The Canadian Arctic and the Antarctic Peninsula are among the regions of the globe that have been most affected by global warming during the past century due to the amplification of climate changes at high latitude. Even if these regions seem distant, changes that occur at the poles affect climates and other processes at lower latitudes. In the context of current climate change, a more complete understanding of high latitude ecosystems and geosystems is needed to better understand the global climate system and, in Nunavik, to underpin the sustainable development of natural resources and to adapt to future climate changes.
The Quebec-Catalonia polar research network (RRPQC) is a networking project financed by the Quebec Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie. The network seeks to promote cooperation in the study of polar environments to understand current and past changes. The main objectives of the network are to foment research focused on polar ecosystems in the context of climate change, and to develop the links that lead to joint research projects between Quebec and Catalan researchers who aim to understand the effects of climate change in the Arctic and the Antarctic Peninsula.
The main challenge of doing research in the polar regions is typically logistics. Quebec has extensive research infrastructure in the North, while the logistics of Spain are focused on the southern polar regions. Cooperation between programs could therefore open new opportunities for fieldwork and the exploration of bipolar research projects. Network researchers can serve as liaisons to provide information on logistical and funding programs in their respective countries. If you would like more information on any aspect of these possibilities, do not hesitate to contact us.