TEAM Students on Ice Expeditions has brought together an international team of scientists, historians, artists, explorers, authors, educators, leaders, innovators and polar experts, whose experience and enthusiasm ensures that our students develop a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the polar regions and the planet. Our staff team helps to make all SOI programs an unforgettable adventure! SOI HEAD OFFICE The following staff work full-time with Students on Ice based out of our head office in Gatineau, Canada: Contact Geoff GEOFF GREEN Founder, Executive Director & Expedition Leader Canadian adventurer, environmentalist and educator Geoff Green has been leading expeditions and adventures from pole to pole for the past fifteen years. Many notable organizations such as the Discovery Channel, World Wildlife Fund, National Audubon Society and the Smithsonian Institution enlist Geoff to lead their groups into the world’s most remote and exciting regions. In 2005, he received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the U.S. Congress for his work with youth and the environment. He was also voted one of Canada’s “Top 40 under 40” – an annual national prize event saluting Canada’s top young leaders. In 2004, Outpost Magazine chose Geoff as one of the “Top 5 Canadian Explorers” to watch. Geoff is the founder and Executive Director of Students on Ice Expeditions, an award-winning educational organization based in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. The program – now in its tenth year – has taken over 1,500 students, teachers and scientists from around the world on expeditions to the Arctic and the Antarctic. The goal of this unique project is to give the world’s youth a heightened understanding and respect for the planet’s global ecosystem, and the inspiration to protect it. As expedition leader, Geoff is a veteran of 76 Antarctic expeditions and 32 Arctic expeditions. To read Geoff's full biography click here. To learn more about Geoff, visit GeoffGreen.ca. Contact Mareike MAREIKE ADAMS Expedition Program Assistant  From a young age Mareike Adams learned to love travelling and the outdoors. Her adventures have taken her from Australia and New Zealand, to Europe and Central America. This exploratory spirit and love of a challenge has brought her into her second year at McGill University. Undertaking a degree in Honours Applied Mathematics, Mareike currently spends her time between bustling Montreal and her peaceful hometown of Chelsea.   Three years ago she had one of the greatest experiences of her life when she participated in Students on Ice–International Polar Year Arctic Youth Expedition 2007. When she finds time for herself, Mareike loves to play soccer and the violin, ski and kick-box, write poetry and short stories, and to watch a good game of hockey. Contact Mary-Ellen MARY-ELLEN CONNOLLY Office & Financial Administrator Mary-Ellen Connolly has worked in finance since graduating from St. Lawrence College. She brings many years of financial and administrative experience to Students on Ice. SOI’s mandate and work with youth motivated her to join the team. For the past 20 years Mary-Ellen has volunteered as a CADS (Canadian Association Disabled Skiing) ski instructor, recently winning CADS’ Guide of the Year award. She is also a certified CSIA (Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance) ski instructor. Residing in the Gatineau Park area with her family, Mary-Ellen enjoys sports such as soccer, cycling and hiking. A past Director/Treasurer of the Ottawa Ski Hawks and the National Capital Balloon Club, Mary-Ellen has worked at hot air balloon festivals (in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland) and crewed for a hot air balloon pilot. Mary-Ellen also enjoys cooking, gardening and mixing international travel with volunteer work. Her most recent service adventure brought her to Cambodia. She hopes to travel to Egypt in the near future. Contact Jason JASON COPELAND Media & Special Projects Jason Copeland is a multi-talented individual holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Advertising and a lengthy résumé of experience working with College and University students at their places of study to create beneficial community living and learning experiences. Media and Special Projects at Students on Ice is the first step in his new pursuit of web development which he will be dedicating himself to full time come fall. Jason loves adventure, be it on foot, online, in the car, by boat or by jet-pack, and all the amazing people that come along with it. That love for adventure is what convinced Jason to take the initial step away from his lucrative career as an Art Director, professional Dodgeball player and student and join the Students on Ice Antarctic University Expedition where he was able to work as part of the camera crew. That incredible experience has stuck with him ever since, and has brought him back to Students on Ice. Now as Media and Special Projects he will be working diligently to keep all past, present and future alumni up-to-date on Students on Ice related events. Interests: Obscure sports, Top Gear, foreign cultures, spicy foods, honey badgers, fun hats, stress-free lifestyles. Contact Maggie MAGGIE CRUMP Alumni Coordinator Maggie Crump's adventures and studies have taken her to Denmark, Italy, Finland, Scotland, Switzerland, the Yukon, Nunavut, the Maritimes – and most recently West Africa, where she spent the past year exploring, working and studying development