IPY-CFL

As evidence supporting global climate change grows, and more immediate impacts of Arctic “meltdown” are experienced by communities in the North, Canadian politicians and researchers are joining forces in their commitments to gain a better understanding of the potential consequences of climate change in the Arctic.

As part of the International Polar Year (IPY), the Canadian Government has funded the Circumpolar Flaw Lead System Study (CFL) through the University of Manitoba. The study has brought together over 300 scientists from 17 countries including Russia, USA, France, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Japan, Spain, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, UK, Sweden, China and Canada, for a multi-year climate change study in the Canadian high Arctic.

The Circumpolar Flaw Lead System Study (CFL) will use a state-of-the-art (class 1200) Canadian icebreaker (CCGS Amundsen). This vessel has undergone a major refit in order for it to become a world-class research platform in one of the most remote places on earth.

As part of the CFL we will have a very exciting outreach program that will allow us to include high school students through our Schools on Board program. But also we have set aside ship berths to allow media outlets and interested parties to come up and visit us as we work at the top of the world.

As a result of the IPY-CFL project, a stunning 13" x 11" format "Two Ways of Knowing" photo book was created. It is a stylized 288 page publication that is an easy to read chronicle of a changing Arctic. Itb contains personal perspectives of Northerners, scientists, politicians, media, youth and educators, in regards to how they perceived their experiences in the IPY-CFL project and Climate Change.

The proceeds from the sale of the "Two Ways of Knowing" photo book will be placed in an endowment fund at the University of Manitoba, Canada.This fund is being set-up to support graduate students who are working on Arctic research in the area of climate change.