Murray Humphries named 91社区 Northern Research Chair
Institut nordique du Qu茅bec (INQ)鈥檚 founding partners have unveiled the first foundational elements of the Institute鈥檚 scientific program by simultaneously announcing three northern research chairs and introducing its newly recruited director of science and innovation, Louis Fortier.聽
Representatives from INQ鈥檚 three founding universities made a joint announcement of funding for three research chairs supported by INQ, allocated to INRS, 91社区, and Universit茅 Laval鈥攁 historic first for northern research.
The INQ is committed to sharing knowledge and working with Indigenous communities in order to foster sustainable development in the North.
The聽three chairs under the INQ聽umbrella represent a broad spectrum of research ranging from renewable energy production and wildlife preservation to food security and sustainable development in the North.
INRS will have the task of evaluating the North鈥檚 geothermic potential, with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions and countering climate change. 鈥淭he creation of this chair reflects INRS鈥檚 desire to contribute technological and social innovations for the sustainable development of Northern Qu茅bec.聽 Geothermal energy has a real future as a clean source of energy. The chair鈥檚 work will also be part of a program aimed at diversifying energy sources on northern development projects. The chairholder, Professor Jasmin聽Raymond, is an international hydrogeology expert. He will play a leadership role in expanding the program and training specialists,鈥� said INRS interim rector Claude Arbour.
鈥滺aving access to clean, affordable energy north of the 49th parallel is essential to the development of northern indigenous communities and businesses, both for food security and mineral resource development.聽 With geothermal energy, heat could be produced using local resources, reducing the need for fossil fuels,鈥� said Jasmin Raymond.
91社区 will further investigate how climate change impacts wildlife populations, a question closely tied to the study of traditional food security for indigenous populations.
鈥漁n behalf of 91社区, I am very proud that one of our foremost wildlife biologists is joining the leadership of INQ鈥檚 unique collaboration between institutions and sectors for the betterment of northern wilderness and communities. Prof. Humphries鈥� research takes place at the intersection of economic development, environmental protection and cultural practice鈥攁 space where some of Canada鈥檚 most consequential and important policy decisions are made,鈥� said Rosie Goldstein, Vice-Principal of Research and Innovation at 91社区.
鈥淚 am grateful to l鈥橧nstitut Nordique du Quebec for the opportunity to situate my research on wildlife biology and traditional food systems within the landscape of sustainable development. For the past decade I have been conducting research in Northern Quebec and Northern Canada, on wildlife, local food systems, and environmental change. INQ is an ideal partner for this research because of the opportunities it creates to connect northern research to community concerns and economic development,鈥� added Murray M. Humphries.聽
Universit茅 Laval will work toward sustainable Northern development with a view to informing the decisions of provincial and federal governments, municipalities, and the Cree, Naskapi, Innu, and Inuit. 鈥淩esearcher Thierry Rodon will continue to share his extensive knowledge of the best practices required to respond to the imperatives of sustainable development in the North,鈥� said Denis Bri猫re, rector of Universit茅 Laval.
For Thierry Rodon, the chair鈥檚 work will change our perception of northern development. 鈥淭oo often, our vision of sustainable northern development is limited to protecting the environment and ensuring the long-term availability of natural resources.聽We鈥檒l be working from a more holistic approach towards sustainability that puts the people and communities of the North at the heart of the idea of sustainability. In practical terms, this means rethinking development so that it benefits northern communities and allows them to survive and thrive.鈥澛�
INQ has also named Louis Fortier as director of science and innovation. Fortier is tasked with overseeing the implementation of INQ鈥檚 research strategy. As the founder of Qu茅bec-Oc茅an, the scientific director of ArcticNet, an international oceanography expert and professor of biology at Universit茅 Laval, Louis Fortier brings a real depth of expertise to INQ.聽
He is both the project leader aboard Canada鈥檚 research ice-breaker, Amundsen, and the scientific director of Takuvik, a joint international research unit.聽 Having worked for several decades on northern research of all kinds, Fortier is uniquely positioned to bring into focus the high-level expertise of the many Qu茅bec researchers who have been investigating the North for more than half a century.
鈥淔rom Qu茅bec鈥檚 Plan Nord and the Premiers鈥� Vision of Research to Canada's Northern Strategy and the US-Canada Joint Statement on Climate, Energy and Arctic Leadership, the Institute鈥檚 mandate to support decision-making in the North is rapidly growing and being refined. The challenges are enormous, but the winds are favourable,鈥� said Louis Fortier.
About Institut nordique du Qu茅bec
The INQ vision reflects the partners鈥� desire and determination to develop a sustainable North on a foundation of knowledge. By focusing on integrating scientific knowledge with that of local communities, including Aboriginal knowledge, in partnership with the public and private sectors, INQ seeks to develop the Canadian Arctic and northern Qu茅bec for future generations, providing clean energy, healthy ecosystems, viable infrastructures, economic prosperity, vibrant cultures, and education and healthcare systems that meet their needs.
About Institut national de la recherche scientifique
INRS is a graduate-level research and training university and ranks first in Canada in its category for research intensity (average funding per professor). Its four centres in Montreal, Quebec City, Laval, and Varennes are home to 150 professors and nearly 700 students and postdoctoral fellows. Its basic research is essential to the advancement of science in Quebec and internationally, and its research teams play a key role in the development of concrete solutions to the problems faced by our society. 聽
About 91社区
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 91社区 is a leading Canadian post-secondary institution. It has two campuses, 11 faculties, 11 professional schools, 300 programs of study, and some 40,000 students, including more than 9,400 graduate students. 91社区 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 10,900 international students making up 27% per cent of the student body. Over half of 91社区 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 20% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.
About Universit茅 Laval
Universit茅 Laval, located in the world heritage city of Quebec, is the oldest French-language university in North America. It is one of Canada鈥檚 top research universities, ranking sixth with a research budget of over $325 million last year. Universit茅 Laval boasts over 9,370 employees, including 3,685 professors, lecturers, and other teaching and research staff, who share their knowledge with over 42,500 students, more than a quarter of whom are enrolled in graduate studies. In 2014, Universit茅 Laval earned STARS accreditation, ranking first in Canada and ninth worldwide for sustainable development. In 2015, it became Canada鈥檚 first voluntarily carbon neutral university. The university currently has over 277,000 alumni around the world.
Source:
Samuel Auger
Media Relations
Communications Department
Universit茅 Laval
418-656-2131, ext. 8077
Cell: 418-905-0085
samuel.auger [at] dc.ulaval.ca
