The purpose of the Advisory Committee on Northern Studies at York University is focus attention on the importance of Canada’s North and the issues facing its people and environment by facilitating northern research and education.
Its mandate is to 1) increase awareness of the importance of northern studies; 2) facilitate northern research by faculty and students; 3) represent York University’s interests in northern issues.
For 2011-2012 the committee is made up of:
Richard Bello, Dept. Geography, Chair
Kathy Young, Dept. Geography, Faculty Representative
Christopher Lortie, Dept. Biology, Faculty Representative
Roberto Quinlan, Dept. Biology, Faculty Representative
Brandon Laforest, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Student Representative
The Committee’s initiatives involve promotion of the Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP) of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, inviting speakers with northern focus to speak on campus, administering the NSTP, sponsoring an annual York University Northern Studies Symposium, representing York University on the council of the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS), advising graduate and undergraduate students involved in northern research and the maintenance of this web site.
Any York faculty member interested in participating in the activities of the Committee is welcome to join and should send a note to northern@yorku.ca expressing their interest. Members are asked to participate for a three year term (renewable). The Committee chair is elected by the membership on a bi-annual basis.
The activities of the Committee are supported through a grant from the Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, York University.