Bob LeDrew
While some of us were enjoying Indian summer’s warmth, Peter Johnson of the Department of Geography was thinking of colder climates.
Just returned from accompanying the Governor General on a visit to a number of other polar countries, Johnson, who is chair of the Canadian Polar Commission (CPC), is working diligently on some long-term initiatives that will culminate in Canada’s contribution to International Polar Year.
Johnson has been involved with northern research for years, and notes that the University has been doing fieldwork at the Kluane Lake research station since 1973. Currently, a glaciology course is offered which involves field visits to an ice field in the mountains of the Yukon.
“It’s difficult to balance the needs of northern communities with the demands of hard science,” says Johnson of the region. “It’s such a large area, and there are so many issues to be addressed there.”
In the fall of 2004, the CPC will host the Northern Research Forum in Yellowknife, with Governor General Adrienne Clarkson hosting. “Iceland and Finland are heavily involved in the Forum,” says Johnson.
Polar research is important to Canada, says Johnson, “because it’s ours. Canadians live there, and we have an international responsibility to monitor and understand the environment of the north.” He also points out that social and health questions unique to the North area also important areas on inquiry, as well as more ‘top-of-mind’ topics such as oceanography, paleoclimatology, and glaciology.
“Money doesn’t seem to make an impact in such a large area,” says Johnson. “We are criticized by other countries for our lack of monitoring of polar areas.”
With the increased attention brought by the Governor General’s trip this fall, the Northern Research Forum, and International Polar Year, Johnson hopes those criticisms will lose their validity by the end of 2007.
