POLAR KNOWLEDGE CANADA RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE IN ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE OF THE ARCTIC AND NORTHERN SCIENCE

December 8, 2023 – Cambridge Bay, Nunavut

Polar Knowledge Canada is pleased to announce that the recipients of the 2023 Northern Science Award and Centenary Medal are Dr. Trevor Bell and SmartICE. Dr. Bell is an Honorary Research Professor in Geography at Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Founding Director of SmartICE. SmartICE is a community-based organization offering climate change adaptation tools designed to incorporate sea-ice monitoring data with Indigenous Knowledge. This distinguished award recognizes Dr. Bell and SmartICE for their achievements and substantial contributions to the North and its Peoples.

Dr. Bell’s expertise lies in the study of Arctic and subarctic environments, climate change impacts, and community-based research.

SmartICE helps communities make more informed decisions before they travel on ice. They provide community members with an extra tool to help them avoid hazardous or dangerous areas. Dr. Bell and SmartICE have made significant contributions to advancing knowledge and understanding of the Canadian North. Their work has been instrumental in supporting transformations in the way knowledge is produced and shared. They have actively engaged with Indigenous communities, fostering collaborative partnerships that prioritize local knowledge and perspectives. This approach has enriched scientific understanding and empowered Northern communities to actively lead decision-making that is beneficial, innovative, and youth-focused.

The Northern Science Award is presented annually to an individual or a team who have made a significant contribution to advancing knowledge and understanding of the Canadian North. In the spirit of the last International Polar Year (2007-2008), the award recognizes transformations in the way knowledge is produced and shared, and the impact research has on the North, its communities and people.

Laureates of the award receive the Centenary Medal and a $10,000.00 prize. Nominations are reviewed by a five-member selection committee based on the following criteria:

• wide recognition of the quality and significance of the knowledge created;
• significant contribution to the way northern knowledge is produced and shared;
• training or participation of Northerners in the research, project or initiative; and
• relevance to advancing northern priorities, with an emphasis on knowledge impacts.