in Ghana, Mali and Burkina Faso. She looks forward to her daily bicycle commute through Gatineau Park to the SOI office where she works as the Alumni Coordinator, assisting the development of the organization's Alumni Program. She is excited to be taking part in this summer's Arctic Expedition and is looking forward to being able to examine the parallels between the issues of climate change adaptability and development that she encountered in West Africa, in the Canadian North. Come September, Maggie will be returning to Dalhousie University in Halifax to complete the final year of her undergraduate degree in International Development. In her spare time she enjoys biking, running, photography, playing or listening to music and reading (both novels and the Hansard – Canada's Parliamentary Debates). Contact Lisa LISA (DIZ) GLITHERO Chair, Education Advisory Committee Education, youth and the environment have been the focus of Lisa Glithero’s professional and personal life. With Bachelor of Science, Education and Master of Education degrees, she has taught in Canada, Nepal and has served as the Education Program Director for Students on Ice. Through 8 Polar Expeditions, Lisa has witnessed firsthand the impacts of climate change, further igniting her passion to connect today’s youth to the planet’s global ecosystem. Lisa’s dedication towards a ‘greener’ society led to her establishment of the EYES Project in 2004. EYES is a Canadian not-for-profit organization committed to bringing a sustainability imperative into educational pedagogy and practice. She is currently a Visiting Professor with the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa and continues to serve as the Director of the EYES Project, as well as Chair of the Education Advisory Committee for Students on Ice. Lisa is also a board member of the Chelsea Foundation. In March 2006, she was honoured with an international "Women of the Earth Award" by the Yves Rocher Foundation for her work in environmental education and in April 2008 was named by Nobel Peace Prize Nominee (2007) Sheila Watt Cloutier, as one of Chatelaine’s “Amazing Canadian Women to Watch.” Lisa lives in Chelsea, Quebec with her partner Geoff and son Fletcher. Contact Reina REINA LAHTINEN Operations Manager Reina Lahtinen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law from Carleton University where she led the women's soccer team as an award-winning varsity athlete. She has done acquisition and contract work for various high-profile exhibitions at the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum and currently sits on the executive of the Canadian Nordic Society. Her combined love for the poles, passion for being outdoors, and drive to engage young people has brought her to Students on Ice in 2007. Before and after work Reina can be found skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, running, biking or swimming in the Gatineau hills. Contact Tim TIM STRAKA Education Program Director Tim Straka co-creates transformative learning experiences with students of all ages. Committed to environmental and civic education, he has taught at elementary, secondary and post-secondary levels across North America, in Central Europe, in the Arctic and Antarctica. Tim’s interests range widely from philosophy, to eco-psychology, to bio-regionalism, and youth empowerment. He has worked with Outward Bound Canada, the YMCA of Greater Vancouver, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, the Kawartha Outdoor Education Centre, Ontario’s Ministry of Education and a number of Canadian Parliamentarians. Tim is a member of the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication, the Ontario College of Teachers and the Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario. Tim lives an active lifestyle. He enjoys skiing, paddling, swimming, biking, hucking frisbees and back-country travel. Tim is currently completing the construction of his home which will meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design/LEED™ for Homes Platinum Certification. Tim earned a Master of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Lesley University, and undergraduate degrees in Outdoor and Experiential Education (Queen’s University) and Politics (Bishop’s University). He has worked full-time with Students on Ice since 2007. Contact Niki NIKI TRUDEAU Participant Coordinator Niki Trudeau holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics and is a graduate of the University of Ottawa's Bachelor of Education program. Her love for the outdoors began on paddling trips with her family in Algonquin Park. It was this passion for environmental awareness and outdoor adventures that brought Niki to Students on Ice in 2008. As the SOI Participant Coordinator, Niki's ability to smoothly coordinate trip logistics and be the primary participant liaison is instrumental in making SOI expeditions successful. She manages the day-to-day operations of our field programs and provides support for expedition staff, educators, chaperones and student participants. As part of her work, Niki travels on Arctic and Antarctic expeditions. This immersion helps her understand the student and staff experience and provide support to all those hoping to participate in SOI expeditions. SOI EXPEDITION EDUCATORS The following scientists, educators, artists, leaders & innovators join us from time-to-time on our expeditions: INGRID BAJEWSKY Geographer & Geologist Ingrid Bajewsky teaches physical geography and geology at Nipissing University. She has taught a variety of courses including general geology, natural hazards, geomorphology, and paleoclimatology and climate change. Her research interests however, lie specifically in the area of glacial hydrology, with a particular interest in rock glaciers. She has conducted glaciological research in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and the Saint Elias Mountains in Yukon Territory. Ingrid ’s commitment to helping university students attain their goals led her to teaching a course entitled University Success. She holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in Physical Geography, and a Bachelor of Education. During her career Ingrid has also held positions as an environmental consultant and a substitute teacher. DAVID BROCK Environmental Policy Advisor & Activist A passion for politics and polar science has taken David Brock to both the most northerly and most southerly permanently inhabited communities on Earth. David lives in Yellowknife where he currently works as a strategic planning analyst for the Government of the Northwest Territories. David also operates a business, Circumpolar Consulting, which advises on public policy and intergovernmental relations. He studied political science at Dalhousie University, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Western Ontario. His research examines how scientific knowledge about climate change affects government decision making in the Canadian north. In 2005, he was named a Fellow of Action Canada, a national program in leadership and public policy. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Political Science Association. His political commentary has appeared in the Toronto Star, The Walrus, and Muskoka Today. OLLE CARLSSON Polar Naturalist & Lecturer Olle was born in Sweden and is currently living there. Formerly a teacher, he left the profession in order to write, photograph, play jazz and travel. He has travelled extensively in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic, including the Northwest Passage, Greenland and Svalbard. Since 1991, he has spent the northern winter seasons in his favorite area, Antarctica, sharing the migration route of the Arctic Tern, always heading for summer, in the North as in the South. In Antarctica he has been an expedition leader, naturalist and lecturer for various organizations. Olle admits to being infected by the Polar bug, defined by the early explorers as “if you have ventured into the ice once, you will always long to come back.” Apart from the remote North and South, he has worked as a naturalist guide, lecturer and Zodiac driver along the coasts of Europe, around England and in the Baltic Sea. He has backpacked parts of Asia and participated in a tree planting project in Kenya. Together with his friend Stefan Lundgren, Olle has published Antarctica - In the interest of all mankind (1990), currently only in Swedish and appointed the Panda Book of 1991 by the Swedish section of World Wildlife Fund. More recently, Olle and Stefan have completed Svalbard - The Land beyond the Northcape (in English). In 1998-99, they completed another book in English, Antarctica - A souvenir book from the 7th continent. He has written several articles for magazines and newspapers, and also lectured and given slide-show presentations on the Polar areas around Sweden, Denmark and in the US. KATHY CONLAN, PhD Marine Biologist & Author When Kathy Conlan goes to work, she suits up and dives right in - into ice-capped waters so cold that unprotected skin can freeze in seconds! The Canadian Museum of Nature marine biologist has been doing this for more then ten years in her efforts to study marine life and the impact of disturbance on the coastal seabeds of the harsh polar oceans. Kathy first plunged into Arctic waters more than ten years ago off the coast of Resolute in Nunavut. “Research in the Arctic and Antarctic is tremendously stimulating. It is physically demanding, yet inspiring at the same time,” says Kathy. Conlan recently returned from a visit to McMurdo Station in Antarctica, as part of a new three-year study in collaboration with the U.S. National Science Foundation. Over time, this research may help scientists understand how to manage the ecological impacts of pollution in polar environments. In addition to her research work at The Canadian Museum of Nature, Kathy is also an author. Her most recent publication Under the Ice won a Canadian Science Writer’s Association Award and was short-listed for the prestigious Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction. ERIC GALBRAITH, PhD Oceanographer & Earth Science Researcher A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Eric worked as a geologist in South America and the Canadian Arctic before becoming an oceanographer. His research looks at how global ocean circulation interacts with the rest of the climate system, what this means for marine life, and how the ocean will respond to future climate change. He has lectured aboard cruises throughout the North Atlantic, and in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. He is currently an Assistant Professor at McGill University. LYNN GILLESPIE, PhD Botanist Lynn Gillespie works at the Canadian Museum of Nature as a botanist and is also an Adjunct Research Professor in Biology at the University of Ottawa. She received a BSc from Carleton University and a PhD from the University of California. Her current research is on the diversity and classification of flowering plants, particularly arctic plants, grasses and the spurge plant family. Her work uses molecular approaches to study plant evolution. Lynn has led numerous field expeditions throughout the Canadian Arctic and South America, and has participated in expeditions to Southeast Asia and Madagascar. She has contributed to plant guides and floras of these areas, and has described numerous plant species new to science. DAVID R. GRAY, PhD Arctic Biologist & Historian An arctic biologist and historian, David Gray has studied birds and mammals in Canada’s High Arctic since 1968. Formerly a research scientist with the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN), he has made over 30 research trips to the arctic islands, studying the behaviour of musk oxen, arctic hare, and red-throated loons. As an independent researcher since 1994, he has prepared reports on Peary caribou, arctic wolves, the cultural and natural resources of three northern national parks, and the historic places of Nunavut. He has written two books on arctic subjects (The Muskoxen of Polar Bear Pass and Alert: Beyond the Inuit Lands) and completed two Virtual Museum of Canada exhibits: The Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913-1918 and Ukaliq, the Arctic Hare. David worked on a number of arctic films and museum exhibits for CMN, and is a Research Associate at both CMC and CMN. David has travelled to several arctic communities to interview Elders in relation to his research on arctic wildlife and history. He is at present working on two films and a book on Arctic history. THE HONOURABLE ANN MEEKITJUK HANSON Commissioner of Nunavut The 3rd Commissioner of Nunavut, Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, was appointed on April 21, 2005. Born on the island of Qakutut, outside Kimmirut, Nunavut, she spent the first 11 years of her life speaking only Inuktitut and living in Qakutut and Kimmirut. She attended schools in Iqaluit, Qamanituaq and Toronto. She studied community development at St. Xavier University and received a diploma with honours in journalism from Nunavut Arctic College. Mrs. Hanson's career has been diverse. She has been a civil servant, broadcaster, journalist and author. She has used her skills in Inuktitut throughout her career. Joining the federal government in 1964, she served as a secretary and interpreter/translator in the office of Nunatsiaq Member of Parliament Gene Rheaume. She joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a receptionist, later becoming an announcer and producer in Inuktitut broadcasting. Mrs. Hanson was the first editor of the Iqaluit community newspaper Inukshuk, which later became Nunatsiaq News. She is the author of "Show Me," a book written in Inuktitut and English. In addition to her work in journalism, Mrs. Hanson also served with the Government of the Northwest Territories as a community development worker, counsellor and Deputy Commissioner. Mrs. Hanson has spent considerable time as a volunteer, helping to start a number of organizations in Iqaluit. These organizations include the Juvenile Court Committee, the Elders Group, the Inuit Cultural Group and the Quinuajuaq Society. Mrs. Hanson lives in Iqaluit with her husband, Robert Hanson. They have five grown daughters. SANTIAGO IMBERTI Ornithologist Santiago Imberti was born and raised in Patagonia, Argentina, which meant that wilderness was only a short step from his front door. A long lasting love for nature was the logical consequence of the years he lived there. Santiago obtained a degree in tourism and ornithology, which allowed him to combine his love for nature and the outdoors with his work as a bird-watching and fly-fishing mountain guide. During the off-season Santiago continues his ornithology research focusing his attention on the birds of Patagonia and Bolivia. He also uses this time as an opportunity to travel around the world bush walking and birding, studying different bird communities and their surrounding environments. Santiago photographs and writes about the places he visits and his experiences as a guide, trying to convey in words and pictures some sense of the magic of nature. He has traveled to Antarctica many times. His articles and stories have been published in scientific journals and popular travel magazines. JOHNNY ISSALUK Traditional Inuit Athlete Johnny Issaluk is originally from a small Arctic hamlet on the coast of Hudson’s Bay in Nunavut called Igluligaarjuk (known as Chesterfield Inlet). He presently resides in Iqaluit, Nunavut with his young family. Johnny has been successfully competing in Arctic sports since the age of 16. He has won countless medals over the last decade at both the regional and the national level. When Johnny is not engaged in Arctic sports at home and abroad, he also enjoys volunteering his time coaching and training the younger generation at the local gym. In addition to his love of Arctic sports, Johnny is a devoted father and a skilled hunter with a love of the land and his traditional roots. PETER JOHNSON, PhD Physical Geographer Peter Johnson is a Professor of Physical Geography at the University of Ottawa where he has specialised in Arctic regions for 35 years. His research has focused on glaciated mountain regions, primarily the southwest Yukon, working on glacial geomorphology, glacier and mountain hydrology, and environmental change. He has promoted the importance of the field experience in geographical and environmental research through field courses in the Kluane Region of Yukon for over 30 years. Outside the