Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #117: Patterns of individual participation in local community as affected by increasing use of technology, and resulting health impacts  (Technology Impacts in Northern Regions)

Outline
Project goal: Study impacts on social environments and social support structures by the increased use of technology as a means of communication - both formally (the delivery of essential services such as education and health care) and informally (through social interaction online, gaming etc) - in northern regions. Project Description/Background: The increased use of technology in the north both decreases and increases the isolation of individuals living in northern regions. Through formal applications, individuals have more access to the delivery of essential services like health care and education; but personal isolation is increased by removing the need for personal visits and connections to doctors, teachers, etc. Increasing informal use of technology for social interactions or entertainment causes an increase in isolation from human interaction within their own community – which may cause a change in the perception of community to the individual and impact upon their willingness to participate within it, thus affecting the health of the overall community. It is proposed that these factors impact both positively and negatively on overall community health - the overall cost/benefit of increased use of technology will be studied and recommendations given for possible solutions where needed.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Directly meets theme 2, 3, and 6 in that it is a direct study of social change impacted by the use of technology. Looks at how technology links northern communities to the rest of the globe, and the positive and negative effects on the overall health of individuals in northern communities as well as the communities overall due to these linkages.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
There are a number of circumpolar organizations that meet in various locations in the circumpolar north – work proposed in Canada would inform other circumpolar regions, and from there it can be discerned whether there are organizations in other countries who would collaborate to do similar research in their geographic areas, in order to compare and contrast northern issues across different cultures.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Healthy and Sustainable Communities: Healthy Communities

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?

How will the project be organised and managed?

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?

How is it proposed to fund the project?

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Tracy Erman
PO Box 31107 Whitehorse YT


Y1A 3W1
Canada

Tel: 867-456-4304
Mobile: no
Fax: 867-456-4302
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation