Partnerships in Yukon Science event to highlight important research in the North
Whitehorse – Two national science programs celebrate milestones this year and the Yukon Research Centre at Yukon College is throwing them a party to celebrate.
The Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) and Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP) reach 20 and 50 years respectively of fostering science in the North.
"A great deal of research and knowledge has come from these two important programs," said Chris Hawkins, vice-president Research at Yukon College.
"The research and science taking place in Yukon is always the result of valuable partnerships between a variety of organizations, including NCP and NSTP, so we have chosen this as our theme in celebrating their anniversaries."
Partnerships in Yukon Science will take place on October 18 in the Multipurpose Room at the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be speakers and presentations with lunch provided at 12pm.
The free, open-house event is for the public, high school and college students as well as researchers and government officials to learn more about the benefits and results of partnerships in science in Yukon.
Over 20 poster presentations will be onsite featuring a range of ongoing and completed research. Topics include healthier weights in Yukon communities, fish habitats, biochar research, chlamydia rates in Yukon, northern contaminants and use of citizen scientists.
Keynote speaker, Brendan Handley, Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer, will talk about the importance of ensuring research is accessible to the public while remaining relevant to science. Students attending will be challenged to complete an “info-hunt” to have the chance to win an iPad.
Following the public event Rick Steele from the Yukon Research Centre (YRC) will give a presentation to researchers and scientists. He will announce a new partnership between the YRC and University of Waterloo to share information contained in their respective polar data catalogues.
Steele will also provide information about the benefits of Canada’s Advanced Research and Innovation (CANARIE) network. A dedicated network of high-speed, fibre-optic cable that stretches 19,000 km across Canada offering unconstrained bandwidth for research and innovation - linking researchers and innovators throughout Canada and around the world – of which the YRC is a member.
For more information please contact event organizer, Kawina Robichaud at krobichaud@yukoncollege.yk.ca.
The Northern Contaminants Program (NCP) works to reduce or eliminate contaminants in traditional foods, and to provide information on contaminants to individuals and communities. In Yukon NCP partners with the territorial government, Council of Yukon First Nations, Yukon Conservation Society, Yukon College and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans through the Yukon Contaminants Committee
The Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP) aims to increase the number of graduate and senior undergraduate students in Canadian universities who have specialized in some aspect of northern scientific studies and who have northern research experience. On average 14% of NSTP funds are dispersed to research conducted in Yukon annually, and over 300 graduate and advanced level students are supported each year.
The Yukon Research Centre at Yukon College has six key programs: Cold Climate Innovation, Technology Innovation, Northern Climate ExChange, Biodiversity Monitoring, Science Adventures, and Resources and Sustainable Development in the Arctic.
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For more information, contact:
Michael Vernon
Communications Coordinator
College Relations
Yukon College
867.668.8786
867.332.4722
mvernon@yukoncollege.yk.ca
Tanis Davey
Communications Coordinator
College Relations
Yukon Research Centre
867.456.8625
867.332.8625
tdavey@yukoncollege.yk.ca
Jacqueline Bedard
Director
College Relations
Yukon College
867.456.8619
jbedard@yukoncollege.yk.ca