THE 2017 OPOP OTTAWA CONFERENCE

The 2017 Our Poles Our Planet Ottawa Conference will engage, educate, and connect youth from around the nation's capital. Local high school students will have the opportunity to learn from polar scientists, explorers, artists, and Elders about diverse and pressing Polar issues.

Details

OPOP Ottawa will take place at the Canadian Museum of Nature, 24o McLeod St, Ottawa, ON on Friday March the 10th. 
​Contact your teachers for more information on how to attend. 

Schedule

8:30am-9:00am      Registration and arrivals
​9:00am-9:45am       Introductory remarks & Keynote
9:45am-10:35am       1st workshop/discussion
10:40am-11:30am     2nd workshop/discussion
11:35am-12:15pm       Lunch/Networking
12:20pm-1:10pm       3rd workshop/discussion
1:15pm-2:05pm         Antarctic treaty letters
2:10pm-2:40pm       Closing remarks

Speakers

A wide range of speakers, knowledgeable in a variety of Polar fields and Inuit Culture, will be present for students to listen to and engage in dialogue with. A finalized list will be complete in the coming weeks!

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​Roger Bull: Botanist at the Ottawa Museum of Nature

​Roger Bull runs the museum's Laboratory of Molecular Biodiversity and works with the botany team to document plant diversity in the Canadian Arctic. Roger specializes in conservation genetics, molecular systematics, field research, DNA lab techniques and fragment and sequence analysis.


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Noel Alfonso: Senior Research assistant, Zoologist 

Noel Alfonso's work at the Canadian Museum of Nature continues his lifelong fascination with fishes. Specializes in phylogeny and taxonomy of temperate and Indo-Pacific flatfishes, taxonomy of the lake charr (Salvelinus namaycush) and taxonomy of  catostomidae.

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Sam Iverson: Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service

Sam Iverson is a biologist with the Canadian Wildlife service who provides science policy advice on wildlife conservation issues. His primary area of expertise is the effects of climate change on Arctic wildlife species and impacts of emerging infectious diseases and invasive species on the native wildlife populations.


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​Caitlyn Baikie, Arctic Youth & Partnerships Program Manager, Students On Ice

Caitlyn Baikie has almost a decade of experience under her belt in Arctic social and physical sciences through various different programs and work experiences. In 2015, CBC named Caitlyn one of the top 5 indigenous leaders under 30 to watch.


​Nick Castel, Parks Canada and Students On Ice

At Parks Canada, Nick Castel designs Northern Canada-focused urban youth engagement. Having grown up in the south, he believe a natural and cross-cultural understanding of Arctic spaces can hold answers around how to share a common Canadian identity.

Conference Team

​All team members are youth, fulfilling our philosophy that young people are best reached by other young people.
More info about our team and conference organizers is upcoming!

Caitlin Gilchrist​

Sponsorships Coordinator and Assistant Director

Josh Thompson

Communications and Ottawa Director

Contact Us

email us with any questions at ottawa.ourpolesourplanet@gmail.com