ArcticNet, a leading Network of Centres of Excellence in Canada, discusses the latest scientific priorities in Arctic research and how it is tackling these urgent climate challenges.
The Arctic has become a focal point for scientific inquiry as the effects of climate change increasingly reshape this unique and fragile region. Once seen as a distant frontier, the Arctic now plays a critical role in understanding global environmental shifts. Researchers from across disciplines are working together to uncover how the rapid warming in this area is influencing ecosystems, weather patterns, and human communities, not only in the far North but across the entire planet. With the Arctic warming at an unprecedented rate, the stakes for understanding these changes and developing sustainable solutions have never been higher.
Today’s scientific efforts in the Arctic extend far beyond documenting environmental changes. Researchers are also grappling with complex social, economic, and geopolitical issues. Indigenous communities, whose livelihoods and cultures are deeply intertwined with the land and sea, are among the first to experience the impacts of the shifting Arctic environment. Their traditional knowledge is crucial to gaining a full picture of the changes underway.
In this interview, Executive Director Dr. Christine Barnard and Scientific Director Dr. Philippe Archambault detail how ArcticNet is working to advance Arctic research, strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities, and cultivate the next generation of Arctic expertise.
What are some of the main scientific priorities for Arctic research today?
In my opinion, it’s certainly climate change with its all-encompassing and far-reaching impacts. The Arctic is warming four times faster than southern regions of the planet, so it acts as a sentinel for change.
What happens in the Arctic will likely happen years later in more southern latitudes. The impacts are far-reaching, including changing landscapes, infrastructure, sea ice levels, and sea ice duration. For instance, the time that the Arctic Ocean is covered with ice is decreasing. We also see changes in wildlife migration, species distribution, and zoonoses, which are diseases carried by wildlife. These changes impact ecosystems and communities that depend on wildlife. Everything in the North affects northern communities, whether it’s their ability to travel on sea ice for subsistence hunting or accessing hunting and gathering zones.
Climate change has huge impacts on landscapes, ecosystems, and geosystems. One example is thawing permafrost, which impacts natural landscapes. Permafrost is ground that has been frozen for several years, and when it starts to thaw, the landscape changes. This can lead to drainage, the creation of wetlands, or infrastructure challenges for anything built on permafrost. These landscape changes affect both natural and built environments, impacting ecosystems and people living on permafrost. This is a major issue that spans engineering innovations and community livelihoods. Sea ice dynamics are also changing, making sea ice pathways and the weather less predictable, which affects ship navigation and community safety on the ice. Terrestrial and marine species could also have their distribution modified due to climate change, bringing new realities to Northern communities.
Another critical issue is green energy sources for remote communities—how to provide sustainable energy in harsh climates with low maintenance requirements. Most of the Canadian North relies on biannual deliveries of fuel, which is unsustainable for both the environment and the communities. Addressing this disparity in services between the North and South is important, too. The scientific priorities are wide-ranging, from natural sciences and engineering to social and economic change and education, particularly with the increasing Inuit population.
Why is a multidisciplinary approach important for addressing Arctic research?
Complex questions require interconnected solutions. The effects of climate change in the Arctic are often cascading and compounding. The integration of different disciplines and knowledge systems is critical for addressing these priorities in a comprehensive way.
If you focus on just one aspect, you can miss key pieces of the puzzle. A multidisciplinary approach offers a holistic perspective, observing the system as a whole, rather than just one issue. Indigenous perspectives have always had this holistic approach to ecosystems, looking at the interconnectedness of elements within them. Science has traditionally been siloed by discipline, but now we’re embracing the idea that multiple disciplines are needed to fully address these complex systems, particularly in Arctic research.
ArcticNet funds projects that involve many thematic areas, one of which is the marine system. Over the last twenty years, one project has dedicated years to studying how climate change impacts ecosystem function and biodiversity in Arctic waters. However, some questions require a collaborative approach beyond the expertise of marine biology.
