unique environmental, social and cultural conditions in the North
Research projects funded by Polar Knowledge Canada
POLAR funds science and technology, capacity building, and knowledge management projects as well as national workshops.
View the list of funded projects.
Learn more about our funding opportunities by visiting the Funding for researchers page.
Resources for researchers
| Name | Description | Polar region |
|---|---|---|
| Arctic Council | An intergovernmental forum that works to promote the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainable development in the Arctic region. | Arctic |
| Arctic Institute of North America | Advances the study of the North American and circumpolar Arctic, preserves and disseminate information on physical, environmental and social conditions in the North. | Arctic |
| ArcticNet | A Network of Centres of Excellence of Canada that brings together scientists and managers with partners in Inuit organizations, northern communities, federal and provincial agencies and the private sector to study the impacts of climate change and modernization in the coastal Canadian Arctic. | Arctic |
| Arctic Research Mapping Application | Presents information about science being conducted across the Arctic. | Arctic |
| Arctic Science and Technology Information System | A database that contains 86,000 records describing publications and research projects about northern Canada. | Arctic |
| Centre for Northern Studies | A research centre involving Université Laval, Université du Québec à Rimouski and the Centre Eau, Terre et Environnement of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique and focussing on northern ecosystems and geosystems. | Arctic |
| Cold Regions Research Centre | Based at Wilfrid Laurier University, focusses on hydrology, climatology, glaciology, resource management, parks planning and biogeochemistry. | Arctic |
| Research Licensing in Northwest Territories | Arctic | |
| Nunavut | Research Licensing in Nunavut | Arctic |
| Yukon | Research Licensing in Yukon | Arctic |
| Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks | Multinational engagement for pan-Arctic observing and data sharing systems related to environmental, social, economic and cultural issues. | Arctic |
| International Arctic Science Committee | A non-governmental, international scientific organization that encourages and facilitating cooperation in all aspects of Arctic research. | Arctic |
| The Antarctic Treaty | Establishes Antarctica as a place for peaceful and scientific purposes. | Antarctic |
| The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty | Designates Antarctica as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science. | Antarctic |
| Antarctic Environmental Protection Act | Canada's Act to protect the Antarctic environment, which serves as the legislative basis the Canada requires to oversee Canadian activities in the Antarctic and fulfill the obligations of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. | Antarctic |
| Antarctic Environmental Protection Act Permits | Provides information on how to apply for a permit from Environment and Climate Change Canada to undertake activities in the Antarctic. | Antarctic |
| Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) | The international association that brings together national Antarctic programs to develop and promote best practices in managing the support of scientific research in Antarctica. | Antarctic |
| The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) | Initiates, promotes and coordinates scientific research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and provides international, independent scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty system and other bodies | Antarctic |
| Antarctic Environments Portal | Makes science-based information available to the Antarctic Treaty System and all Antarctic Treaty nations. | Antarctic |
| Quantarctica | A free geographic information system package for Antarctica. | Antarctic |
| Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) | An international initiative that aims to facilitate the collection and delivery of essential observations on dynamics and change of Southern Ocean systems to all international stakeholders through design, advocacy and implementation of cost-effective observing and data delivery systems. | Antarctic |
| Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) | Established by international convention with the objective of conserving Antarctic marine life. | Antarctic |
| International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) | Advocates and promotes the practice of safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic | Antarctic |
| Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) | Creates opportunities for the development of innovative, international, and interdisciplinary collaborations among current early career polar researchers. | Both |
| Polar Data Catalogue (PDC) | A database of metadata and data that describes, indexes, and provides access to diverse data sets generated by Arctic and Antarctic researchers. | Both |
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