university world he has worked extensively in the promotion of northern research emphasizing the need for research in the north, for the north and by northerners. Working with an association of universities with research in the north for most of his career, serving four years as president, and with the Canadian Polar Commission as Vice-Chair and Chair the promotion of polar research both nationally and internationally has been a priority. In the circum-arctic world he has represented Canada on the International Arctic Science Committee, the University of the Arctic Council, and the Northern Research Forum. His current focus is on the participation of Canada in the International Polar Year 2007-2008 emphasizing the "human dimension" of polar research. WILLIAM LISHMAN, PhD (Hon) Artist, Inventor, Filmmaker & Naturalist William Lishman is a versatile artist of world renown. His works over the past three decades include two award winning films and numerous works of public art, which include an 86-foot high central theme Sculpture for Expo ‘86 in Vancouver and a 2700 square foot 21st century earth integrated dome home. He and seven pieces of his sculpture star in the acclaimed 3D IMAX film The Last Buffalo. He was one of the pioneers of ultralight flight in Canada and in 1988 became the first human to lead birds in formation. In 1993 he led the first experimental ‘migration’ of geese from Ontario to Virginia, which was documented by ABC’s 20/20. Bill’s autobiography was published and released by Crown Publishers and made number four on the bestseller list in Canada. Loosely based on Bill’s life, Columbia Pictures produced the hit feature film Fly Away Home released in the fall of 1996. Bill has received numerous awards including the Odyssey of the Mind’s prestigious Creativity Award, which he shares, with the likes of Walt Disney, Chuck Jones and NASA as well as Canadian Pilots and Owners Association’s highest award in general aviation. In September of 2000 Canadian Governor General Adrienne Clarkson bestowed the Meritorious Service Medal on Bill for his work with birds and bringing Honour to Canada. Bill received an honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in June 2008. Over the past decade, while continuing his work as a Sculptor, Bill has presided over the ‘Operation Migration’ organization he co-founded to carry out research in ultralight led bird Migration. The Operation Migration team is currently working with the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service and several other organizations to restore a flock of Migratory Whooping Cranes to eastern North America. LINDA MACKEY Landscape Artist Linda Mackey, Canadian landscape artist, is Students on Ice’s Art Director, Art Liaison for the International Polar Year International (IPY) Programme Office, Director of Arctic Quest and founder of Polar Artists Group. She first traveled to the High Arctic in 2002 with renowned artist Doris McCarthy and returned with a passion to share the Arctic with others. She led a group of artists to Pangnirtung, Baffin Island for a sketching trip in 2004, and with Kathy Haycock of Eganville, Ontario, and Bonnie Levinthal of Philadelphia, began plans for Arctic Quest and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Northwest Passage in 2006. The Arctic Quest project is fully endorsed by IPY, project #338. Linda’s painting Follow Your Dreams was presented to Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor the Honourable James Bartleman in 2006 by the TCDSB as part of their twinning initiative between Nunavut and schools in Toronto. Linda has taught thousands of school children and artists art workshops based on her Arctic travels and is Artist in Residence for the TCDSB and The Club at Bond Head. She has also been Artist in Residence and presented powerpoint presentations and workshops on the Arctic for galleries, museums, and art groups including McMichael Canadian Art Collection and Varley Art Gallery. Linda is a former board member of the Society of Canadian Artists and an elected Signature Member of the Worldwide Nature Artists Group. The Arctic inspired Linda to simplify light and form in her paintings and she is best known for her Arctic landscapes. She has won several awards for her work, which can be found in collections across Canada, United States, and England. ERIC MATTSON, PhD Geologist & Glaciologist Eric Mattson has been conducting glaciological research for the past 20 years. Most of his research has been conducted on glaciers in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the Saint Elias Mountains in Yukon Territory, and the Himalayan Mountain Range. Dr. Mattson’s main research interest revolves around energy balance studies (small scale and large scale), and research into variations in glacier volume to determine past, present and future trends in glacier size and melt water production. Other research involvements include snowmelt modeling in North-eastern Ontario, debris flow activity in Banff National Park, and island biogeography in Massasauga Provincial Park. STEVEN PRICE Conservationist & Zoologist Steven Price is Senior Conservation Director for WWF-Canada.  He holds degrees in zoology and botany from the University of Toronto, and has worked with WWF for close to 3 decades. Currently, Steven’s leads a team of conservation experts, addressing forest, marine, freshwater and endangered species issues in Canada.  He helped establish the Forest Stewardship Council, whose FSC label is now a marketplace sign of wood and paper products that come from well-managed forests.  