ASM2018

ASM attendance reached unprecedented numbers in 2018 with over 1250 registrants convening at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa from December 10 – 14, 2018 for the ASM2018! Researchers, Inuit, First Nations, students, and government representatives alike, chose the ASM2018 to share their knowledge and expertise on an impressive array of Arctic related issues. Northern participation is a valued aspect of the ASM and in 2018, thanks to two Northern Travel Fund initiatives, over 50 residents from Nunangat and the Territories were able to attend the conference.

Student Day launched the conference attracting 400 attendees from all sectors and disciplines including over 250 early career-researchers. The 2018 edition of Student Day, a collaborative effort by the ASA, APECS and PYRN, featured presentations and workshops focused on the theme of Building the Capacity, Resilience, and Awareness of Early-Career Arctic Researchers. This 1.5-day event culminated with a dedicated Student Day Awards Ceremony where the ASA-APECS Mentor Award was presented to Dr. Gita Ljubicic for her dedication to Inuit self-determination and the mentorship opportunities within her projects; and the popular Elevator Pitch awards were presented to Katie Rosa, Laurent Erland and Elizabeth Worden.

The 400 oral presentations and the 260 posters presented throughout the week showcased the excellent research proudly supported by ArcticNet and our communities’ dedication to their work and the Arctic. In addition to a compelling Scientific Program, the conference experience was enhanced with numerous networking opportunities including 40 Side Meetings, two dedicated poster sessions, and the coffee and lunch breaks allowing ample occasions for delegates to interact as well as meet with the 32 exhibitors on site. Inuit Culture Night and Women in Northern Science were also highly anticipated and attended side events encouraging networking in a congenial and casual setting.

For the 3rd year running, the prestigious Weston Family Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Northern Research was presented at the ASM; this year, the $100,000 prize was awarded to Dr. Derek Muir, Research Scientist with Environment & Climate Change Canada for his valuable contributions to understanding chemical contaminants in the Arctic.

A noteworthy highlight at the Gala Awards Banquet was the privilege of having Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada take the stage to deliver a captivating talk and present the 2018 Polar Knowledge Northern Science Award which was accepted by Ellen Avard on behalf of the Nunavik Research Centre, an inspiring model of what can be achieved through community-based science.

In addition to the prizes mentioned above, the Gala Awards Banquet proudly recognized research excellence and its presentation to 13 students from 11 universities by means of the Student Poster Competition. As well, the Inuit Partnership of Excellence Award was presented to Katherine Wilson and the ITK Inuit Recognition Award went to Peter May and Michele Wood. Finally, the six (6) ArcticNet Photo Contest winners were announced; we wish to express our appreciation for the beauty the winners’ photos brought to the venue where they were on display and to all entrants whose photos have enriched the network’s photo gallery.

The ArcticNet Board of Directors, Research Management Committee and Secretariat would like to thank all the participants, sponsors, partners and exhibitors for their contributions that helped make the ASM2018 a resounding success.

To access the official conference website: http://www.arcticnetmeetings.ca/asm2018/pages/program.php

Sponsors & Exhibitors

ASM2018 Exhibitors

Graduate Student Poster Award Recipients

Terrestrial Sciences

 
First Place
Don-Jean Léandri-Breton, McGill University

 
Second Place
Thomas Pretty, Wilfrid Laurier University

 
Third Place
Elise Imbeau, Université Laval

 
Honourable Mention
Kamil Chatila-Amos, University of Guelph

 
Honourable Mention
Christopher Peck, University of Manitoba

 

Marine Sciences

 
First Place
Enooyaq Sudlovenik, University of Prince Edward Island

 
Second Place
Abigail Dalton, University of Ottawa

 
Third Place
Mathieu Leblanc, Université Laval

 
Honourable Mention
Sarah Fortune, University of British Columbia

 
Honourable Mention
Alyssa Eby, University of Windsor

Health and Social Sciences

 First Place
Alexandra, Sawatzky, University of Guelph

 Second Place
Lauren Watts, Carleton University

 
 
Third Place
Émilie Desjardins, Université du Québec à Rimouski

Inuit Partnership of Excellence Award

 
Katherine Wilson, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Photo Contest

First place: 500$
Robert Izett

Time to Reflect.

Time to Reflect.

Second place: 350$
Sébastien Descamps

Close up of a walrus in Svalbard.

Close up of a walrus in Svalbard.

Third place: 250$
Kyle Ritchie

Kyle Ritchie

This photo was taken on a very unpleasant field day in Wapusk National Park. The red fox popped out of it’s den and gave us some scathing looks because it was so windy. Around this time our data sheets were blowing across the tundra.

Honourable mention: 150$
Emilie Bouchard

Emilie Bouchard/Honourable Mention

While taking a walk on a blizzardy day on the edge of town, we came across this pack of dogs, feeling completely at ease despite the harsh weather.

Honourable mention: 150$
Sandra Angers-Blondin

Sandra Angers-Blondin/Honourable Mention

Life around the ice: on Qikiqtaruk-Herschel Island, tent shelters made of driftwood on a spit of sand provide restful nights full of the sounds of the Arctic. / Sur Qikiqtaruk-Herschel Island, des abris pour tentes faits de bois flotté promettent au visiteur des nuits confortables, entourés des bruits de la toundra.

Honourable mention: 150$
Kasey Ryan

Kasey Ryan/Honourable Mention

Bowhead whale showing tail slapping behavior.

Student Elevator Pitch Contest

For the second year running, Student Day participants had the opportunity to promote their science by means of an Elevator Pitch. Contestants had one minute and one slide to pitch their research project and pique the public’s curiosity. Click here to view the elevator pitch videos.

A panel of judges awarded the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes to the top elevator pitches and the Conference participants then voted for the People’s Choice Award. Congratulations to all the winners!

1st place ($500)
Katie Rosa
Trent University

The Values of Inuit Hunters Relating to Moose Hunting and Management in Nunatsiavut

2nd place ($300)
Lauren Erland
University of Guelph

Visualization of melatonin and serotonin in living plant tissues

3rd place ($150)

Elizabeth Worden
Freshwater Institute, University of Manitoba

“Everything is changing so much!”

People’s Choice Award ($500)
Elizabeth Worden
Freshwater Institute, University of Manitoba

“Everything is changing so much!”