During the ArcticKelp project, a team utilized both modelling and fieldwork to suggest that retreating ice cover allows more sunlight to penetrate Arctic waters, enhancing the growth of macroalgae, such as kelp. These kelps offer numerous benefits, from carbon sequestration to serving as a traditional food and potential income source for local communities.
However, directly measuring and mapping the diversity of kelp along the remote and changing Canadian Arctic coast posed a significant challenge. To address this, the team needed to develop new sensor technology capable of operating in the icy depths of the Arctic Ocean and to incorporate local knowledge from Northern communities. This endeavour required the integration of various disciplines and expertise, including engineers, marine biologists, and members of Indigenous communities.
By combining these diverse fields and knowledge bases, the interdisciplinary team successfully developed a sensor using fluorescent LIDAR (light detection and ranging) technology. This sensor can identify, quantify, and characterize kelp species in the Arctic region. Additionally, leveraging local knowledge enabled them to cover more ground in the Arctic through collaboration with Northern communities. This interdisciplinary approach provides valuable insights into the ecology of ocean-floor kelp forests and the marine life that depends on them.
What are some of the challenges and benefits of multidisciplinary teams in Arctic research?
The challenges are immense, primarily because there’s a significant difference between students working in a lab in the South, within a university or research centre, and those working in the field. In Northern Canada, the territory is vast, open, and remote. We have multiple teams distributed across this expansive area, often in extremely harsh and complex conditions. On top of this, it’s essential to engage Indigenous peoples actively, ensuring their participation in the project. This involves recognizing and respecting their contributions and adhering to principles of co-development, particularly with Inuit communities. The National Inuit Strategy on Research (NISR), published by Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), must be considered when conducting research with Inuit communities and in Inuit Nunangat (Inuit homelands). So, in addition to the harsh climate and difficult working conditions, how we conduct the research, especially in partnership with Indigenous peoples, is just as important.
Some researchers working in remote sites face significant logistical challenges, including the high cost and difficulty of accessing certain areas.
Specialized training is often required for students, such as polar bear safety, firearms handling, glacier navigation, and managing emotional distress in isolated environments. Students may also need training in emergency procedures, like helicopter evacuation or research vessel safety.
The range of skills students must acquire before heading into the field is staggering. This includes not only logistical and safety training, but also ethical training and cultural awareness when working with Indigenous communities. As mentioned earlier, fieldwork in the North is vastly different from lab work in the South—not only due to the harsh environmental conditions but also the cultural sensitivity required for collaboration, training, and co-development with Indigenous peoples.
Moreover, when working with Indigenous communities, researchers need to acknowledge that their research priorities may not align with those of the community. It’s crucial to respect the community’s agenda and be prepared for it to change upon arrival, as local emergencies or other priorities may take precedence. Researchers, often pressured by their own project timelines, must adapt to the community’s pace.
When working with an Indigenous community, you’re engaging with a different reality. The need for adaptation can be challenging, especially if you’re not well-prepared or fully aware of the community’s activities. For instance, during hunting season, many community members may leave, creating a mass exodus from the area.
These are just some of the factors that make Arctic research complex yet special and unique. Beyond training and cultural awareness, there are also various permits and licensing requirements in Canada, which can be somewhat complicated. In some parts of Nunavut, depending on whether you’re working in a provincial or national park, you may need to fill out multiple permits months in advance of your fieldwork. This is another hurdle to plan for.
How does inclusive research contribute to a more holistic understanding of the Arctic?
Inclusive research means including different age groups, nationalities, and, most importantly, Indigenous participants. At ArcticNet, team composition is critical—we aim for diversity in our research teams, including early career researchers, Indigenous researchers, and women, ensuring gender parity. Over the years, we’ve seen that increased diversity leads to more productive and diverse perspectives in research outcomes.
In terms of Indigenous knowledge, there’s a focus on blending traditional knowledge with scientific innovation. Indigenous knowledge offers valuable insights into ecosystems that are often overlooked in scientific studies. Incorporating these perspectives leads to a more comprehensive understanding of the Arctic’s complexities.