Now he is helping the Marine Stewardship Council to develop a similar certification program, so that the MSC label will be a guide in Canada to seafood that comes from well-managed fisheries. Steven lives in Toronto, enjoying cottage life and canoeing on weekends, as well as birding and other natural history adventures, whenever possible.  He prefers to sit facing the window during meetings and workshops, in case a rare falcon dashes by! SCOBIE PYE Polar Scientist & Historian Scobie Pye is a research scientist with a Masters of Science degree from the University of Tasmania, Australia. Over the past 30 years much of his life has been spent in southern latitudes working with the British Antarctic Survey, and the Australian Antarctic Division and the University of Tasmania. He has spent four winters and seven summers on the island of South Georgia, two summers on the floating ice shelf station of Halley Bay in the Weddell Sea and two winters and nine summers on Australia’s Macquarie Island. Scobie’s main scientific interests are focused on the conservation and management of Polar Regions. He has worked and traveled extensively in the northern latitudes. In 1978, Scobie was awarded the Fuchs Medal for outstanding service to the British Antarctic Survey. JAMES RAFFAN, PhD Geographer, Author & Polar Historian Over the years, Jim has written for media outlets including Canadian Geographic, National Geographic, Explore, The Globe and Mail, as well as for CBC Radio and The Discovery Channel. He is the best-selling author and editor of 14 books including Summer North of Sixty, Fire in the Bones, Bark, Skin & Cedar, Deep Waters and, most recently, Emperor of the North: Sir George Simpson and the Remarkable Story of the Hudson’s Bay Company. He is Past Chair of the Arctic Institute of North America as well as a Fellow and Past Governor of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, service for which he was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. Between expeditions and northern projects, Jim has had a number of real jobs. For 19 years, he was a professor of Outdoor & Experiential Education at Queen’s University Faculty of Education, where his teaching was recognized with a number of provincial and national awards. Since leaving Queen’s in 1999, he has been based at his home in the Rideau Lakes north of Kingston, Ontario, balancing dog walking and canoeing on Cranberry Lake with practise as a freelance writer and broadcaster with part-time work as the first Curator of the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario. FRED ROOTS, PhD Polar Issues Expert & Science Advisor Emeritus Fred Roots is Science Advisor Emeritus to Environment Canada. He graduated in geological engineering at the University of British Columbia, and received his PhD in geology from Princeton University. He was senior geologist in the first international scientific study of Antarctica, the Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic Expedition, 1949-52: co-leader of Operation Franklin, the major study that established the petroleum potential of the Canadian arctic Islands in 1955; and leader of Operation Stikine 1956 and 1958, the first integrated geological study of the Canadian northern Cordillera. In 1958 he organized the Polar Continental Shelf Project and served as its coordinator until 1971. From 1968 he became involved in discussions of the environmental responsibilities of the Canadian government, which led to the organization of the Department of the Environment. In 1971 he was appointed Advisor, Environmental and Northern Programmes, Department of the Energy Mines and Resources, and in 1973 he became Science Advisor to the Department of the Environment, and served in that capacity until becoming Science Advisor Emeritus in 1989. Fred has been active in a number of international and non-governmental scientific and environmental activities and researchers. He was a member of the Polar Research Board of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences 1970-83 and subsequently on several of its technical committees. From 1979 to 1983 he was President of the International Commission on Snow and ice, served on the Science Advisory Board of the Geophysical Institute University of Alaska 1976-88 (Chairman 1980-84). He was a founder of the International Arctic Science Committee and served as its first President (1991-94) and since 1983 has been chairman of the Northern Sciences Network of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. He is author of over 250 scientific papers and published reports on Polar, environmental and global change subjects. Fred has a mountain range in Antarctic named after him. His many awards include the Gold medal from the Royal Geographical Society. BELINDA SAWYER Polar Educator New Zealander Belinda Sawyer has extensive experience planning, organizing and leading expeditions to the world’s far-flung outposts. Belinda is a certified ship’s master, dive master, and has led many expeditions to the Antarctic continent and to extreme depth sites such as the RMS Titanic and the German battleship Bismarck. She is one of world’s deepest diving females having completed a dive to 16,500 ft. in 2005. Belinda has spent over 10 seasons in Antarctica in a wide range of capacities including guide, naturalist, lecturer, environmental officer, logistics and safety specialist. She also promotes exploration and sustainable management of the world oceans through various education institutes. RICHARD SEARS, PhD Whale Researcher & Expert Richard Sears is founder and president of ‘Mingan Island Cetacean Study’ a research project dedicated to ecological studies of marine mammals. He established the first long-term studies of Blue whales both in the north Atlantic and in the northeast Pacific Oceans. He has studied Blue whales in eastern Canada, Iceland, west Greenland, the Azores, the Antarctic, and in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. In 2002 his research led to the recognition of “endangered status” for the Blue whale in Canadian waters. MARY SIMON President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami Mary May Simon was born in Kangirsualuujuaq (George River) in Nunavik (Northern Quebec). She was the Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade from 1994 to 2003. Ms. Simon was the Canadian Ambassador to Denmark (1999-2001) concurrently during her Circumpolar position, a member of the Joint Public Advisory Committee of NAFTA's Commission on Environmental Cooperation(1997-2000), and wasthe chairperson from 1997-98. Ms. Simon was the Chancellor of Trent University (1995 to 1999). In 2001, she was appointed Councilor for the International Council for Conflict Resolution with the Carter Center. Ms. Simon has devoted her life's work towards gaining further recognition of Aboriginal rights and to promoting the study of Northern affairs. She began her career with the CBC Northern Service as a producer and announcer. She was subsequently elected Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Northern Quebec Inuit Association (1976-1978). From 1978-1985, Ms. Simon was elected 1st Vice-President and then President of the Makivik Corporation and went on to hold a number of positions with the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Canada's National Inuit Organization. For 14 years (1980-1994), she served as Executive Council Member, President and Special Envoy of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference. JULIET SHRIMPTON Marine Scientist Based in the UK, Juliet has always had a keen interest in the natural environment and its conservation. This led her to study Environmental Science as a first degree. Since graduating in 1996, Juliet has specialized through her work and study in the marine field, and in 1999 completed a Masters degree in Marine Resource Development and Protection. Juliet’s primary interest is in cetaceans and this was first sparked whilst working as a marine consultant in Hong Kong where she undertook boat surveys to assess the distribution of local cetacean populations. Since then she has been involved in projects in Nepal, Scotland and the Seychelles. For the last two and half years Juliet has worked largely on the West Coast of Scotland for a charitable organization. The focus of which is the conservation of whales and dolphins in Scotland, through education and science. Her main role has been to organize and run the science program of boat based research work and to provide training for students and volunteers who assist with this work. This work has meant a lot of time spent at sea, onboard a 56-foot yacht. This has not only earned Juliet her sea legs (and the ability to cook for eight heeled over at 30 degrees!), but also a unique opportunity to observe and experience the marine environment and its creatures up close. IAN TAMBLYN Musician Ian Tamblyn is a musician, playwright, producer and expedition guide. For the past several years Ian has managed to juggle these varied passions, though sometimes at the cost of some serenity in his life! Though he sees himself primarily as a songwriter, good fortune and serendipity have lead him to other fields of creative endeavour, and to far flung places on the planet including many trips to the Arctic and Antarctic. Firmly convinced that everything ties in with everything, Tamblyn’s songs reflect the places he has seen, people he has met; the places feed the music and the plays. His production skills reflect his musical experience over the course of his career. Creative diversity and interdisciplinary connections have been central to his work. Currently Ian is producing a compilation CD of Bill Hawkins work, as well as writing a play Whaddup! for Green Thumb Theatre, Vancouver. In June of 2007 Tamblyn released Superior: Spirit and Light, the first of four CDs - the Four Coast project. Ian Tamblyn lives in Old Chelsea, Quebec. ALEX TAYLOR Polar Guide & Educator Alex Taylor’s Antarctic career kicked off in 1992 when he was hired by the British Antarctic Survey as a polar guide for a glaciology project in the shadow of Mt. Vinson. This led to dozens of other expeditions and soon to leading expeditions in the High Canadian Arctic. A love of the polar region’s incredible landscapes, wildlife, history and other-worldly experiences keeps him coming back to these remote locations year after year. More than 10 seasons south in Antarctica have afforded Alex the privilege of visiting many parts of the continent working in support of science projects for the British Antarctic Survey and the United States Antarctic Program. He has also provided technical and safety support for television and films down south. Most notable were the two ship-based expeditions to film the award-winning feature Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure. Alex has a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Calgary, specializing in Outdoor Pursuits and Geography. He has climbed and traveled all over the world but the Canadian Rockies and the Canadian Arctic remain his favourite places on the planet. Alex’s home base is in Canmore, Alberta. He has been working in the Rocky Mountain National Parks for over 23 years. His eclectic work life has always been focused on the wild outdoors and has included jobs as a wildland fire fighter, wildlife technician, weather station specialist, still photographer and videographer, to name a few. When not in Antarctica, Alex works as a backcountry project manager for Parks Canada in Lake Louise. JUSTIN TRUDEAU Education, Environment & Youth Advocate The education and empowerment of youth are priorities that have dominated Justin Trudeau’s professional and personal life. Shortly after completing a degree at McGill University, Trudeau moved to Vancouver to earn a Bachelor’s of Education degree from the University of British Columbia. For the next four years, he devoted himself to teaching children of all ages. Trudeau is actively involved with Katimavik, Canada’s leading national youth volunteer-service program. He works to increase the engagement of Canada’s youth towards their country, their communities and their environment. He is also involved with the Canadian Avalanche Foundation, promoting intelligent risk-taking and safety awareness; and wilderness groups such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. MICHEL VALIQUETTE Videographer Michel Valiquette is an experienced and accomplished producer of adventure and travel documentaries. He is the founder and owner of Valiquette Productions which is an independent production company based in Montréal, Québec. He has worked with Geoff Green on various film projects in the polar regions for the past 5 years, including Imiqutailaq – Path of the Arctic Tern, and has traveled and documented Students on Ice expeditions in both the Arctic and Antarctica. Michel is an avid sailor and has also participated in the production and filming of many other expeditions, notably, “Mission Antarctique” a CBC/Radio-Canada production documenting a year-long expedition in Antarctica with Jean Lemire aboard the Sedna IV. DON WALSH, PhD Oceanographer Don Walsh is an explorer, oceanographer and lecturer. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1948, he graduated from Annapolis in 1954. During a 24 year naval career he spent 14 years at sea, mostly in submarines including command. At retirement he held the rank of Captain. Don’s polar experience began with trips to the Arctic in 1955 and the Antarctic with the Navy’s Deep Freeze in 1971. He has worked at both North and South Poles and is eligible to wear the Antarctic Service Medal. The Walsh Spur (near Cape Hallett) was named for him in recognition of his contributions to the U.S. Antarctic Research Program. Don may be best known for making oceanographic history in 1960 with Jacques Piccard when they dove 35,800 feet down in the Navy Bathyscaph Trieste to the bottom of the Marianas Trench, deepest place in the world ocean. For this historic descent, never duplicated since, Walsh was decorated by President Eisenhower at the White House. Don is the Author of over 150 articles and papers, and has been an advisor for the White House, NOAA and NASA. He was appointed by Presidents Carter and Reagan to the U.S. National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere, was a member of the Law of the Sea Advisory Committee for the U.S. Department of State, and served as a member of the Marine Board of the U.S. National Research Council from 1990 to 1993. In 2001 received the Explorers Club highest award, The Explorer’s Medal. SHEILA WATT-CLOUTIER, PhD (Hon) Circumpolar Affairs Expert Sheila Watt-Cloutier has been a political representative for Inuit at the regional, national and international levels, most recently as International Chair for Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC), the Inuit organization that represents the interests internationally of Inuit resident in Canada, Greenland, Alaska, and Chukotka in the Far East of the Federation of Russia. Sheila has long been a political spokesperson for Inuit. From 1995 to 1998, she was Corporate Secretary of Makivik Corporation set-up under the 1975 James Bay and Northern Quebec Land Claims Agreement. She was elected President of ICC Canada in 1995 and re elected to this position in 1998, becoming international Chair of ICC in 2002. During her years at ICC Canada, Sheila was spokesperson for a coalition of northern Indigenous Peoples that persuaded states to conclude a global agreement, signed in Stockholm in 2001, to ban the generation and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as DDT and PCBs, that contaminate the Arctic food web. She received the inaugural global environment award from the World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations in recognition for this work. She is also a recipient of the Aboriginal Achievement Award for Environment which she received in 2004. Sheila’s vision for her term as Chair of ICC was to put the human/Inuit face on the global map. She feels, if citizens of the world can “connect” with the challenges the Arctic and it’s people are facing, it will lead to better understanding of how the planet and it’s people are one. Protect the Arctic-Save the Planet is one of her most common phrases as she delivers speeches throughout many parts of the world. Sheila received honorary doctorate degrees during the 2008 spring convocation ceremonies at the University of Ottawa and the University of Guelph.