Partnership Funding

Projects and student work taking place across the NWT and beyond are indicated on the map and in detail throughout the sections in the menu.

Projects are exploring boreal forest dynamics, including carbon cycling, trees and lichen, and water flux. Projects related to land changes include permafrost thaw, regeneration after fire, tall shrub expansion on arctic tundra and land stewardship including waste management. Food security projects include the Yellowknife Harvest Fair. Mapping the Bathurst Caribou herd and knowledge on the land is on-going. Monitoring projects include bio-monitoring, community-led aquatic monitoring, infrastructure monitoring, and developing sensors. Laboratory studies are also monitoring contaminants, and monitoring mines to inform risk assessment. Development and tourism studies, literacy and language learning, and on-the-land camps are also underway. Laurier researchers in the NWT are also participating in global climate networks, engaging in traditional knowledge, and doing science outreach.

Research Funding Awarded 2010-2018

Financial support for infrastructure and personnel training in the NWT has grown exponentially, and is approaching $34-million since 2010, resulting in a tenfold return on investment by the Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT). The diversity of funders of projects has expanded to include six federal government departments, environmental organizations, and all major research funders in Canada across both social sciences and natural sciences disciplines.

Total Funding Sources

The total funding sources for research in NWT includes 63% from federal funding, 21% from Laurier, 9% from GNWT, 4% from industry, 2% from provincial funding, 1% from environmental non-governmental organization (ENGO), and less than 1% from other funding sources.

Breakdown of Federal Funding

The breakdown of federal funding for research in NWT includes 19% from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), 18% from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), 17% from Global Water Futures (GWF), 16% from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), 14% Canada Research Chairs (CRC), 7% departmental, 4% from other funding sources, 3% agency/commission, and 2% Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE).

Personnel Trained in the North

The GNWT-Laurier Partnership has significantly grown the numbers of students trained to work in the North and contributed to the growth of scientific monitoring and knowledge. Over the past 10 years, more than 273 undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers have contributed to extensive research projects across the NWT. Additionally, research teams have expanded to include trainees from 15 universities including Laurier, fostering collaborations and knowledge sharing.