How does ArcticNet facilitate collaboration between national and international researchers?
We believe we offer a wide range of opportunities for collaboration. One of our key strengths is our workshops and meetings, which provide excellent platforms for networking and knowledge sharing. Every December, we host a large annual meeting with over 1,500 participants, of which more than 30% are northerners—people from the North who come to meet researchers and share their own findings. Additionally, many international participants from outside Canada join these meetings, further expanding the networking possibilities.
We also collaborate on joint funding initiatives, particularly for graduate students. We co-fund students across different countries and facilitate information sharing through webinars. For example, we started hosting joint webinars with networks in Iceland, Ireland, and Scotland to ensure that knowledge and research on the Arctic, including the realities of conducting Arctic research, are shared across borders. This international networking helps share best practices, increase reach, and promotes knowledge mobilization.
Next year, we will also fund Canadian experts—both Indigenous and academic—to participate in Arctic Council working groups. Supporting our experts in this way is critical because it enables them to contribute the knowledge developed in Canada while also bringing back valuable insights from international collaborations.
Overall, these activities—including networking, knowledge mobilization, and sharing best practices—are ways our network can contribute to both national and international collaborations. It’s a win-win, as we facilitate exchanges of knowledge and expertise across borders.
How do you act as a bridge between Western scientific knowledge and Indigenous knowledge?
We think it’s still a challenge because the way data and knowledge are captured can be so different. It’s about how you convey that knowledge and how you adapt it. For scientific knowledge, our ‘bread and butter’ is peer-reviewed articles. That’s what we live by, and it’s how scientists are evaluated. But, such scientific publications are less directly impactful to Indigenous experts and communities. So, how do you bridge that gap?
We do this by exploring different knowledge mobilization opportunities and ways of sharing knowledge, crossing bridges between those different systems. Including Indigenous researchers as authors or co-authors in scientific articles is crucial to ensure their perspectives are captured in a meaningful, scientific way. Also, using diverse media, art, and methods of sharing beyond scientific publications is important.
For example, we’re finding really creative ways to communicate scientific results to communities, such as through art, media, or cartoons, and it’s working quite well. Integrating Indigenous knowledge into research is essential. Researchers need to hear from local communities about where they think the best sampling sites are for wildlife, ice, or sediment types. We’ve found that when researchers engage with communities, they gain far more information than what’s available in journals or government publications.
Do you have examples where Indigenous knowledge has really enhanced a project?
A permafrost research project comes to mind where geomorphologists had mapped out areas for research based on aerial photos, but when they consulted with the local community, the community pointed out slumping areas and water accumulation zones that the researchers hadn’t identified. This boots-on-the-ground knowledge was critical and greatly complemented the research.
What strategies does ArcticNet use to train and support its highly qualified personnel and researchers?
We focus on training and funding, as well as fostering opportunities for students and early-career scientists to participate in decision-making. We have early-career scientists on our research management committees and board of directors, ensuring they are part of the entire research process. This provides a unique opportunity for them to grow within the research ecosystem, from fieldwork to supporting the management research networks.
Our students are the next Arctic leaders and researchers. We encourage them to take advantage of networking opportunities because the Arctic research community is relatively small, and it’s essential to build connections early. ArcticNet is like a family; even though it’s made up of hundreds of people, there’s a strong sense of connectedness and belonging.
What do you see as the most significant opportunities for Arctic research in the coming years?
One of the biggest opportunities—and challenges—is making a clearer connection between scientific knowledge and Indigenous knowledge. We’ve made progress, but we still have work to do. Achieving a perfect partnership and integration of these knowledge systems would help us better understand the changes happening in the Arctic.
It’s important to note that different countries are at different stages in recognizing the importance of Indigenous participation. Canada is a world leader in this regard, and many look to us to learn how we include Indigenous voices and knowledge in our research.
