Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #203: Development of a Legacy Research and Outreach Centre in the Yukon  (Yukon Research Centre - YRC)

Outline
The proposed activity is the development of a research and outreach centre in Whitehorse, Yukon. Currently, the Yukon does not have adequate facilities to support northern and arctic research and outreach. The lack of adequate facilities greatly limits the degree to which northern Canadians can participate in research with those based outside the region, interact with national and international researchers, and more importantly, make use of the fruits of such research. The lack of adequate research facilities also limits the access of southern-based researchers to the wealth of scientific, traditional, and local knowledge held by northerners. As a response to growing requests for services from the local and national research communities, Yukon College commissioned a study in the spring of 2004 to assess the need for a multi-disciplinary “Yukon Research Centre”. The study demonstrated a clear need for infrastructure as well as gaps in basic services needed to take advantage of the greatly increased investment in research in the north. More recently, International Polar Year (IPY) discussions, and research initiatives such as the Northern Innovation Cluster further underscored this need. The study revealed a consensus on a number of critical needs including: •Basic office space and basic laboratory space, particularly for sample storage (preferably climate controlled) •Providing an inter-agency service to coordinate, network, and promote the services and facilities that currently exist •A directory of researchers—past and present—including names, contact information, research topics, dates of research and results of research •Northern research data management services. •A public outreach service promoting the results of Yukon research and educating researchers about the various ongoing needs for research in the Yukon. Additionally, the Dialogue on Northern Research held in Whitehorse in March of 2004, made the following recommendations concerning research and outreach capacity: •Develop resident capacity and northern involvement in all stages of research in local, national and international issues. •Build one or more places for high calibre northern research activities, which would include storage of databases, library, meeting facilities, networking, etc. •Develop a northern research inventory or web site directory of current researcher groups, contacts, capacity within universities, government and northern organizations. It is widely recognized that a modern research and outreach centre in the Yukon would serve not only Canada but also the international research community. The investment in such a facility would: •Express Canada’s commitment to maintaining and enriching its presence in the North. •Encourage research interest in the issues and potential of Canada’s North. •Create opportunity, awareness, and employment for northerners and in particular northern youth. •Improve researchers’ access to northern communities, northern expertise and skills, and information. •Increase economic development opportunities in the North. •A comprehensive research centre would enhance opportunities for dialogue and collaboration in the international research community. In summary, a comprehensive research and outreach centre in the Yukon would greatly enhance northern research locally, nationally and internationally. In addition, a research and outreach centre would be valuable in realizing the full potential of IPY 2007/2008 in northern Canada, as well as being a significant legacy of IPY for Canada and the North.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This proposal submits that the development of a research and outreach centre in the Yukon would significantly advance all six of the IPY themes. There is little doubt that having such a centre in the Yukon would provide much needed services and support to further research into the state and changes of the polar environment and northern human societies. In addition, a Yukon Research Centre (YRC) would promote polar-global linkages and interaction on northern research as well as investigations into new northern research frontiers through an association with Yukon College and the University of the Arctic. The Centre would also provide a strategic northern Canadian vantage point for research, outreach services and support nationally and internationally.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
: International collaboration on this project would include members of the University of the Arctic and Circumpolar Universities Association. Other international partners include non-member foreign government research agencies, institutes and private partnerships.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The Yukon Research Centre would be located at Yukon College in Whitehorse, Yukon. Although located in Whitehorse, the Centre would benefit a far greater geographic area including northern Canada and international circumpolar regions.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 2-3 years for development, design and construction      Operating life of Centre would be 40 years      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The development of a state of the art research centre in the Yukon would provide critical logistic and essential support facilities not currently available in the North.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The Yukon Research Centre itself will be the legacy infrastructure, as well as part of the infrastructure of the IPY. This Centre would endow Canada’s North with critical modern northern research infrastructure, providing research and support facilities to the world.

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

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The need for a Yukon Research Centre has been expressed nationally through the Dialogue on Northern Research (March 2004). 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: Non-virtual Infrastructure

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?
YES

It is anticipated that this would be an extremely well designed and constructed building. It would be expected that this building would showcase both environmental and northern building techniques. During design phases the complex must be fully networked with broadband and/or an uplink so that the Centre would be linked to international partners.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Steering Committee led by Yukon College

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The Centre would build on existing programs such as Yukon Science Institute, Innovators in the Schools, the Northern Climate ExChange, PEO Hub, C-CIARN North, etc

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The Centre would provide a data management element conforming to national and international protocols and standards. Additionally, this centre would facilitate the collection of all archived materials and bring them to current standards in format and storage, taking into consideration the standards established for data management for the IPY.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Proposed funding resources for the research centre are currently being explored. It is anticipated that Yukon College will be a major contributor providing a footprint and logistical support. Currently the territorial and federal governments will be involved as major partners. The Canada Foundation of Innovation (CFI) will likely be a significant source of funding as well as NRC. Furthermore, private sector involvement will be negotiated over the next two years. International funding is expected once such agreements are negotiated and finalized.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
It is anticipated that research activities leading up to, during and following IPY will bring mounting pressure on limited northern resources. There will be other initiatives for which this research centre will form the ongoing “hub” to which other research projects and initiatives will attach.

PROPOSER DETAILS

Mr  Clint Sawicki
Yukon College, Northern Research Institute
Box 2799, Whitehorse, YT
Y1A 5K4
Canada

Tel: (867)668-8772
Mobile: no
Fax: (867)668-8805
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation