Kelvin High School students take unforgettable journey to Churchill for climate change research

École Secondaire Kelvin High School students recently visited Churchill, Manitoba to study and monitor the body condition of polar bears, as part of a long-term research project on climate change and the ecology of the Canadian subarctic. Days on the "Tundra Buggy" afforded amazing views of Hudson Bay, watching the polar bears wander by as they wait for the sea-ice to form. The students were treated to a rare experience of witnessing a mother bear with three cubs!

Student Emma-Flore Ghia shared how impactful the entire experience was for her future career goals, "I would love to be a researcher when I grow up, so this was a good opportunity for me to see what being a researcher would be like. I really liked all the opportunities we had to go around the community, like Cape Merry Historical Site, Jill’s cabin, dogsledding and the walk around Churchill. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the town and the residents, plus the history of the Churchill area. The days on the buggy itself were really fun. I loved taking the pictures of the bears, and being out on the tundra."

In addition to data collection on the tundra, students went dog-sledding, saw incredible northern lights, toured the town of Churchill, enjoyed a bonfire hosted by local students, and met like-minded young scientists from the North. Evenings at their home base, the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, were filled with research talks by University of Manitoba professors Jane Waterman and Emily McKinnon, as well as an oral history of the Sayisi Dene given by Florence Hamilton. 

"We are thrilled to give the students an opportunity to participate in scientific research in Northern Manitoba and are very fortunate to work together with Dr. Waterman and Dr. McKinnon. The students learn how to monitor the impact of climate change in the sub-Arctic ecosystem using the body condition of the polar bears as an indicator," said Donna Labun, chemistry teacher at Kelvin High School.

The Manitoba Northern Student-led Arctic Research program (Manitoba NorthSTAR) promotes student-led research at the Arctic’s edge in Churchill, Manitoba. Student scientists participate in field research led by Drs. Jane Waterman and Emily McKinnon, focusing on non-invasive, visual, mark-recapture polar bear imaging. Individual polar bears are identified from their whisker-spot patterns using the "WhiskerPrint" photo-identification software. The students continue their work on the project throughout the year, and are currently learning to analyze the body condition of the bears based on their high-resolution photography. They will present their findings at the conference of the Canadian Section of the Wildlife Society in February 2024.  

"Going to Churchill and researching the bears is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Each and every part of the journey kindled lifelong memories, friends and skills. From the Churchill community to tundra buggies, each part was engaging and worth the (super) long journey," said student Apekshya Pokharel.